Representatives from the Graduate Students Association and the
Undergraduate Students Association Council returned Monday from
lobbying in Sacramento, determined to continue working with
legislators to prevent student fee increases.
The lobby day, organized by the University of California
Students Association, was aimed at discussing with legislators the
status of the state budget in terms of the impact of student fee
increases and cuts in student services.
Steve Klass, chairman of UCSA, said responses from legislators
were mixed, with most willing to listen to student ideas. He added
that students visiting some legislators faced “terrible
reception.”
Klass said though there is no guarantee that legislators will
change their votes concerning the fee increase, the campaign was
still a success because of student participation and the number of
legislators they were able to visit.
At the very least, he said, the visits are going to change
legislators’ views on how the increase is going to affect
students, especially in terms of student services such as academic
outreach programs.
During the lobby day, students from different colleges and
universities met with legislators of their respective districts.
UCLA representatives met with 16 legislators they targeted,
including the chairwoman of budget committee and chairman of higher
education committee for the state Assembly.
“The message we got from legislators is that outreach is
most important to them because these programs are needed to help
student compete fairly in the admissions policy,” said Matt
Kaczmarek, USAC chief of staff in the external vice
president’s office and board member of UCSA.
Kaczmarek will be going back to Sacramento today to testify on
behalf of UCSA before the Assembly Budget Committee during its
hearing of the UC budget.
He added that UCSA will continue to lobby legislators because
“they have more political power to pressure the regents not
to raise the fees.”
In between legislative visits, participating students held a
rally on the south steps of the state Capitol, chanting against fee
increases.
During the rally, Senator Gloria Romero, D-Calif. expressed her
support for the campaign and emphasized the importance of higher
education.
Hanish Rathod, GSA external vice president and UCSA board member
who went on the trip, said he also tried to inform legislators of
fee increases from graduate students’ perspective.
Because graduate students do not receive federal aid, most have
to rely on fellowships and grants from their departments or
individual organizations to finance their education.
The possible fee increase is not going to be balanced out by
aid, Rathod said. Many graduate students would then be forced to
take on more loans, increase their teaching and research hours, or
take outside jobs, he said.
The legislative visits, lasting well into the evening, were
followed by a reception held to show appreciation for legislators
who are supportive of the cause.
The next step in UCSA’s “No More Tuition
Increase” campaign is to continue working with legislative
offices and providing them with requested information, Rathod
said.
Klass added that UCSA “will also be targeting key members
of specific legislative committees to make sure they discuss our
concerns within their committees.”
UCSA will also be urging students to take part in a rally that
will take place at the next UC Regents meeting in May at UC San
Francisco.