State budget cuts in favor of UC, not poor

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The UC can breathe a little easier after Governor Gray Davis
dealt higher education a workable hand in his 2002-03 budget
proposal.

While falling short of the 4 percent increase in the State
General Fund called for in the Partnership between the UC and the
state, Davis did increase the fund by 1.5 percent. While asking the
rest of the state to assume almost $3 billion in cuts, the UC
actually received a modest increase in funds. Davis also allotted
$63.8 million to the UC for an expected enrollment growth of 3.9
percent. More importantly, for the eighth year in a row, student
fees were not raised. Students are still paying a fraction of their
educational costs ““ about $3,429 a year of the total $16,314
a university education is estimated to cost.

Even though the UC is in a better position than most, there will
still be consequences to losing the additional 2.5 percent of the
general fund money called for in the Partnership. Enrollment
increases are more than financially costly; they also take a toll
on human resources. If enrollment at the UC grows beyond reasonable
limits and funding does not grow in proportion, the university will
be unable to meet the needs of its students and the quality of a
state-based education will diminish rapidly.

With Tidal Wave II ““ an expected increase in enrollment of
60,000 students across the UC ““ looming over the university,
it’s questionable whether Davis and the state are going to be
able to meet enrollment funding needs in the future. If Davis does
not make funding available, UC President Richard Atkinson must be
willing to consider measures such as capping enrollment to ensure
the continued excellence of the UC, particularly at UC Berkeley and
UCLA. The economic crisis certainly constitutes a tightening of
funds, but the priority of providing an education on par with other
respected state-run schools and private institutions must be
maintained.

However, where Davis showed consideration to the needs of higher
education, he virtually abandoned the poor. About $1.1 billion has
been taken from programs providing poor Californians with medical
and dental services, child care and housing. He also left the
environment with only $5.2 billion for natural resources and
environmental protection, much less than last year.

It might be easier to alleviate the burdens of budget cuts to
state agencies if Davis approached the budget shortage with the
liberal values he, as a Democrat, is supposed to represent. In last
week’s State of the State address, the governor bragged that
he will not raise taxes while the State’s budget is facing a
$12 billion shortfall. The UC, the poor and the environment would
not mind having some of the money Davis wants to leave in the hands
of the wealthiest Californians.

It’s time Davis realizes that sometimes the middle of the
road satisfies no one. Fortunately for the UC, we are a marketable
resume-highlight that will attract middle and upper class votes and
funding during Davis’ campaign.

Our status will help preserve us, even if inadequately, through
the economic crisis. Others are not so lucky.