Deadline to vote in next electio looms

By Joshua D Scroggin

If you want to have a say on the quality of education at Fresno State, you’ve got to get registered to vote by Monday.

“ Don’t complain about getting classes if you don’t take five minutes to vote,” Associated Students Senator Maria Sofia Corona said.

The deadline for students to register to be eligible to vote in the March 2 election is Feb. 16, but students can also register to vote in the AS office until Friday.

One of Corona’s missions this year has been to spread student political involvement—an issue she said is more important than ever.

“ Students don’t normally vote,” Corona said. “We’re not a big voting block, but students are getting affected the most by this.”

“ This” is the voting on two bond propositions that will be on the ballot—Propositions 55 and 57.

The propositions are bond proposals that would allow the state to sell billions of dollars in general obligation bonds in attempt to soften the state’s budget deficit.

Proposition 55 would raise $12.3 billion to upgrade and build new classrooms in schools from the kindergarten to the university level. Fresno State’s proposed library expansion depends on the success of Proposition 55.

Proposition 57, administrators say, is the one most people at the university should have their eyes on. It calls for a $15 billion bond to consolidate the state debt. Opponents of Proposition 57 say it would plunge the state deeper into debt, costing more than $2,000 per family, according to www.voterguide.ss.ca.gov.

College of Arts and Humanities Dean Luis Costa said if Prop 57 does not pass, the budget cuts—including faculty cutbacks—have the possibility of being twice as bad.

“ You’re asking me to look into the crystal ball,” Costa said. “If Prop 57 doesn’t pass, the state is going to have to find a way to find $15 billion.”

AS President Neil Gibson agreed.

“ [Proposition 57 is] going to determine the future of our education and I’m not exaggerating” Gibson said.

Gibson said students are being taken advantage of because of their low voter turnout, and the only way to change it is to get involved.

“ Because we’re one of the lowest voter populations, guess where they’re hitting?” Gibson said. “Because we’re not going to boot them out of office. Right now, Fresno State sucks with reference to our voting record.”

Costa had an important message to students still not involved in the political process.

“ Tell them that the life of the university as I see it depends on it,” Costa said.