By snoadmin
Cal State Long Beach students and faculty protested Wednesday against budget cuts that might slash funding to the Cal State University by as much $1 billion.
The protest, which started at 12 p.m. near the campus bell tower, attracted as many as 500-600 faculty members and students, according to Toni Beron, CSULB vice president of public relations.
Protesters met to listen to speakers and march. One of the first speakers was Donald Bessom, a graduate student in political science.
“I will not stand by while my teachers are afraid to speak up. I will not stand by as my students beg me for help,” said Bessom, who is the president of the Political Science Graduate Student Association. “If these cuts go through, I will not be able to afford the three units I need to graduate next semester.”
As the protesters marched toward a gated Brotman Hall, they chanted slogans including, “hey-hey ho-ho, budget cuts have got to go” and “they say cut back, we say fight back!”
The protest seemed to intensify as faculty and students began to march.
“Every time we raise fees, we take people out of the university, we cut access for people who have never ever had a chance to go to college in their entire family,” said Douglas Foraste, classics professor and CSULB California Faculty Association vice president, when he reached Brotman Hall.
Organized by the CFA, a union of 23,000 professors and faculty members who teach at CSUs, the protest included gospel singers and guest speakers who voiced their concerns about recent tuition hikes and budget cuts.
“Balancing California’s budget on the backs of students as well as the poor, disabled and the elderly is unconscionable, and intolerable and we must be clear about what we have to do,” said Ted Stolze, a lecturer at CSULB and speaker at the event. Stolze, who is also a lecturer representative for the CFA, expressed concerns about the lack of funding to higher education.
The CSU currently faces a $500 million reduction in state funding for the 2011-12 academic year. However, a $1 billion reduction seems likely.
The $500 million reduction, which is being called a “best case” scenario by CSULB, relies on the extension of three state taxes.
If the taxes are not extended, the CSU system will likely face a $1 billion decrease, while CSULB will likely face a $68 million dollar cut.
President F. King Alexander said such a cut could result in the elimination of 5,600 courses and course sections, state funding for 13,300 students and the job reduction of 535 CSULB staff.
“A reduction of this magnitude in a single year will undoubtedly … severely limit access for students seeking admission into CSULB,” said Alexander in an email. “… The reality is that there is no pain-free way to accomplish spending reductions of this magnitude.”
Disclaimer: The Daily 49er is not responsible for Postings made on www.daily49er.wpengine.com. Persons commenting are solely responsible for Postings made on this website. Persons commenting agree to the Terms of Use of the website. If Postings do not abide by the Rules of Conduct or Posting Regulations as listed in the Postings Policy, the Daily 49er has all rights to delete Postings as it deems necessary. The Daily 49er strongly advises individuals to not abuse their First Amendment rights, and to avoid language suggestive of hate speech. This site also encourages users to make Postings relevant to the article or other Postings.
