GOVERNOR, THE “PRICE IS WRONG” FOR HIGHER EDUCATION IN CALIFORNIA

Many politicians are claiming that students can handle the increased burden or that tough sacrifices must be made in order to obtain a higher education. This is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the public, for not only has the price for education gone up, but the people who have access to the university because of it, has gone down. This is why it is also increasingly important to invest in Academic Preparations Programs. These programs, including Student Initiated Outreach, work directly with California’s diverse and underrepresented communities to help break through the barriers to access a UC education.

California’s public universities are being privatized at exponential rates and financial aid is not keeping pace with the rising cost of a higher education. Who is really getting in? Who can actually afford a UC education? These are the tough questions that cannot be avoided or swept under the rug. The University of California has seen fee increases over 79% in the last 5 years and we are only fooling ourselves if we continue to call this public education.

The Governor made a promise to prioritize higher education for all California’s students and families. Promises like this cannot be made lightly or with reckless intent. Last year the Governor made his first move in the right direction when he proposed to buy out UC fee increases and once again students are prepared to hold him accountable to his promises.

UC students turned out in record number in November because they know that their vote is their power and now they’re prepared to use that power. UCSA did not register and turn out tens of thousands of students to vote so that our issues would be ignored, de-prioritized, or attacked. UC students are taking action to hold the Governor and the legislature accountable to their commitment to an affordable and accessible higher education in 2007-08. UC students are demanding a fee freeze and the restoration of Academic Preparation funding to $33 million. Today hundreds of calls are being made to the Governor and legislators today letting our elected officials know that The “Price is Wrong” for higher education.”

Bill Shiebler is the president of the University of California Student Association and the UC Santa Barbara Associated Students External Vice President of Statewide Affairs. Mr. Shiebler is currently an undergraduate sociology major at UCSB.

The University of California Student Association (UCSA) is a coalition representing the over 200,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students at the University of California. UCSA is the official voice of UC Students to the Regents, the legislature, the office of the Governor, and the Office of the President. UCSA's mission is empower students to advocate on their own behalf for the accessibility, affordability, and quality of the University of California system.