SUBMITTED BY: Lydia Avila
My student fees have now increased more than 50 percent from the time I started my UCLA career a mere three years ago.
The ironic part is that at UCLA we are currently experiencing a 10 percent reduction in student services, a 20 percent increase in class sizes, 165 fewer course offerings than a year ago, 109 fewer TAs and 95 fewer lecturers. This has all created a less than ideal educational environment, to say the least.
To make matters worse, the university is conducting a “review” of academic programs which will result in the “shrinkage” of academic programs; probably reducing the value of a UCLA degree in the process.
We pay more ““ we get less.
Why the drastic measures? The state has cut hundreds of millions from UCs. At a national level, we are seeing a threat to financial aid. What will be next?
One would assume that anyone could see the overwhelming benefit of continuing to invest in the United States’ youth ““ who will inevitably be the ones who will help pull this country out of the economic crisis it is in. After all, for every $1 taxpayers invest in UCLA, almost $15 in economic activity, for a total of $9.3 billion, is produced.
Evidently, however, the state has decided that this is not enough of a reason to continue investing in us. Instead, the state has deemed that it is a better idea to invest in prisons. This has been made quite obvious by the fact that 10 percent of the state budget goes to prisons, while only 9 percent goes to universities.
California state universities and colleges as well as community colleges are also facing major challenges. Jeff Bleich, chairman of the California State University Board of Trustees, recently delivered a speech to the CSU Board stating that he too believes California is on the verge of destroying its public education system. For every $1 the state invests in a CSU student, it receives $4.41 in return. But that doesn’t seem to matter either since these educational institutions are also receiving less and less economic aid.
Divesting from students will only result in a downward economic spiral.
Currently, six UC campuses are ranked among the national top 15 public universities in U.S. News & World Report’s 2010 America’s Best Colleges guide. Yet, with the potential elimination of Pell Grants, threats Cal Grants have faced and a decrease in the amount of incoming freshmen, it is likely that many Californians will no longer be able to enjoy a quality educational system in their home state.
Some may think, “So what? I (or my parents) can afford to pay another $1,000 for my education.” But, you should also ask yourself: When will fee hikes end? The state is nowhere near the end of its economic crisis. Furthermore, you must realize that this will be a permanent increase; it’s not like in 10 years, the regents will say, “You know what? We’re out of an economic crisis so we’ll just go back to charging y’all less.”
I urge you all to voice your dissatisfaction with the price of your public education. Do it for your younger siblings, cousins, community members and friends who may not be able to afford an education in the near future.
If you do not defend your right to an affordable education, who will?
Avila is a fourth-year geography student and internal chair of the Community Programs Office Student Association.