Week 6 Spring Issue 214.06

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UT

NIVERSITY IMES

February 27, 2017

www.csulauniversitytimes.com

C A L I F O R N I A S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y, L O S A N G E L E S

New bill to freeze tuition at California public colleges

The Student Protection Act, if passed, will stop tuition increases for CSUs and California Community Colleges until 2020. Mimi Li Staff Reporter

AB 393, titled the Student Protection Act, was introduced by California Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton) on February 9. It is sponsored by the California Faculty Association (CFA), a union representing over 27,000 faculty members across CSU campuses. Citing the increasingly high

rates of student debt and the cost of living, homelessness in the CSU student population, and the educational pursuits of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students as reasons for the proposed tuition freeze, the bill would prohibit tuition increases in the CSUs and California Community Colleges and freeze the cost of tuition to its amount charged as of Dec. 31, 2016 until 2020. It would also urge the UC Regents to adopt similar policies. Last November, the CSU Board of Trustees announced a potential systemwide tuition increase of five percent to cover the CSU budget deficit. In response, many students from Students for Quality Education, a statewide student grassroots organization, protested the proposed tuition

Issue 214.06

hike outside the Board of Trustees meeting in Long Beach with tombstone-like signs, claiming they were the “Walking Debt.” The vote on the item was postponed until March 2017. Assemblywoman QuirkSilva, held a press conference last Tuesday at Cal State Sacramento alongside CSU faculty and students who supported the bill. The press conference was live streamed on Quirk-Silva’s Facebook page, and the video is still available for viewing. “This moratorium will give students and their families a peace of mind that the already high cost of higher education will be capped for the near future as the legislature works on long-term funding solutions for the three (Continued to Page 4)

California State Assembly

A Night in New Orleans

Mardi Gras goers sway the night away Carlos Gomez Web Editor On Thursday, Feb. 23, the Center for Student Involvement (CSI) hosted Cal State LA’s annual Mardi Gras celebration in the University Student Union (U-SU), featuring a live swamp tour, live music, and free food. Mardi Gras was first celebrated by French explorers in Louisiana in 1699. The celebrations back then involved street parties and big dinners, which are very similar to the way Mardi Gras is celebrated today across the world today. Mardi Gras was outlawed when the Spanish took over New Orleans, but was reinstated in 1812 when Louisiana became a part of the United States. At the event, students were greeted with balloons and decorations in traditional Mardi Gras colors: yellow, green, and purple. Jasmine Salgado, Community and

Major Events Assistant, spoke about her view of the event. “We do this event because it’s a long tradition, as well as the largest event on campus. CSI has a lot of free events, which students don’t know about, but we encourage everyone

NEWS

featured iconic dishes such as jambalaya and gumbo. In addition to the meal, Cal State LA’s very own band “The Overtones” entertained the audience with hits such as “Santeria”, “Are You Gonna Be My Girl”, and “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”. While playing their rendition of the popular song “Hey Ya” by Outkast, students got out of their seats to dance in the middle of the room, providing an even friendlier environment for everyone. High energy echoed throughout the event, especially at the highly acclaimed swamp tour, where students were given the opportunity to get up close and personal with creatures that are usually not seen in California. Some of the creatures on display were a python, an iguana, and an Cara Gonzales The animal trainer is holding a barn owl in the Swamp Tour alligator. to come and relax from all everyone. One memorable “It was nice to walk into a the studying they do,” said performer was a man walking place with such an interactive Salgado. on stilts. environment, I got to meet new people and fun,” Throughout the U-SU, Students had the Said David Ortiz, have a first year people in festive costumes opportunity to experience biology major who amazed walked around, bringing New Orleans cuisine in the (Continued to Page 2) smiles and entertainment to Los Angeles Room, which

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

FEATURE Page 3 --

"Growing Threats of Deportation"

Sharon Quirk-Silva

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"Challenging the Views of Beauty"

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"Performing Arts Initiative places Students..."


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