Through a haze of pumpkin flavored liquor and political ads, I saw something I almost couldn’t believe, there is discussion of increasing student fees for the next year. Actually, I can believe that because this type of fee increase has happened before — a lot.
Every time the schools are in trouble they need our help. This is not something I’m opposed to in the general idea. What does get under my skin, and should piss you off as well, is that when we complain, we always hear that our fees only make up a small part of the overall budget. Thanks for making us feel special.
Spare some change?
The LA Times reported on October 30 that the “California State University on Friday proposed a two-step increase that would raise undergraduate fees 5 percent — or $105 — for the rest of this school year and an additional 10% — or about $440 — for next year. If the plan is approved by the Board of Trustees in early November, basic full-time undergraduate tuition next year would rise to $4,884, plus campus fees that average about $1,000.”
Is the recession not over? I was under the impression that it was because of the downward spiral that is the United States’ economy that our fees were continually rising. Now that the recession has been deemed over by major economists, shouldn’t our fees be going down? I don’t mind paying for a quality education, but even then there are limits to what anyone can pony up without going into debt. Many of us have tried to go the responsible route, which involved a stretch at a community college. I know the way I say it makes the experience sound like a prison sentence but really it was just a delay to being at a real college.
I’m not saying that Cal State Long Beach isn’t a fantastic school, which it is, but the stress of wondering whether a student can afford their fee payments might make some look elsewhere.
Follow the money
So who will save us? The government has already given more than $250 million to the Cal State University System plus another $100 million in stimulus money, so they’re tapped out. As this is an election year, the politicians are offering up their two cents.
Meg Whitman has said in her ads that “we should invest in the UC and CSU systems to stop the tuition increases and protect our ability to do innovative research. She believes we can get money from reforming California’s broken welfare system.” Take money from one place and give it to another, isn’t that what messed up our schools to begin with?
Jerry Brown also beats around the bush when it comes to helping higher education. “Higher education is also suffering in California, especially in the last decade. From a system that was essentially tuition free, fees have skyrocketed at both the University of California and California State University systems. When I was Governor, the price students paid for a higher education was a fraction of what it is today. At that time, the state devoted 3 to 4 times more to higher education than to prisons; today that ratio is even. That’s not right.”
Thank you Jerry, it’s nice to know you care, but I’m not hearing anything that sounds like a plan in that speech. Good luck in the polls by the way.
Did I say five-year plan? I meant seven
What is left to do? The Board of Trustees meet in early November, we could always go and yell at them. It doesn’t really work, but sometimes it makes you feel a little better. Other than applying for student loans and scholarships, get a second job and don’t take any classes just for fun. Bear down and muscle through your major. The number of units needed for a major is dropping all the time, so at least that will be easier.
The truth is that it’s not a great time to be a student. It’s still possible, but the fact remains that there are people who are going to have to choose between school and doing something else.
There is one thing I will recommend. Tomorrow you will have the chance to vote and decide some small part of your future. Use this power wisely, for it will be another two long years before you will have a chance to be the master of your own destiny.
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.
