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Students Protest Education Cuts

Over 1,000 California college students marched in Sacramento this week in opposition to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed cuts to higher education. (Courtesy of Stephanie Chan)

In response to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget
cuts to state public education system, thousands of students led marches across
the state in protest on April 21.

Though Sacramento was the march’s primary focus, Los
Angeles, San Diego, Riverside and Santa Barbara also saw rumblings of student
dissatisfaction, organized by the Students for California’s Future, a
three-tier coalition.

The coalition was formed by the University
of California Student Association
,
the California State Students Association and the Student Senate for California
Community Colleges with the purpose of bringing a voice to students who are
concerned about how the governor’s budget proposal this year could affect their
futures.

“The governor has proposed a $1.1-billion cut to higher
education,” UCSA president Louise Hendrickson said. “Monday’s march is only the
beginning; the state needs to make higher education a number-one priority.”

Schwarzenegger’s proposed cuts to public education stem from
the state’s looming debt, which the Office of the Governor estimates at around
$16 billion.

In addition to the journey from Raley Field to the steps of
the state capitol, the event included speeches from UC, CSU and CCC
representatives, as well as state politicians. Lt. Gov. John Garamendi marched
and spoke at the rally, and was joined by Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los
Angeles
), and Assembly members Julia Brownley
(D-Woodland Hills) and Anthony Portantino (D-Pasadena).

“Over the last few years, UC and CSU student fees have
nearly doubled,” Garamendi said in a speech Monday. Our students can’t afford
it, and our state can’t afford to leave future generations out of California’s
prosperity.”

According to Stephanie Chan, an organizer for Students for California’s
Future, there were between 1,500 and 3,000 marchers present at the state
capitol.

Though the proposed cuts for the state’s three-tier higher
education system are drastic, their repercussions lie in the next academic
year. Within the K-12 system, teachers are already receiving layoff notices,
and the 2008-09 school year expects a $4.3-billion budget cut. In total, cuts
across the education systems of California
will amount to about $5.4 billion.

“In the past, if a budget cut was made to the UC, CSU or
community colleges, the other two were able to absorb some of the impact,” Chan
said. “But now with budget cuts across the entire spectrum of California’s
education system, there is no cushion for any part of it.”

Along with general cuts being applied across the board, it
is likely that the UC system’s internal administration will also have to make
some sacrifices. The Office of the President, the UC system’s governing body,
has already proposed massive cuts to its administrative structure, which would
eliminate 20 percent of its budget and 23 percent of its workforce.

“We realize that tough budget times for the state call for
our office to make some sacrifices,” UCOP spokesman Ricardo Vazquez said. “However,
change was already needed.”

Vazquez also spoke in favor of the student coalition’s
effort on Monday.

“Before the Legislature takes a vote, they should realize
that higher education is not an expenditure, but an investment,” Vazquez said.
“Not only does the state’s education system currently create over three million
jobs, but also provides the intellectual force for California’s future.”

Laura Page, a press representative for the Office of the
Governor, said that Schwarzenegger understands that education is a top priority
in the state, and is looking into what can be done to provide more stable
funding for California’s
education system.

Schwarzenegger’s 2008-09 budget proposal requests that 56
percent of all general fund expenditures go to education, the highest
percentage of state general fund dollars devoted to education in 40 years.

“Schwarzenegger is pushing for a reform of the state
budgetary process so that the education in California
does not have to go on the financial roller coaster ride every year,” Page
said. “This could be done by establishing a financial reserve for educational
purposes, where extra money can be saved in it during a good year, in
preparation for a bad one.”

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