Disclaimer: I would like to say that isn't meant to be a total attack on Republicans in the CA Congress. Democrats have as much to blame for trying to levy taxes during a recession when they know it would tie up budget negotiations, which is something I definitely don't believe it....to a certain extent. Dick Army was interviewed on Penn and Teller's "Bullshit" about taxes, and he said the only reason to levy taxes is to raise money. I agree. California is such a polarized state, and has two extremes in the legislature. Those democrats who want to raise fees and taxes during a recession, and Republicans who would, not only eject one of their own if they agreed to ANY taxes, but also would put the livelihood and finances of others on the line during a recession, when they need it most, in order to keep to their principles. I also want to clear up the position that the UC could use its private grants and research money to cover the losses instead of cutting budgets. Let me make this clear: The University of California is a research institute and it thrives on private grants for such. It would be going against the purpose of the university to use that money for anything but research. These grants are specifically for certain areas of research. People who donate to the UC, donate to programs of their choice, whether its the alumni association or Biomed engineering research on stem cells. Whatever the program, that money will go to that program for the purposes of that program and nothing else. It would be foolish to divert it.
This post is not about politics, even though my first paragraph seems like a pot shot at Republicans. This post is about how important education is, and how it should be a priority for ALL governments to have equal access to education. By cutting funds from education, even under the guise that the money will be returned, is still an egregious thing to do, and I will be against it on ALL conditions.
I want to commend the legislature of California and our esteemed governor Schwarzenegger for coming to a budget agreement. It has been a long, drawn out, self-motivated struggle for Republicans. But, thankfully there was no huge tax increase, like what those Socialist Democrats wanted. Phew, that was a close one!
Enough of my sarcasm.
First, an anecdote. The high school I went to, Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies or SOCES, is a feeder school for the University of California. In my graduating year, 2005, I was one of many who accepted admissions to some of the prestigious schools in the country. I chose to go to UCLA. Los Angeles is a great city, and to further my education there was an opportunity that only a select few get. I cherished the four years I went to UCLA. I made friends, had relationships, learned, lectured, discussed, protested, ate, drank, slept, drove and shopped. I was even able to teach my own class in my junior year (History 88S: Their Coming for You: Science Fiction and Horror Movies during the Cold War). My college experience was, and has been, the height of my life. The friends I made, the connections I created, the education I received and the knowledge that was imparted will live with me for the rest of my life. In short, College was awesome!
...at a reasonable price.
The California public education system, whether it’s a University of California, a California State School or a Community College is a place where money should not make a difference. A place like UCLA does not look at or consider any kind of special recommendation or large monetary gift in admissions. They have an admissions policy that is based on a combination of standardized test scores (SAT, ACT) and subjective criteria (Personal statement, essays, background, etc). They even made sure that race and immigration status would not be a defining factor. If an applicant showed educational merit and was qualified to enter, then based on the aforementioned qualifications, financial situation should not be an issue. This is where financial aid is available. Aid like the Stafford Loan and the Parent PLUS loan allow for subsidized and unsubsidized loans to be payed back, and state aid like the Cal Grant offers a substantial support without any obligation for payback.
Flash forward to now. I used my education and my connections to furnish my resume and apply for jobs between now and the possible pursuit of a PhD. I chose Environmental Policy, which was a field that sparked my interest while I was at UCLA studying Urban Planning. I can say with pride that California is the model for Environmental Policy, and many of the proposals from the current administration have been based on the California model. I applied and was accepted to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute in Washington, DC to work on Global Warming mitigation. I have researched topics on Solar Energy, Water Resources and Carbon Capture. I could not have done this without my education at the University of California.
But my native California has decided that education is not a priority anymore. In the recent budget compromise, the UC, along with CSU and Community colleges are facing a 17% budget gap, as compared to 2007, to cover the $26 billion California deficit. The UC budget will be 20% less than it was 2 years ago. They are issuing IOUs instead of aid and have targeted the Cal Grant for destruction. This is also leading to worker furloughs, extended time needed to graduate, cut salaries and a possible brain drain. Professors who were drawn to places like UCLA will make a cost-benefit analysis and decide that the offer from that higher paying private school is much better.
What is the ultimate outcome? The system will emerge less prestigious, and with less to offer. Courses will be cut, majors will be disbanded (International Development Studies is on the chopping block at UCLA in 2010), classes will be larger and professors will leave. The experience I had, with smaller classes and a more personable atmosphere will be gone.
The California legislature has to remember where they got their intellect. It wasn't through their party platform, the governor, the president or the head of the UC regents. It was their teachers, their professors and their mentors. These people work hard, sometimes for inhumanely low pay, to make sure people like the Republicans of the California state Assembly grow up to be Republicans of the California State Assembly.
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