UC students lobby state capitol for affordability compact
By Helen Yim
Feb. 27, 2006 9:00 p.m.
More than 150 University of California students lobbied at the
steps of the state capitol Monday, asking state legislators to make
access and affordability of a UC education a top priority.
Monday marked the first time the UC Student Association
presented state legislators with its proposal for a Student Compact
to make higher education affordable through increased financial
aid, funding for academic preparation, and a long-term fee policy
based on what families can afford.
In May 2004, UC President Robert Dynes and California State
University Chancellor Charles Reed made a compact with Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger which outlined what the university would receive
from the state over the next several years.
But some members of UCSA see the compact as problematic because
it did not include input from students, legislators or UC Board of
Regents members.
“Now there is no student voice in government
policy,” said Ruth Obel-Jorgenson, UCSA organizing
director.
By forming a Student Compact, UCSA officers hope to secure
student roles in determining tuition increases.
UCLA students spoke at the capitol with legislators about their
proposed compact and met with 26 legislators from the L.A. area,
said Roy Samaan, campus organizing director for UCSA.
Samaan said the legislators he met with were supportive of the
students’ proposal but did not offer any concrete
commitments.
UCSA’s proposed compact would call for financial aid to
cover a full tuition but limit work-study time and student debts to
those payable in 10 years.
Outreach-program funding, which Samaan said are necessary to
bring low-income students to the UC, was another area addressed in
the compact.
These programs were cut when the governor eliminated $17.3
million from statewide outreach programs in the January budget
proposal.
The financial issue is particularly pressing now, with student
fees increasing at a faster pace than financial aid.
“Fees have gone up 79 percent in the past four
years,” Samaan said. “The more fees go up, the less
financial aid is available, less students will be able to afford a
UC education.”
Affordability is an issue because as tuition increases each
year, “low-income students get pushed out of the
university,” said Jeannie Biniek, USAC external vice
president and UCSA member.
Obel-Jorgenson said it was important for low-income students to
attend UC schools so the student body more accurately reflects the
population of California, adding that tuition should be based on
what families can afford even in a state budget crisis.
As part of lobbying efforts, students are advocating for certain
bills they say would benefit students.
Biniek said one bill they are focussing on is AB 1315, which
would restore funding for academic preparation.
Obel-Jorgenson said academic preparation is for UCLA students
because at the moment, “UCLA’s (academic) program is
the strongest program in the country” and a loss in funding
could jeopardize its quality.
UCSA President Anu Joshi called the rally a success and said she
was excited to “see legislators come and talk about how they
supported us.”
According to Joshi, UCSA plans to host events on all UC
campuses, including in-district lobbies in the spring in Los
Angeles to gain support for the Student Compact from local
legislators.
