It is not a revolution or a movement by any means. But, UC and CSU students are taking to the steps of the very educational institutions that they go to in order to ensure that their voices are being heard. They are civically engaging in the process by protesting the changes that will be implemented within the system of higher education budget cuts and an increase in tuition. There is, however, an alternative solution that has been proposed by Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico (D-Fremont). Torrico’s AB 656 bill would charge a 9.9 percent oil severance tax that would help toward funding the California Higher Education Fund, which is created through the legislation. As it is, both Texas and Alaska have similar oil taxes in place that financially beneficial their systems of higher education. California is the third-largest oil producing state in the nation and the only oil producing state that does not have such a fee attached to drilling. AB 656 is projected to inject more than $1.3 billion into community colleges and public universities. California State Universities would receive the majority of the revenue at 60 percent, while UC’s will get 30 percent and community colleges would account for 10 percent. The 10 percent that is allocated for the community colleges may seem insignificant when compared to what the rest of higher education will achieve if this piece of legislation is passed in Sacramento. However, the totality of the economic free fall has already hit this campus. Ohlone has a current monetary deficit of $700,000, to which the only ideas by our administration regarding generating money have been furlough days, pay cuts and layoffs. Salaries and subsequent retirement benefits constitute 85 percent of Ohone’s expenditures. Last week, there were discussions that the Transfer Center would be eliminated and marginalized to be self-serve only. And the ASOC fought back in retaliation by collecting signatures from the student body during their annual Thanksgiving feast as well as in classes. They opted to get involved and fight as the voice of the student populace. The Board of Trustees also postponed their decision to lay off six members of the California School Employees Association (CSEA) at their last meeting until they gather on Dec 9. The student populace has been negatively impacted by the increasing financial quandary that is not being solved by the status quo system of higher education. California’s governor Arnold Schwarzenegger hiked the tuition cost for community college students from $20 to $26 per unit prior to the start of fall semester and the University of California’s Board of Regents passed a 32 percent tuition rate hike. Over 100 classes were cut from the Ohlone curriculum, which leads to an intense strain on the college’s resources. The pre existing law of the 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education created the CSU and UC system under the principle that admission would be granted to any eligible California student that meets the academic institution’s standards. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, Caifornia will fall 1 million college graduates short of its needs by 2025. AB 656’s downside is that it does in fact establish a broader framework for more bureaucracy dictating how money is distributed for higher education through the California Higher Education Endowment Corporation, which will be overseen by an 11- member board of representatives.The state is planning on addressing the issue of K-12 education in a special session this month. And Torrico is trying to fast-track AB 656, which is already scheduled to go before the State Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee in January. “These colleges and universities are a driving force behind the California economy. They educate and train our workforce, pull in millions in research grants and provide our state with a terrific return on our investment. But if we continue with the status quo approach of endless budget cuts and fee increases, hundreds of thousands of students will be turned away. We cannot expect to have a vibrant economy if we spend more on prisons than we do universities,” Torrico said. AB 656 does not solve for the inherent status quo, whether or not it is fast-tracked into passing. However, it would alleviate some of the burden that has been felt by students as well as faculty statewide. Torrico’s bill is not the be all end all ultimate solution. Although, at this juncture it is the only plausible answer.
By MANIKA Casterline
Opinions editor
Popularity: unranked [?]
