Increased fees cut chances at degrees

Lorrie Reyes/Roundup

Gov. Schwarzenegger, University of California Board of Regents, educators, law makers, voters or whoever will listen—California education is in absolute shambles.

Fix it. 

It’s easier said than done because the state of Calif. is broke, which in July the state’s deficit was $26.3 billion according to the LA Times.

However, I don’t really understand what Calif. wants from students.

The state want us to have a higher education, I know this because every time I try to apply for a higher position employers ask for my bachelor’s degree.

Yet the state budget forces colleges to have fewer classes with more students and now we have to pay more for it.

Ever since I could remember, I wanted to attend UCLA and have the prestige of being a Bruin.

But money was always the issue—now that issue has increased by $2,500 a year.

The University of California’s Board of Regents voted last Thursday that undergraduates will be required to pay over $10,000 a year beginning next fall (a 32% increase) to attend a University of California school, according to the LA Times.

California State Universities have also felt a 10% increase to tuition fees. Raising the CSU undergraduate fees to $3,048 according to the Calif. state budget of 2008-2009.

During that time UC schools received $5.6 billion from the state and CSU schools received $4.5 billion. 

According to the Calif. enacted budget 2009-10, UC schools will only receive a little more than $2.9 billion and CSU schools will only receive $2.5 billion.

The proposed budget for 2010-2011 will further decrease. So, now it’s put on students to try to close the states deficit.

Why us? Why do the students always have to suffer for the mistakes the lawmakers have made?

Calif. needs to remember that students are the future teachers, nurses, lawyers, etc. of this state.

I understand that the state needs money, and making cuts are the only option.

Maybe the state could try to use other means to close the gap.

Living in Los Angeles everyone is always driving, especially on the dreaded 101 and 405 freeways. Toll booths can be placed on the highways to help relieve some pressure. 

There are several on the road, thus the Department of Motor Vehicles registrations fees would increase slightly.

This possible solutions would make drivers upset. But maybe the increase in registration prices might make the governor release the mandatory furlough days for the DMV and decrease the wait time at the DMV.

Maybe we should go to jail since Calif. is ranked 48th in education in the country and first in jail. 

Oh wait—there were already 41 students arrested for protesting at UC Berkley on Friday. 

Students have become outraged and have been protesting by the thousands at various UC campuses since news broke last week.

Nov. 30 is the last day UC and CSU schools are accepting applications for fall 2010 admissions. 

I’ve stopped filling mine out

 

 

lreyes.roundupnews@gmail.com

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