Meeting centers on new compact

In what was at times a tense atmosphere, Chancellor Albert
Carnesale talked with approximately 20 students about the newly
formed compact between the University of California and Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger during a two-hour town hall meeting Friday.

Sponsored by the Undergraduate Students Association Council, the
meeting was designed to address “student concerns and
criticism of the compact,” said Internal Vice President
Darren Chan. “It will help close the communication gap
between the students and the administration.”

Many aspects of the compact, which was made in May, were
discussed in a question-and-answer format between students,
Carnesale and vice chancellor of student affairs, Janina
Montero.

Among the issues discussed was the decrease in outreach funding,
increase in student fees and a decrease in research funding.

The exchanges between students and Carnesale were often heated,
as many students were unable to hide their emotion when talking to
the chancellor.

“My opposition to the compact is the process by how it
came about and its outcome,” said Yousef Tajsar, a member of
the University and Neighborhood Learning and Outreach Coalition and
member of the Associated Students of UCLA board of directors.

“The process neglected students. The university went
behind the students’ backs. … They did not commit to
anything concrete, and have no plan for solving the situation in
the future.”

Carnesale responded to the criticism, saying, “This is a
compromise “¦ (the university) felt that this was in the best
interest of the UC community.”

Many outreach groups were present to protest the compact.
According to the state budget, outreach programs were allocated $66
million last year. The new compact decreases this figure to $12
million for the next year.

“The compact has just not affected me,” said Oscar
Navarro, a member of the Early Academic Outreach Program.
“Taking out all those outreach programs affects people of
color who are underrepresented in the university.”

In face of the budget crisis, the administration is looking to
other avenues to fill the gap.

“The whole approach in outreach is changing,”
Montero said. “We are deficit spending. We are looking to
outside funding, such as corporations, to increase this
number.”

Another hot issue was the student-fee increase proposed for the
next three years.

“The increase in fees has compensated in part for lack of
state funding,” Carnesale said. “The big question here
is, “˜To what extent do we let the academic aspect
diminish?'”

According to the agreement, the university will absorb most of
the costs, and pass on one-fourth to the students through an
increase in fees.

The compact also stipulates that financial aid will decrease
from 33 percent to 20 percent.

“We are trying to increase scholarships and get other
sources of revenue,” Carnesale said in response to the
figure.

At the meeting’s conclusion, Carnesale reiterated that the
university is doing all it can during the current budget
crisis.

“We will try to keep the obligations (made in the compact)
by making sure we won’t go in debt. … But we don’t
have a magic bullet to do anything to get us out of this
situation.”