Bakersfield College is known to be one of the best community colleges in California. BC has qualified instructors and staff, students are willing to learn and pay $26 per unit, a student representative fee, and a health fee among other fees that help support the college.
Granted that California offers some of the cheaper higher education and students here have got it pretty easy.
However, a certain administrative department at BC is treading water in the pool of censorship.
BC has an Olympic-sized pool with no swim team. When that question was asked the overused ‘B’ word comes up. Budget. Because of budget restraints BC cannot offer a swim team. When asked why there isn’t a men’s soccer team, the question remains unanswered.
The Rip has requested an athletics budget numerous times from numerous people during the past year and still has yet to receive one.
When asked for a copy of a budget, college officials should release the information within two weeks, according to John Griffith, director of business services.
The Rip requested three budgets last semester, theater and music, Student Government Association and athletics.
We received the theater and music budget with in that two-week period; the SGA budget was received within a month of the request and the sports budget has yet to be received.
The California Public Records Act states that public records, which include college budgets, are open to inspection at all times during the office hours of the state or local agency and every person has a right to inspect any public record
The Rip encourages students who care about how money is being spent at BC to formally request a budget.
As students we all pay to attend the college and the right to view the budget belongs to the student as much as it does to the institution.
It’s our right under the law. Not allowing students to have access to budgets is against the California Public Records Act.