Dear Editor,

On Jan. 10, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger released his state
budget proposal for 2008-09. His budget release included massive cuts of over
$1 billion to higher education. Over 3.2 million University
of California, California State
University and California Community
College students will be adversely affected by
the proposed budget cuts.

The state budget cannot continually be balanced on the backs
of students. These budget cuts heavily impact the core educational institutions
of our state, proposing to take $483 million from community colleges, $312.9
million from the CSU system and $331.9 million from the UC system.

These cuts would directly translate into thousands of
students turned away at the doors of higher education institutions. In the
coming year as many as 50,000 students could be barred from California’s
most accessible means of higher education, the community colleges; 10,000
qualified students could be denied from the CSU system and UC students will
struggle to afford the 94-percent tuition increase since 2001.

The 1960 California Master Plan promised to find a place in
the California Higher Education System for every qualified student. Almost half
a century later, this promise is on the verge of extinction. Together, we
represent the nearly three million students who attend community colleges, CSUs
and the UC system. Each of us believes that education is vital to the growth of
California’s economy and
instrumental in improving the quality of life for everyone. We believe that a
quality and affordable education should be available to every Californian who
desires to pursue one. Education is a means to a better life, a more peaceful
world and a better California.

It is time to end the days when legislative accountability
is skirted, gubernatorial responsibility is ignored and California’s
future is relegated to the sidelines. Students throughout California
are realizing that the time for action is now. For too long, our state leaders
have attempted to balance the budget on the backs of students.

The University of California Student Association, the
California State Student Association and the Student Senate for California
Community Colleges have joined together to form a coalition, Students for
California’s Future. On April 21, we held actions all across the state to say
“No more” to the attacks on our higher education system and reclaim the promise
for California’s future.

Just as leaders in the 1960s built the California Master
Plan, calling for a strong K-12 education system and a three-pronged approach
to address the state’s diverse higher-education needs, we are coming together
to revive the California dream. It is time that we make clear what California’s
priorities are, and, once again, take pride in our education system.

— Louise Hendrickson

President,

University of California
Student Association

Dina Cervantes

Executive Committee Chair,

California State
Student Association

Frank Fernandez

President,

Student Senate for California Community Colleges

Stephanie Chan

Coordinator,

Students for California’s
Future