Email after email, students have been informed of the ‘possible’ increases in tuition that are to come with each new semester. Unfortunately most of these warnings have become a harsh reality, and students and teachers alike are feeling the impact.
Just last Wednesday, students received news that a 32 percent increase in tuition may come into effect for the upcoming school year of 2011-2012. This decision was made by Cal State University officials as a way to prepare for a possible $1 billion cut in state funding to the 23-campus CSU system. President F. King Alexander told the Daily 49er in an interview that with such a significant cut there may be discussions to close California’s smallest CSU campuses.
With so much already weighing in on students today, news of these rising costs have left many frustrated and some discouraged. Psychology major, Aimen Khouraki has been trying to get into an impacted biology course since he started a year ago. “I registered as soon as I could for the summer session and I am still wait-listed as 44th on the list,” Khouraki says, “and since they won’t open a new session I guess I have no other choice but to keep trying until I get in.”
With classes already scarce and departments already so impacted, a prospective $68 million state cut to CSULB would undoubtedly mean even more reductions in classes and services for students and severe limitations for students seeking admission into the university.
CSU's have already suffered dramatic reductions to their budget since the downfall of the economy. For 2009-2010, the state reduced the CSU budget by $57.1 million. The CSU Chancellor’s Office apportioned $44 million of that to CSULB. This led to $4.5 million in mandatory cost increases associated with health benefits, utilities, faculty salary programs, and new space adjustments. In total, CSULB’s budget problem was over $54 million. Academic Affairs was affected by a loss of $3.1 million due to enrollment downsizing as classes were eliminated and part-time faculty reduced.
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| Graph showing the rise in CSU tuition since 2001. Taken from Daily49er.com |
It is not students alone who are upset by the reductions, as faculty and staff have also had to compromise their own workloads and take on classes so full at times students can barely find an open seat.
“Instructors have had to rotate as student advisers since we cannot afford to have our own advisers in the department anymore,” said Karadjov, who is a Professor and Adviser in the Department of Journalism.
The protest, held on campus April 13, expressed these frustrations and concerns as nearly 500-600 faculty members and students gathered near the campus bell tower.
Faculty and staff members spoke to the enthusiastic crowd and encouraged students that it is their right to receive fair and affordable education.
Protestors then marched on to Brotman Hall chanting slogans such as, "hey-hey ho-ho, budget cuts have got to go" and "they say cut back, we say fight back!"
These and many other students have expressed their concern and gathered at campuses nationwide to protest that cuts be taken from executives and administrators rather than faculty and staff, and that tuition not be increase.
Psychology major, Amanda Collings mentioned how glad she is to be graduating this year while looking on at the rally. “I think that I was lucky to get into the school when I did and I’m happy to be getting out when I am. "Tuition just keeps getting higher and higher and I feel sorry for everyone who is still here and still trying to get in.”
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| Students and teachers gather in protest at the CSULB bell tower. Photo taken by Brittany Hays |
President F. King Alexander told the Daily 39er that such a cut could ultimately result in the elimination of 5,600 courses and course sections, state funding for 13,300 students and a job reduction of 535 CSULB staff.
In a nation that places such high value on higher education, it is still one of the first to be cut when the economy is struggling. It is difficult to ensure a prosperous future for our country, if the ones who will potentially be leading it can barely afford to make ends meet. With rising gas prices, high unemployment and rising tuition, today’s students are facing more pressures than ever before.
Although we may not be able to turn the economy around, we still have a voice as generations of students before us, and by standing up for our rights we are at least one step closer to progress and change than we are doing nothing. At the end of the day, struggling students just have to remind themselves that that hard earned diploma will all be worth it.
