"The CSU is the Solution"

            The California State University system is facing a potential crisis.  It has recently been announced that the governor intends to make a $386 million budget cut in the near future.  This effect could devastate the UC system as well as shut down the hopes of many Californians going to college.

            CSU Chico is one of the many colleges that are not going to stand around and take a passive approach on this issue.  On Tuesday, April 8, 2008, there was an all campus budget awareness meeting in the Bell Memorial Union auditorium, where over 800 students, faculty, and staff attended.  The motto was "The CSU is the Solution".  President Zing was the facilitator of the meeting, and brought the concern to the table.  He, along with all the other speakers, stressed the importance of family, and how we must all stick together.  He said that we share in the good times, sad times, and the difficult times.  “We must fight together” and “we must have a vision, courage, and action” he said.  The next proceeding speaker was Trustee, Bob Linshack.  He stated that “we want a California w/the opportunity to get a higher education.”  He also said that if this budget cut happens, it is possible to see 2/3 less of student population in the years to come because the school cannot simply provide the resources.  Following Bob was Susan Green from the department of history.  She makes it clear that the cuts are not inevitable.  We can still fight and try to convince the governor not to follow through with the budget cuts. She says that if this budget cut happens, the school will not be able to afford computers for students, reserve/library textbooks, or financial aid to students.  From 2002-2004 the governor cut $500 million from the school systems.  We are still suffering to recover from those cuts. Following Susan was Pat Gamp, the system wide president of the employee’s union. His biggest point was that if the governor makes this cut, then California will be one of the few states that spend more on its prison systems than it does on its schools.  After Pat spoke, student presidents elect, Esmeralda and Azi, spoke about what the students can do to fight this budget cut.  On April 21 there will be a student protest at the capital to try and influence the governor.  The students may also get involved by spreading the word, and just getting people aware of the crisis.

            All the speakers that spoke at the budget cut rally stated the importance of being proactive so that we can make sure that this budget cut doesn’t happen.  We need to form together and create an alliance, not only on the Chico State campus, but together with all the CSU body. By bringing awareness, we can make a difference.