AS rallies against

educational budget cuts

By Laban Pelz

Concerned with impending education budget cuts, some Fresno State students are trying to rally the rest of the student body to care about these issues as well.

At a press conference held by Associated Students representatives Wednesday morning, three students expressed worry over Gov. Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget, which will cut outreach programs such as the Educational Opportunity Program.

“ If I had not had the help of EOP I would not be here today,” said DeAnna Stay, a mother of three and first-generation college student.

“ We cannot be in an institution that jeopardizes education simply because it is expensive,” said Ana Melendez, the second student to speak. “We must get our priorities straight.”

Ana Medina, who immigrated from Mexico when she was five, plans to be the first in her family to graduate from college. Through EOP she receives a $500-per-semester grant.

“ I’m asking the government to reconsider this,” she said. “EOP helped me adjust to the university. Governor Schwarzenegger campaigned as pro-education. Then he was elected, and we get this.”

Also supporting the outreach programs was AS President Neil Gibson, who spoke of the need for a well-funded education.

“ Higher education is the fuel of the economy,” he said. “If California wants its economy to recover, it needs access to an educated workforce.”

According to AS, the proposed budget will reduce the number of new freshmen by 10 percent and increase the student-to-faculty ratio by 5 percent. Tuition for fall 2004 is expected to increase 10 percent for undergraduate students and 40 percent for graduates.

“ My concern is that we are paying more and getting less,” Gibson said. “As tuition goes up, classes get cut.

“ Students will be keeping a very close eye on their legislators and how they vote.”

In response to budget talks on Feb. 12, a student budget summit was held Wednesday evening in McLane Hall room 161.

The original meeting drew students, administrators and community members to come up with a list of 113 ways to trim the budget. Wednesday’s gathering was designed to let students decide on the best ideas. Attendees were asked to find $12 million within the budget.

Gibson clarified the need for the meeting to those attending.

“ Some ideas sound great, but they don’t really do anything,” he said.

Roberto Vaca, a senior psychology major who helped organize the Wednesday summit, noted the small number of students present at the Feb. 12 meeting, leaving him feeling that students weren’t involved.

“ There was not enough student input at last Thursday’s meeting, so this is why we’re here,” Vaca said.

The administration narrowed down the original list, and Vaca said he wants to see how the two refined lists compare.

“ Students are the ones walking around on campus, going to classes,” he said. “We have a lot of power as students.”

Whether that power will be used remains a question.

“ When students’ interests are threatened, it creates a potential for involvement,” said Rodney Anderson, a Fresno State political science professor.

“ But, is that going to be a small group of students, or a lot? Numbers matter, and it takes a long time to build.

“ If there are several rounds of budget cuts, more and more students will get involved. If the economy recovers, students will continue to accept the status quo.”

The 30 students attending Wednesday’s summit deemed 34 items on the original list to have merit. Most of these ideas propose to consolidate departments, streamline technology services, and redefine educational goals.

Gibson said he hopes to deliver the list to administration officials by the beginning of next week. He predicts the administration will seriously consider the list, though he admitted there are no concrete consequences for administrators if they don’t.

“ Get angry,” Gibson said, referring to how students can react if not taken seriously by the administration.