Youth Radio - Topic: UC budget cuts

Budget Cuts Spark Protest at UC Irvine

rpereira — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:29:33 -0500

By Prairie Park

September 24, 2009 seemed like a normal first day of school: students were filled with anticipation and excitement for the school year. Even while I walked along Ring Road at 9:30 a.m.(a.k.a. "the crack of dawn" for many college students), there was an array of tables set up to snatch any and every student’s attention. As I wandered through the seemingly never-ending rows of fraternity and club members inviting me to their Welcome Week events, I thought to myself, “Ah, the sweet smell of cardstock in the morning.”

However, as I walked through the less crowded paths to my morning class, I heard small clusters of groups here and there discussing the walkout that was scheduled to take place. Students were deciding whether or not they would attend the rally at noon.

When I got to class, more of my classmates were talking about the walkout. Glad to eavesdrop, I heard one student explaining the effects of the budget cuts and why the walkout was so important. In another conversation, I heard a student talking about how his class was canceled because of the walkout. The professor had written them an email saying, “No class today. UCI under siege.” Even my professor decided to make his opening statement for the year about the positive aspects of the walkout and went on to explain to us why he had decided to continue on with class as scheduled rather than participate in the walkout for the whole day.

When I ended class and made my way to the flagpoles for the rally, I could hear the chants of the walkout participants from afar -- “Workers, students must unite!” Drawing nearer, I saw that an ever-growing whirlpool of bodies and signs blocked the whole stretch of Ring Road between the Administration Building and the Social Sciences. Students were forced to either wait until the march ended or to go down into Aldrich Park and around the commotion.

Once it hit noon, the marchers settled down for the rally and I made my way toward the outskirts of the crowd -- wanting not only to be part of the audience but also observe the passersby and their reactions to the rally. I was pleased to see the walkout piqued the interest of many more students and professors than is usual for UCI. The steps by the flagpole were packed and there were rows of people standing up top, craning their necks to not only hear, but see the keynote speakers relay their sentiments about the budget cuts and their effects. However, as person after person went on about the short and long-term problems that UC President Mark Yudoff is creating with his antics, I noticed that out of the whole of UCI, there was only a small percentage of the school in this comparatively large crowd. My heart sank a little to see all of my schoolmates that were passing by with huffs of complaints about the sections blocked off by rally participants and the students who did not even give a second glance our way. The apathy of my fellow students cast a large shadow on my initially excited outlook.

September 25, 2009 : I woke up this morning and checked websites and newspapers to see if the rallies across UC campuses had made the headlines. As dejected as I was yesterday, my spirits were raised as I saw the thousands of students and professors that participated in the rallies elsewhere. People all over the UCs making a difference just by their presence. It made me realize that although UCI may not have seemed like a huge participant in the walkouts, for us the walkout rally was a huge feat. Never before had I seen so many attend a rally at the flagpoles. Never before had I run into so many professors at a sole activity. Each person there for their individual reasons, but united for the same cause.

Prairie Park, UCI English student, 4th year.

Previously:

UCs Walkout Against Budget Cuts

denise — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:57:17 -0500

Faculty and students of UC campuses are taking the system's budget cut crisis into their own hands and walking out on Thursday Sept 24th. It’s been announced that 10 UCs are taking part of this walkout--UC Berkeley being one of them. This year alone UC faculty experienced a cut of 4-10 percent in their salary, including 26 furlough days. Students are being hit by the budget squeeze as well. There has been an increase in tuition, less financial aid is available and school resources have been cut.

According to Dan Mogulos, Executive Director of Public Affairs at UC Berkeley: “last year in the fall 1500 classes were held on Thursday, there is no way of knowing how many classes we’ll be canceled for that day.” Mongulos says the number of faculty participating—as of right now—is 100 out of 2130 faculty members. Mongulos says this number is expected to change as the day gets closer.

According to Mongulos faculty members have the right to walkout, but before they do they need to ensure their students have material to work on. “If they—professors—walkout, they have to notify the students ahead of time and make sure the course material is done.”

More after the jump...

John Hurts, a professor in the graduate division at Cal, says he will be walking out along with his students “I think if anyone believes in public education and higher education... it’s important to support it—the walkout”

Hurts has been a professor for the past 50 years and says this is the worst case of budget cuts he has ever seen. The budget cuts have forced him to reject students this semester. “A lot of my courses have lost their GSI (Graduate Student Instructor) I can’t offer many sections. This fall I supervised at our undergraduate minor in education and we turned away almost 300 students.” He hopes that by walking out it will show people that UC faculties are not accepting the cuts and will fight until the end.

One thing both Hurt and Mongulos agree on is that it’s going to take more than one walkout to make a case to the California State Legislature—explaining that there is no better investment than in higher education.

Previously on Youth Radio:

Budget Cuts Force Students To Work Multiple Jobs

denise — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:59:25 -0500

University of California leaders decided to move forward to cut 4-10 percent of employees’ salaries and to take 11 to 26 furlough days.

• Faculty furlough days will vary depending on academic or 12-month calendars.
• Berkeley Lab employees are exempted under UC's contract with the U.S. Department of Energy.
• Most student employees, such as graduate students, also are exempted, as well as personnel whose funding comes entirely from contracts and grants.
• To ensure essential patient services are not disrupted, alternate plans for achieving the required savings for some or all of the medical centers may be considered.
• Employees working reduced hours under the START program also may be exempt, if their reduced pay under START is already equal to or greater than the proposed cuts.
• Implementation of the plan for represented employees will be subject to collective bargaining agreements and all applicable laws.
This plan is expected to address approximately a quarter of the $813 million budget shortfall. Read more at "University of California"

Are students getting the shorter end of the stick? That’s what it seems like for 21–year-old anthropology major Richard Jimenez of UC Santa Barbara. Jimenez is the first to go to college in his family and received a full ride until now. His financial aid was cut in half and he is now forced to get loans, grants, scholarships and work two jobs to pay his tuition. Jimenez works as an office assistant at UCSB Arts and Lectures and a teller at Chase bank.

Have you been affected by UC’s budget cuts?
Student hours have been cut and places for us to study are no longer open late. People who used to study late at our dorms are now heading towards the library—the only place that stays opens until 12am. There aren’t many places for us study. One coffee shop that was part of our school was cut; they are closing at 6pm instead of 9pm. Classes are being cut. Classes that are needed for students’ majors are not being offered as much. Everybody is fighting for those classes. My major is anthropology and there aren’t many choices because they’re closing classes. It’s gotten to the point where I don’t plan ahead because the classes that I want to take are closed, so I have to get what’s open and snatch it.

Will you receive financial aid next semester?
Yes, but my financial aid will be reduced. I have to take out loans for the first time…. I went online and I saw I was eligible for loans and I was like, “what are all these loans?” I had my friend help me because I didn’t know the difference between this loan and the other one. I was expecting the cut because of the budget cuts, so I wasn’t too surprised.

How much did your financial aid get cut?
For the past 3 years it covered 100 percent of my tuition and I still had money for books Now, I have to make up half of my tuition and on top of that I have to buy books and personal necessities.

How will you pay for your tuition now?
I have a job right now but I don’t get a lot of hours … at least it is something. I also started working at a bank and I’ll be working full time. I applied at the bank thinking that it’s going to help me out with understanding loans. My parents are also helping me. They each have two jobs. There are times that my mom doesn’t come home and stays at her job instead. My dad only comes home just to switch work clothes.

What are your future goals once you graduate?
I want to pursue graduate school. I want to continue and get into advertising. When I finish I have to pay for all those loans and that’s why I decided to get a job. I have to save money for when graduation comes because loans will be waiting for me. I have to save money this year.

What keeps you motivated through out these hard times?
Throughout this process I keep reminding myself that I have to continue and save money. I can leave any time; no one is forcing me to continue school, but I do this because I want to. I want this education and I’ll do anything to get it and finish it.

Previously: