WEB EXCLUSIVE

SACRAMENTO-- California colleges and universities have been hit hard by state budget cuts cuts. Fewer classes are being offered, pay cuts for staff and faculty have been handed down, and classes sizes are blooming. In response to all this, protesters against these drastic cuts have held numerous demonstrations across the state at various college campuses.

We spoke with California State Senator Loni Hancock, a member of the State Senate's Education Committee about the budget cuts. Senator Hancock discusses the root of the budget crisis and what steps are being undertaken in Sacramento to address the budget shortfall.

I am one of the hundreds of thousands of students who are worried about how budget cuts might impact the future of my education.

This academic year, San Francisco State University along with the other 22 California State University campuses had to face unprecedented funding cuts. The result of the cuts is less classes offered, an increase in the number of staff members being laid off, and mandatory furlough days for the universities. Current staff members had to face up to a 10% cut to their salary. To top it off, CSU students will essentially have to face rising school costs while being offered less classes in the coming years – a major loss for us. This has caused some students to drop out and attend a junior college because the skyrocketing costs of the state universities are unbearable.

I cannot not help but wonder if I will be able to receive my degree on time. This whole ordeal even had me considering another alternative – going to an out-of-state college. However, thanks to last-minute class offerings, I am going to stay put after all.

Though I'm not surprised by the negative impact a shortage of funds has had on schools, the impact was still worse than what I would have predicted. The way I see it, the economic recession has brought California a double-digit unemployment rate, and the less tax revenue there is, the less public funding for public institutions. With so many parts of the economy suffering, it's hard to see when institutions like the California State University system will get some relief.

Three SF State students shine a light on the impact of budget cuts in this Debate Club Ch@t Room video.

The board of trustees met this Tuesday to decide the future of the CSU system. Scheduled for discussion is a 20 percent increase in student fees, a reduction in enrollment by 32,000 students systemwide for 2010-2011, and employee furloughs as a way to address a $584 million budget shortfall.

These cuts may address the budget crisis, but how are college students impacted by these changes?

21-year-old sociology major Nathanes Duro will be a senior at Cal State San Bernardino this fall—if her financial aid goes through. Until then, she will continue to work two jobs. She is currently working as a student assistant to the associate dean of undergraduates at San Bernardino and as a student organizer at the California Faculty Association.

We spoke with Miss Duro this week.

Have you been affected by CSU budget cuts?
Yes, I have been affected by the budget cuts. This summer I dropped out of summer school because financial aid ran out. I was enrolled in two classes that cost about $1300. I depended on financial aid. Numerous students applied for financial aid but it’s first come, first serve and I was left out and had to drop out. Once I start school I will work three jobs. I’ve noticed in the past years that I can’t support myself financially. I can’t pay my bills, food, parking, books, and basic necessities. That’s why I have to juggle work and school.