CSUN University News Clippings

California State Universities are faxing state lawmakers for more federal money

(February 27, 2009)

Published: 2/26/2009

With an end to the state’s budget impasse, higher education is being hit hard with cuts.

California State University and University of California campuses will see an overall 10 percent cut from state funding from this year’s budget.

But with the recent signing of the $787 billion stimulus package, California stands to get about $11 billion in help to close its budget shortfall. That is, if the Governor and state lawmakers ask for that amount.

Faculty and staff at all 23 California State University campuses said if the state gets less than $10 billion, that’s when more budget cuts could be felt. To ensure that the state gets enough stimulus money from the federal government, forms are being signed and faxed to state lawmakers.

Cal Poly students were asked Thursday afternoon to help send a message to Governor Schwarzenegger and other state lawmakers.

“I just signed a petition that is going to be faxed to the state legislature informing them of the dire situation that the CSU is in right now with the budget crisis,” said Steven Wolf, a fourth year student at Cal Poly.

“We have to convince the legislatures and the other leaders to make sure that they get enough stimulus money from the feds so that it doesn’t trigger any further cuts in CSU or UC budgets,” said Richard Saenz, president of the California Faculty Assocation Cal Poly Chapter.

Across the state, faculty and staff of the CSU are trying to get the word out that if not enough stimulus money is received, then more devastating cuts could happen.

“So we’re really looking for that last couple of billion dollars to go to the state so that the CSU is not cut by another $50 million,” said Saenz.

Cuts that could translate into fewer student loans, a tuition hike, and eliminating classes to name a few.

One student said he hopes to make a difference.

“We just need to try in every way that we can to get the money there for instruction to happen,” said Wolf.

So to make it happen, CSU campuses hope to send every signed piece of paper one-by-one to the governor’s office until the money arrives.

CSU administrators said if more isn’t invested into higher education, the future generation could be in jeopardy.

Publication: KSBY News