5 minute read
Letter to the editor: The regression of California
Dear Roundup,
The portrayal of fee raises as being merely six dollars per unit is disingenuous at best.
It takes away from the gravity of our situation.
It is not six dollars per unit, but rather $72 per full 12-unit course load. $72 represents many things to many students on our local campuses.
From a week’s groceries to someone working two jobs to a month’s phone bill for a single mother, it represents, in its totality, disincentive.
When fees were increased by seven dollars per unit in 2003 (from $11 to $18), California experienced a 5.2-percent decrease in enrollment, or slightly over 90,000 students.
After a prolonged period of growth, our own government estimates the adjusted loss in students to be near 175,000.
Turning away nearly 175,000 students for a state that is already starved for college graduates is irresponsible.
Yes, it is true that California faces bleak and uncertain financial times, both now and in the future. Nonetheless, the only remedy to that is a strong educated workforce that is ready and able to meet the challenge of replenishing our state’s coffers.
Where will these people come from if not from fouryear universities, but community colleges?
Where will our innovators and entrepreneurs come from if not here?
Who will attract businesses if not skilled, educated workers from our own state?
How many of these people will we turn away with escalating fees coupled with reductions in service?
We are hurting the very people who would be tasked with picking up the pieces of a state in ruin.
An investment in students is an investment in the viability of California.
Turning students away for momentary fiscal gain is shortsighted, misinformed and detrimental to the progress of California.
