California might have changed its governor, but the state is
still facing a massive budget deficit, and today UCLA will host a
forum to discuss the effects of the state’s budget
crisis.
The forum will be open to the general public, and will bring
together different experts from the California State University
system, the University of California and community colleges,
as well as business and government professionals who will explain
the origins of the deficit and propose ways to overcome it.
This is the first such forum organized by the UC Office of the
President, and it could not have come at a more
appropriate time. Just last week, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
announced a proposition to slash $3.8 billion from the budget to
combat the expected state budget shortfall. Financial experts have
said it would total at least $17 billion.
The proposed cuts would affect several programs, including
ending art therapy for the developmentally disabled and reducing
food stamp eligibility.
Also on the table are cuts in funding for outreach programs at
public universities, programs many believe are responsible for
increasing the number of underprivileged students in higher
education.
Colleen Bentley-Adler, a spokeswoman for the CSU chancellor, and
forum participant Charles Reed said the chancellor hopes the
collection of experts can effectively address the proposed cuts by
the governor.
“The budget crisis has a major impact. It is important
that all of higher education present a unified front to the
governor to show how devastating these cuts would be to access and
quality,” Bentley-Adler said.
Along with Reed, participants in the forum include UC President
Robert Dynes, California Community Colleges Chancellor Thomas
Nussbaum and Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle.
Though students will not be among the forum’s speakers,
members of the Undergraduate Students Association Council will be
attending the event as observers.
“By attending, council members will be able to receive
important info on budget issues, as well as gain a different
perspective and ask critical questions,” said USAC President
Anica McKesey.
The forum will consist of three successive panels.
The first panel will explain the background of the state budget
crisis, the second will present a variety of potential reforms to
combat the budget deficit, and the third will finally discuss the
budget deficit solely in relation to higher education.
After each panel, observers will get 15 minutes to ask questions
from the panelists.
Steve Olsen, UCLA’s vice chancellor of finance and a
participant in the higher education panel, said the focus of the
forum was to bring attention to the budget crisis, but not
necessarily to form concrete solutions.
“I would be very surprised if someone comes up with a
magic formula to solve the entire issue. The budget deficit is a
very complicated problem, and no solution will be found in a few
hours,” Olsen said.
Olsen added that even if no solutions are presented, the event
is still valuable to members of the public since they will be able
to have their budget questions answered by experts of the
subject.
Bentley-Adler also emphasized the importance of student
participation in the forum, saying it is the students who will be
most impacted by any cuts.
She added that though events such as this are beneficial, it is
the students who will ultimately be the most valuable in
influencing Sacramento.
“Students should be going to Sacramento and letting the
governor and legislators know how the cuts will influence them. We
can tell the governor and legislators, but when they hear it from
students, it will be much more effective,” Bentley-Adler
said.
The forum will take place today at
1 p.m. at Covel Commons. Admission is free and open to the
public. For more information, log on to http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/budgetforum.