Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Wah
It's Bill Shiebler! You know... Bill Shiebler? Surely you know who he is. The UCSA president! Your representative! Don't you feel so represented?
Anyway, he's complaining about high fees. High fees are very important and people should be greatly concerned about them. Well, people other than me (fee remission, bitch!).
Since Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger released his budget proposal in January, students have made it loud and clear that California's families cannot take another fee increase and cuts to academic preparation programs. Well, Arnie didn't change his tune, so I guess there won't be any students in the UC system at all next year, since families can't take those fee increases. I'll certainly enjoy it. Those pathetic freshmen are so annoying, after all.
UC students statewide have sent over 12,000 postcards to the legislature, lobbied in-district and at the capitol and testified at budget and education committee hearings. And just last week, students faxed over 3,000 letters and made nearly 400 calls to Sacramento. Postcards! Lobbification! Testifimation! Faxacamatration! Calltrionication! How'd all that go?
However, Governor Schwarzenegger released his revisions to the 2007-08 California State Budget with much disappointment to California's hard working students and families. As in the January budget proposal, the governor has once again turned his back on higher education by maintaining a 7-10 percent increase in fees and zero funding for academic preparation programs. Oh. I see. Maybe we've got a problem with our statewide student leadership. What do you say, president of the UCSA?
In addition, the governor also indicates that this pattern of back-door taxation... Paying for services is back-door taxation?
...on students and families is likely to continue until 2011, bringing the total fee increases well over 100 percent from where they were just a few years ago. This is frustrating and it's outrageous. Well, it's good to know there's someone in charge who's feeling frustrated and outraged. That's the kind of effective leadership we've come to expect from the UCSA.
The total cost of a UC education is already expensive and increasing fees another 7-10 percent is just unacceptable. Unacceptable! Can't be accepted! Another reason why there won't be any students on campus next year.
The University of California Students Association does not accept the claims that there is no other option but to further increase the cost burden of a public higher education onto California's working families. Good to know. Maybe it would be better if it was the folks in charge of the money rejecting those claims, though.
Thus, we are even more disappointed in the governor's decision to increase fees and zero fund academic preparation programs because he clearly had options.
Thousands of students, teachers and families have voiced the need to stop these increases all together through a fee buyout that many legislators support. But instead, the governor called for an increase, a tax on the middle and working class of California. Hmm... legislators seem to be getting off pretty easy in this screed. Mostly Democrats, I think. But seriously, the UCSA isn't just a tool of the Democratic Party. Not the slightest bit.
As the California budget process nears an end, the University of California Students Association will continue to pressure legislative leaders to uphold their commitment to the future of California. It's been going so great. I have faith in its abilities.
We know the speaker is a champion for those Californians who are constantly attacked by the governor and California's students and families need him to take action. A champion! He hasn't been doing anything, but he's our champion! Go Democrats!!! Woooo! How did that voter registration drive go? Not well enough? No wonder we aren't getting results. The Party expects tribute!
Maybe the UCSA should utilize the great relations that it nurtures with the various campuses, like UC Berkeley, UCSF, and UC Davis... oh, wait...
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