Allowing defense allocations to increase dramatically while
cutting education spending is a destructive and shortsighted
policy.
The United States spent nearly $400 billion on military
expenditures this fiscal year while, at the same time, California
faces a $34.6 billion budget shortfall, forcing cuts in a variety
of areas, including education.
The list of programs to be cut at the University of California
shows how education is being adversely affected. Funding for
student services, including the Academic Advancement Program, was
slashed $6.3 million, harming assistance to lower-income students,
who have already been faced with numerous life challenges. A freeze
on faculty salaries is also causing top faculty members to consider
moving to schools where they would be better compensated.
Cuts to the education budget could have significant effects well
into the future. Due to the budget shortfalls, as many as 15,000
K-12 teachers could be laid off, leading to increased class size
and hindering student learning. Cuts are being inflicted upon
programs across the board.
This trend is harmful because most UC students come directly
from high school, and an insufficient K-12 education will hinder
their chances of being admitted into a school like UCLA and
succeeding in the future. Similarly, outreach programs for
potential UCLA students have lost $3.3 million, reducing
opportunities for students who may not apply without the program.
All of these cuts are impeding efforts to enrich the lives of UCLA
students. Outreach to less privileged students is crucial, as it
expands access to education and helps level the playing field.
Other urgent funding issues also confront the student body.
Since student fees have been hiked, some students must spend more
time at work to pay for their education, which distracts them from
school work. With minimum progress requirements, this places their
academic standing in jeopardy. For other students, fee hikes
represent a burden they can meet but are still contrary to the
spirit of affordable public education. These issues affect
virtually all students.
The fact that we are attending UCLA suggests that we have a
vision of accomplishing something worthwhile in society and
becoming productive, successful citizens. Obviously, this benefits
society in many ways, from increased tax revenues to greater
economic productivity.
As a result, it only makes sense that students should be seen as
a worthwhile investment, and money should be spent on programs that
benefit students and help make them more successful in the future,
including USAC student groups, smaller class sizes and affordable
tuition. Certainly, sacrifices will have to be made due to the
state’s economic condition, but these sacrifices should not
hinder the overall quality of the university experience.
Yet, while schools are being asked to make huge sacrifices
capable of hindering the futures of our best and brightest, the
military is spending without any real constraints. Defense spending
has increased about 20 percent since President George W. Bush
entered office.
Of course, the terrible tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001 played a major
role in Congress approving such a massive increase, as it became
clear the United States was not as secure as it had been lulled
into believing. As a result, many people argued for spending more
money on preventing bioterrorism and increasing homeland
security.
Clearly, combating terrorism must be a very high priority, and
the necessary funding must be made available. However, we must ask
ourselves whether some of the other areas of military spending,
especially those designed for large-scale confrontations with other
nations, are still necessary. The United States is the last major
superpower remaining but continues to spend hundreds of billions on
items that would be needed only in massive fighting. If schools are
to make cuts in so many essential programs, then surely the
military can decrease funding for unrealistic missile defense and
aircraft programs that haven’t produced desired results
despite years of work and billions in funding.
Some of the money saved in these areas could be directed at
states to strengthen public education, which is one of the first
spending items to be cut when there are budget shortfalls. After
all, if we all agree that public education must be a top priority,
then surely money can be taken from unnecessary military
programs.
The debate over funding for military and educational priorities
is very contentious because it is clear that so much is at stake.
After experiencing Sept. 11, we must do whatever is necessary to
prevent such tragedies. However, most people would also agree that
investing in the education and training of students is also crucial
to securing the nation’s future.
I believe that both can be done, but we must reassess our
military commitments and specific military spending priorities so
that the nation is both safer and more capable of educating its
younger generation. To do otherwise would sell our youth and our
nation short.