Chants of “They say come back, we say fight back” echoed down South Spring Street on Wednesday as students from several University of California campuses marched in front of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office in downtown Los Angeles.
Students from UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine and UC San Diego protested Schwarzenegger’s decision to leave the Cal Grant on his list of items to cut from his 2010 state budget proposal in an attempt to reduce a $20.7 billion deficit.
The Los Angeles rally and another in Sacramento were organized by the UC Student Association, a coalition of student governments from the various UC campuses that seek to improve the affordability and quality of a UC education.
“We’re all about coming together and fighting for the issues and not waiting until the issues hit us in the face. … The Cal Grants are about to be eliminated,” said Chris Santos, UCLA’s Undergraduate Students Association Council 2010-2011 external vice president.
The Cal Grant is a financial aid scholarship provided by the California Student Aid Commission. The scholarships are the largest provider of state financial aid, according to the program’s website.
“Had it not been for Cal Grants and other forms of financial aid, I would not have been able to attend UCLA and serve (the school) in the capacity that I have,” said Cinthia Flores, a fifth-year political science student and the 2009-2010 USAC president.
The governor’s January budget proposal for 2010-2011 includes increased funding for the UC, which will largely be a reimbursement for last year’s cuts, as well as reduction and elimination of portions of the Cal Grant awards.
Options for reducing the deficit include the elimination of the competitive Cal Grants program, decoupling the Cal Grant from fee increases, which would not increase award amounts with fee increases, and capping the necessary income level for a grant, regardless of inflation.
Protesters said the governor’s decision will not only have implications for this year, but for the future as well.
“It’s really going to impact the face and makeup of this state,” Flores said. “Unless we prioritize education, there is no hope for this state.”
Following the march up and down South Spring Street, several representatives from each of the attending UC campuses addressed the crowd.
“(Cal Grants) are monumental in making sure that the diversity of our UC system is maintained,” said Jasmine Hill, the 2010-2011 USAC president.
After the speakers concluded, a six-member delegation of the UC Student Association, including Santos; Patrick Ahrens, a third-year political science student at UCLA; Erienne Overli, a second-year political science student; and Adam Swart, a first-year political science student, were escorted by California Highway Patrol officers to the governor’s office on the 16th floor.
The students took signed petitions demanding that cuts not be made to the Cal Grant program. They met with a deputy director and member of the governor’s staff who informed them that while the governor prioritizes higher education, there will still be cuts and that no promises regarding the future of the Cal Grants could be made.
Schwarzenegger’s revised budget proposal will be released today and will specify what portions of the Cal Grant will be affected.