Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s revised state budget projects more than $1.5 billion in cuts to public education. More than $1 billion is to be cut from K-12 grade education and $660 million from California’s two public university systems—the California State University (CSU) and the University of California (UC). The state government promises modest funding increases in 2005. The budget also authorizes a “modest boost” to California’s 109 community colleges. These colleges are expected to absorb students unable to enter the two university systems due to freshman and transfer enrollment cuts and financial inability because of tuition increases. The budget estimates this “boost” will cover the 7,000 additional students redirected to the community colleges from the CSU and UC. Some estimates, however, show that 20,000 eligible students will be turned away from the CSU alone.

At San Francisco State these cuts translate into the elimination of five undergraduate degree programs, five graduate degree programs, and the move of two academic programs to seek self-financing.

As a result, SFSU students will face higher tuition costs.

In addition to the cuts in programs, students are being asked to pay higher tuition fees. Undergraduate fees in the CSU and UC systems will be increased 14 percent for the 2004-2005 school year, followed by an annual 8 percent fee increase the next two years. Graduate fees will rise 20 percent next year and 10 percent annually the following two years.

These hikes come on top of already swollen tuition fees. Over the last two years undergraduate fees have risen 40 percent. Tuition in community colleges has jumped 44 percent during the same period.

The current education cuts are simply a continuation of the policies carried out by the previous Democratic Party administration of Governor Gray Davis. In March and April of 2003, Davis signed into law bills that amounted to roughly $2.5 billion in education cuts, promising to restore some funding in the 2003-2004 budget. At the same time, while crying “budget crisis” and cutting money for education and social services, capitalist politicians from both parties continue to pay out billions in high interest bond payments to California’s wealthiest families every year directly from the state budget.

The walkout at San Francisco State and Long Beach State are part of mobilizations by students in California since March in response to the cuts in education. In March, 8,000 community college students, teachers, and faculty rallied in Sacramento—the state capital—against the rising tuition fees. High school students in West Contra Costa County, outside San Francisco, walked out in April. These actions supplement the many demonstrations and rallies that have been taking place on individual campuses within all three public university/community college systems.

After the May 12 walkout at San Francisco State, Industrial Arts major and walkout organizer Yuko Matayoshi reflected, “It was both good and bad; it was successful but we still have work to do. We need to educate ourselves and involve all California students because it’s our future.”

Students continue to have organizing meetings to plan further actions. On May 26, students at CSU Hayward will have a rally against the cuts. For updates on these actions check www.protestfeehikes.org.

Emily Paul is a student at San Francisco State University and a member of the Young Socialists.  
 
 
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