An estimated 150 protestors gathered outside of a meeting of California State University trustees Tuesday, rallying against a plan to cut 10,000 enrollment slots, preventing qualified students from admittance in 2009-10.
The plan is a cost-cutting effort by the CSU after receiving a drastically diminished budget from the state.
“This is the first time in CSU’s history that we will have to reduce such a large number of students from the system,” said CSU spokesperson Clara Potes-Fellow, who says that the system is forced to work under its operating budget by $215 million. Governor Schwarzenegger has also proposed a $66 million mid-year budget cut.
The cuts will have direct effects on many prospective CSU students. Schools will cease accepting applications no later than March 2009 and possibly sooner if capacity is reached, enacting a “first-come-first-serve” mentality that has never been used in the CSU. Higher grade point averages will also be required.
“The standards will change, especially among the schools that receive more applications,” said Potes-Fellow, citing large schools such as Cal State Fullerton and our own Cal State Long Beach as two of those that will experience enrollment cuts.
California Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi joined the protestors and spoke critically of the state government.
“They’re unwilling to put a tax on big oil, but they’ll tax students,” said the Lt. Gov., referring to increased enrollment fees. “It’s a fundamental decision about the future of California.”
CSU Chancellor and Long Beach Resident Charles Reed took to the microphone as well, encouraging frustrated demonstrators to take their complaints to the state. A fax machine was available to send messages to state legislators.
Students and faculty alike joined together to protest outside CSU headquarters on Golden Shore Drive as the trustees met in closed sessions. Students rallied against fee hikes, while faculty were upset that promises of salary increases had not materialized. That, says CSU spokesperson Clara Potes-Fellow, was a casualty of the system’s shrinking budget.
“It would be impossible to make good on the promise of salary increases,” she said. “We understand the frustration but they’re not going to be able to receive the salary increases they were expecting.”
Garamendi and Potes-Fellow agree that the fault lies not with the CSU, but with the state’s increasing demands to cut budget costs.
“The state has put us in a position without any options,” said Garamendi.
“For years, we’ve used all the options we had,” said Potes-Fellow, citing the uses of part-time faculty and larger classrooms. “There is a point when you can’t stretch any further without compromising quality. And we have reached that point.”
Lt. Gov. and CSU trustee John Garamendi demonstrated alongside the protestors between meetings and spoke harshly about the state’s budget cuts.
By Ryan ZumMallen, Managing Editor