United to Save Public Education

CSUs have been going through budget cuts for almost a decade and students and faculty alike have had enough. Around 200 California State Monterey Bay students and faculty demonstrated on April 13 from 12p.m.-1p.m in the Main Quad in hopes of making a statement against state-wide budget cuts. "Class-in-the Quad: Breaking down the walls of the classroom" is an appropriate name for the event where a classroom setting allowed for students and faculty to question and resist the budget cuts. Events took place at all 23 CSU campuses, each one with the united mission of accessible public education for all. An April 12 press release on the event stated: "The cuts mean tens of thousands of students will be turned away from public colleges and universities while students who do attend will accumulate more debt, face much larger class sizes, and receive pared down course offerings, among other losses to the quality of education."

In the coming school year it is expected about $500 million will need to be cut, and there may be another $1 billion budget reduction of the governor does not extend current tax policies, according to the same press release. "[The budget cuts] will threaten faculty as well as staff positions, and may result in more fee increases for students." Students who have the desire to learn and teachers who are qualified to teach them will not be able to fulfill this job with the budget cuts.

With the economic downturn many have been affected, with the largest ripples landing on California's public education. Quality education may be more important now than ever and students hope the disconnect between our future and our present situation will dissolve and policy makers will be forced to listen through these demonstrations.