Brown presents herself as student advocate at Santa Monica
College students
By James Thomas Snyder
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Gubernatorial candidate Kathleen Brown spoke at Santa Monica
College Thursday, painting herself as an advocate for students in
the statehouse and an agent of change for California.
Rallying a decidedly partisan crowd in the outdoor college
amphitheater, Brown hit on her campaign themes as they related to
her young student audience  that under four years of
leadership by Gov. Pete Wilson students have suffered most from fee
hikes and class restrictions.
"Are you ready for a change in Sacramento?" Brown asked her
crowd. "Are you ready for a Democrat for a change?"
Thursday’s rally was also a publicity vehicle for the release of
a 62-page economic plan, titled "Building a New California," in
which she outlines her vision for the state’s recovery.
But Brown stuck to targeting her young audience, pledging to
help students and their colleges by freezing fee hikes and
eliminating "B.A. differentials," a Wilson policy that charges
college graduates more to take classes at schools like SMC. Brown
also said she would expand student loans, financial aid and job
training programs. She was met with loud approval from her
supporters.
At a press conference for student journalists following her
speech, Brown talked about improving access to higher education
beyond freezing fees.
Saying Wilson has "stuck it to the students," Brown promised to
reform and streamline loan and financial aid, which she claims has
languished under a Wilson-appointed financial-aid commission.
She argued that state education across the board must be made
"one seamless network, not little Balkan empires" by coordinating
curriculum reform among secondary schools, community colleges and
state universities. She also advocated a special "college savings
bond" program to help families save for their children’s
education.
Asked why she proposed a fee freeze rather than a roll-back
program to retain the 130,000 community college students she says
were lost under Wilson, Brown replied that fiscal and political
realities dictated what could be done.
"I would make it free if I could," she said. "But we have to
work within the realm of the possible."
Outside, Brown’s visit was billed as a "Voter Registration
Rally," with Brown as the "keynote speaker." The event’s supporters
waded across the crowded campus through legions of
clipboard-equipped campaign workers, who lined up behind ironing
boards as they exhorted passers-by to register and vote.
Wilson supporters were nowhere to be seen except for a few
passing out photocopied critiques of Brown’s economic plan.
A group of 50 supporters toted signs and placards protesting the
anti-illegal immigration Proposition 187, and Wilson’s policies.
Signs read "No on 187!" and "No re-Pete! No re-Pete!" was the
supporters’ resounding cry.