California students have begun a series of meetings with Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger to discuss affordability at state colleges
and universities in the midst of early campaigning for this
fall’s gubernatorial election.
In a meeting initiated by the governor, students from the
University of California and California State University spoke with
Schwarzenegger at his office in Sacramento last week to consider
whether the budget could support a lengthened student fees freeze
and increases to funding for Cal Grant scholarships, which are
based on merit and need, said UC Student Association Legislative
Director Linda Nguy.
“The governor’s office assured us that continuing
the fees freeze was a priority, but they couldn’t give us
anything definite,” said Anu Joshi, UCSA president.
Both Phil Angelides and Steve Westley, the candidates for the
democratic primaries and Schwarzenegger’s potential rivals,
have made ambitious promises for rolling back fees as part of their
campaign platforms.
The chance the fee freeze will last more than this year lies on
the health of state revenues, said Katherine McLane, spokeswoman
for Schwarzenegger.
“The governor is optimistic that, as our revenues grow and
improve, we can take the burden off of our students,” McLane
said.
Though fees increased sharply though the 2005-2006 year, they
will not increase for 2006-2007 as the governor allocated $125
million in state funds to buy out fee increases the UC Board of
Regents had voted on last November.
Ruth Obel-Jorgensen, organizing director of the UC Students
Association, said she is optimistic that student issues were a true
priority and not only a campaign ploy.
“Of course all of this plays into the election, but
Schwarzenegger isn’t the only one that does it, it’s
Angelides and Westley too,” Obel-Jorgensen said. “But
if it was not for students pushing this issue, this wouldn’t
be on the table right now. Students should be proud candidates are
using (improvement of higher education) as a platform.”
Joshi said she was excited about UCSA’s involvement in the
governor’s decisions.
“The most important accomplishment last week was making a
meeting with him in the future,” Joshi said.
“It’s really historic that the students have such
access to the governor.”
The meeting took place last Thursday the night before
Schwarzenegger established the Strategic Growth Plan for Schools, a
$10.4 billion obligation bond measure for state schools and
colleges to be voted on in November.
“His office was very busy … with negotiations and the
fact that he made a special appearance showed that he cared and
that we were a priority,” Nguy said.
The ballot measure would increase the maximum Cal Grants reward
by more than a thousand dollars as well.
UCSA’s last meeting with Schwarzenegger’s office was
December 2005 and was followed by the announcement of the fee
freeze.
“It’s important that they think of us as an
important constituent, and it says a lot about our
organization,” Joshi said.
“For the last few months (the governor) has had very
constructive back and forth dialogues with students and he hopes to
continue that as a tradition throughout his administration,”
McLane said.