Fellow students: Given the chaos of our state budget, the future of community colleges is in question.
Traditionally, the community college has been the workhorse for higher education. It has been the proud link for the disenfranchised to the ranks of those who lead us all, politically, socially and academically.
Unfortunately, this link may not remain for us, as we already have had to turn some students away and eliminate various departments all over the state.
Many UCs and CSUs, in order to eliminate costs for themselves, have decided not to accept any more incoming freshmen.
The UCs, however, are acting instead to offer these students a scholarship to a community college, which will only cover their tuition.
It is likely that these students will be given priority registration.
The situation would not be a bad one; community colleges do a phenomenal job of transferring students, providing them with more through lower-division courses, and preparing them for their future studies at a university.
However, the flood of new community college applicants, coupled with the serious underfunding of community colleges, will spell disaster for community colleges all over the state.
That is why we are asking for your help. We constitute the majority of students in any kind of academic setting, yet we will feel the strain of underfunding the most. But we can stand and be counted. We demonstrated the last time community colleges were in danger, and we were heard, but we can’t be heard unless we speak up again.
On March 11, we will all unite at the state Capitol to protest the unfair cutbacks. The Bakersfield College administration has supported us completely and has provided buses for us to take to Sacramento, in addition to encouraging some professors to excuse those of us who have class on March 11.
If you enjoy being a student here, you definitely need to be over there. Let us keep the doors open!
If you are interested in helping us in our protest, please come by the Student Activities office in Campus Center 4 for details.
– Michael Gutierrez is the publicity senator for the Associated Students of Bakersfield College.