CSSA students praise Calif. governor

Student group credits Schwarzenegger for CSU fee freeze

By Katie Hicks
The Collegian

A press conference this morning to thank Gov. Schwarzenegger for his proposed fee freeze in the 2006-2007 proposed CSU budget and ask for support for Assembly Bill 2813 will also voice the concerns of the California State Student Association and the CSU system.

The speakers will be student leaders from CSU campuses around California as well as members of CSSA, including Fresno State student body president Jennifer Reimer who serves as chair of CSSA.

“The fee freeze is a welcomed relief and has allowed me too further my education in graduate school.” said Andrew Janz, internal vice president for CSU, Stanislaus Associated Students Incorporated.

From 2001 to present fees have increased 76 percent. Without the fee freeze tuition will increase 90 percent from 2001. Janz said the announcement of a possible fee freeze has been a pleasant surprise to students who were expecting an 8 percent fee increase after the Board of Trustees approved the 2006-07 CSU budget in October 2005.

Gov. Schwarzenegger announced in his January budget he will buy out student fee increases for the 2006-07 academic year, keeping annual CSU student fees at $2,520 instead of $2,724. However due to the upcoming May revise in the 2006-07 budget, CSU students continue to speak out for affordability and access to higher education in California

“It is important to invest in higher education in California,” said Dan Gianoutsos, CSU Bakersfield Associated Student Incorporated president. “In order to do that our legislators must approve the proposed fee freeze and restore outreach funding in order to continue access and affordability to the great California State University system.”

Increased financial aid from the state also improves both affordability and access to education in California. In support of that, CSSA is co-sponsoring Assembly Bill 2813 with the California State University system that will increase the amount of competitive Cal Grants awarded to qualified recipients.

The bill will also increase the age limit to receive an Entitlement Cal Grant from 24 to 27. Finally, it will provide all Cal Grant B high school entitlement award recipients’ funds to cover tuition and fees during the initial year of their award similar to Cal Grant A recipients.

Fresno State Student Body President Jennifer Reimer agreed that more grants should be available to a wider range of California students.

“Assembly Bill 2813 will provide Cal Grants to more students and allow increased access to higher education,” Reimer said. “The state needs to ensure that students have access to college to keep California’s economy competitive with more jobs demanding college degrees.”

The press conference will be from 10 to 10:30 a.m. today in front of the Governor’s office in Fresno, located at 2550 Mariposa Mall Suite 3013.

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