Preserving state’s educational outreach spending vital

When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger took office, he inherited a
billion dollar budget crisis. In order to drag California out of
such a hole, he has proposed budget cuts that virtually would
eliminate university outreach programs.

An article by Sharon Stello in The Davis Enterprise, a small
newspaper in the college town, quoted Vince Sollitto, a spokesman
in the governor’s office, as saying, “The governor
hates to reduce spending on programs, but has no choice as the
state is out of money. A bankrupt state can’t provide any
services to anyone.”

Has the state of California reverted to a panicked, all-for-one
and none-for-all state of emergency? Without a doubt, the
government needs to cut spending in certain areas in order to pull
out of its immense debt. But academic outreach programs are the
last thing that should be cut.

There are countless studies that prove how successful academic
outreach programs have been at providing opportunities to children
who otherwise would never have dreamed of going to college.

UCLA participates in the Early Education Outreach Program, for
example, which helps first-generation college students understand
the application process and continues to support them after
acceptance. This is one of the programs that is on the chopping
block because of Schwarzenegger’s plan to halt all
“unnecessary” spending. I was unaware that offering
education to those who are determined enough to seek out and
participate in these programs was frivolous.

I have always believed knowledge is the key to the world. These
outreach programs turn the key for those who cannot do it alone.
The people who benefit from academic outreach programs are those
who will have a chance to succeed later in life. Taking away
funding for such programs is slamming the door to their future.

My father recently heard Secretary of State Colin Powell speak
at a fundraiser in San Jose. Powell spoke about his education and
the struggle he went through to become who he is now. He grew up in
the Bronx, N.Y., an area known for its poverty and crime. At a
young age, Powell was determined to get an education and remove
himself from a lifestyle he saw so many get sucked into. He forced
himself to walk to school everyday and attend college. Today, he
continues to advocate for better educational outreach programs.
Cutting funding for outreach programs will prevent future Colin
Powells from taking their place in society.

Perhaps the state of California expects its schools to look
elsewhere for monetary support. That is possible, but not
practical. If funding is cut, we may have nowhere else to turn. We
cannot let these children fall through the cracks of society.

As reported in the San Francisco Chronicle in an article by
Meredith May, the Knowledge Is Power Program is a charter middle
school program founded in 1994 by teachers Mike Feinberg and Dave
Levin that later expanded through a generous grant of $25 million
from Don Fisher, the multi-millionaire who started Gap Inc. Bill
Gates also gave charitably to the schools that keeps their students
from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, for four hours on Saturdays,
and for three to four weeks during the summer. The children are
taught to look forward to the future, especially the year they will
start college.

KIPP has 32 schools across the nation, including two in Los
Angeles. While this program has been incredibly successful with the
help of private funding, it is far too risky to depend on generous
individuals to create programs necessary for underprivileged
children seeking out education to better their lives.

It is the state government’s responsibility to bring
assistance to those who need it most. Cutting funding for academic
outreach programs is not the answer to our state’s economic
crisis. Education is not a Louis Vuitton shoulder bag; it is not
just for the wealthy, or the upper-class, or the elite. Eliminating
these programs will create a homogenized environment at UCLA and
all other UCs. It will also shut out those who truly deserve to be
here but do not think it plausible based on their current
surroundings.

The philosopher Epictetus once said, “Only the educated
are free.” It is time California realizes its duty to protect
our freedoms.

Jensen is a first-year English student. E-mail her at
[email protected]. Send general comments to
[email protected].