HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY WEDNESday Issue MARCH 16, 2011 FRESNO STATE
COLLEGIAN.CSUFRESNO.EDU
SERVING CAMPUS SINCE 1922
Students rally at Capitol for higher education funding
Thousands of students from all over California braved the weather in order to get their voices heard. Their demand: No more budget cuts.
By Carlos Perez The Collegian S AC R A M E N T O — T he weather was rainy and cloudy, but the message was loud and clear: Students want legislators to stop budget cuts against higher public education funding. On Monday, thousands of California college students, faculty and staff marched to the state Capitol to demand that the legislature listen to
the students and consider higher education a greater priority when finalizing the state’s budget. M a ny s t u d e nts ar rived by bus from all par ts of California at the California Au t o m o b i l e M u s e u m i n Sacramento, where a premarch rally began. Some wore T-shirts that bore their school name, others arrived with their faces painted and a few students were dressed in full costumes. Together, however,
everybody exhibited the same message: Students want better state funding for their education. “The march means everything to us,” California State University, Los Angeles student Quiana Zermeno said. “With all the cuts that are happening, [the lawmakers] are cutting our classes, professors and some of our most important educational programs.” Cur rently, the proposed budget for the 2011 fiscal year
will cut more than $1.4 billion to higher education — community colleges will see a $400 million cut, University of California and California State University schools will experience a proposed $500 million cut. “I’m also an AB 540 student,” Zer meno said, “and paying tuition is already hard enough as it is. If [tuition rates] increase again, it will become nearly impossible for many of us to afford college or
Carlos Perez / The Collegian
any type of higher education.” I ro n i c a l ly e n o u g h , t h e downpour of effects that students will face due to cuts against education funding seemed to materialize as rain began to literally pour on students just as the march itself began. The weather didn’t stop the students, however, as they marched toward the capitol. Together, they chanted, “They say cut back, we say See RALLY, Page 3
ASI candidates face off in Monday’s debate By Michael Kincheloe The Collegian
The three candidates running for Associated Students, I n c. p r e s i d e n t f a c e d o f f Monday evening in a formal debate held in the Speech Arts building. Candidates Selena Farnesi, Daniel J. Harrison and Cesar Sanchez used this opportunity to present their platforms while answering a variety of questions covering several topics. Questions were put for-
ward to the candidates by The Collegian editor-in-chief Tony Petersen, who served as moderator, as well as by several members of the audience. Harrison claimed that him being a newcomer to the ASI gave him an advantage. “I’m the only one that doesn’t have the ASI burden on myself,” he said. “Students are frustrated with ASI right now; they’re frustrated with the current administration and the scandals that have gone on during their watch.” Sanchez, the current ASI
vice president of finance, said he felt that he was the better candidate because he had more experience interacting with students. “I’ll have an easier time relating to the average student,” Sanchez said. ASI Vice President Farnesi said that one reason she saw herself as the top candidate is that she would not make promises she couldn’t keep, and that experience would be paramount in helping her accomplish her goals. “I know that I can do a good
job because of the experience that I have within the organization,” Farnesi said. “I feel I can represent the average student because I’m currently an undergraduate, and because I’m really involved on this campus.” The issue of pay cuts for ASI members elicited a variety of responses from the candidates. Harrison said that he only needed about $500 a month to pay his bills, and would be willing to take a pay cut. “I would approve a pay cut
to around $500 if that is what is necessary to cut the ASI budget,” Harrison said. Sanchez said that he, too, was open to the idea of taking a pay cut, and would take the issue a step further if necessary. “If my stipend was stopping an essential ASI program that provides a large benefit to students, then I would actually take no pay,” Sanchez said. Farnesi said that she would not take a pay cut. See DEBATE, Page 3