Will California Choose Education Over Money?

 “It’s kind of ironic,” said high school senior Paul Churgin. “The state is in trouble and education is first one to be attacked. Aren’t we supposed to be the future of California?”

The new democratic governor, Jerry Brown, proposed series of tax extension and spending cuts. Although these new proposals do not include further budget cuts on UC and CSU system, they will most likely raise the tuition.

According to some calculations, the UC system may have to increase tuition by 8 percent to 20 percent over the course of four consecutive years, if current patterns of state budget cuts and larger enrollments continue.

Three years ago, the UC system received $3.3 billion from the state, but after years of budget cuts and now Governor Brown’s recent $500 million cut, the 10 UC campuses will have to make up for $2.5 billion starting July 1. This will result in not only increased tuition for students but also the elimination of teachers and staff, as well as larger class sizes, and fewer classes offered. It will also inevitably cause a student protests and unrest.

Considering UC Regents already approved a 32 percent increase in tuition in the fall of 2009, the students now pay around $14,700, without rooms and board, books and many other fees. With students paying this much, there should not be any diminution of class size and teachers. That is the least the government can do for those who invested over120, 000 for their college education.

“I just plan on being in a mountain of debt when I get out” senior Travis Perez said satirically.

There are countless students, brilliant students who were forced to give up 4 year college due to it high tuition.

“My GPA was high enough to get into UC but it is just too expensive”, said senior Marcos Fernandez. “I am considering military options to pay for my tuition later”.

The CSU system is not exempt to this budget cut. The officials also announced that they would have to increase tuition by 32 percent if they lose $1 billion in state funds.

California is facing one of the biggest economic crises right now with total state debt of $290,855,041,516. The budget cuts on education might seem unavoidable.  However, the students in UC and CSU are the ones who will lead California in the future, and the high tuition has already become the biggest hindrance to higher education.

“Public education should be the last one to see the budget cuts”