2008 Woodie Awards
Get a clue, California
Jessica Anderson
Issue date: 4/1/08 Section: Editorial
I couldn't make it to the Budget Forum in person, but at least I was there in spirit-or rather, on a projection screen. A few weeks ago, I was asked to participate in a videotaped interview, where I shared my thoughts on the California budget crisis, particularly the $386 million chunk being gutted from the CSU system. I was honored to have been invited to participate-but despite the devastating repercussions that these budget cuts could have on our educations and the future of Californian colleges, I've been getting the strong impression that few students care. After watching the three-minute video compilation, I wasn't surprised that I recognized several of the interviewees-vocal students from leadership positions around campus.
I suspect that if the makers of the video had sat out in the Stevenson quad with their video camera, waiting for anonymous students to voice their concerns, they would have taken very little footage. Perhaps they would have gotten some generic feedback, such as, "I'm totally against the budget cuts," but how many students could have conversed on the specific outcomes the budget cuts could wield? Few, I assume.
These assumptions of mine trouble me. I'm not sure if you-the reader, and presumably an SSU student-understands how severely these budget cuts could impair you and your future.
Graduate in four years? Ha! You can forget about that once the University chops 300 classes from the Fall lineup. Even the upperclassmen, who think they'll make it out safely before the crisis begins; think again. What if that last, crucial class you need to graduate is one of the 300 to get the ax, then what will you do?
And speaking of big numbers, you can forget the small, intimate classes that make SSU so popular in the first place. Budget cuts would force class sizes to grow while the availability of classes dwindles, along with the number of professors.
Yet, even if the average student comprehends the disaster that lies ahead, I doubt they recognize how badly the system has already deteriorated.
I suspect that if the makers of the video had sat out in the Stevenson quad with their video camera, waiting for anonymous students to voice their concerns, they would have taken very little footage. Perhaps they would have gotten some generic feedback, such as, "I'm totally against the budget cuts," but how many students could have conversed on the specific outcomes the budget cuts could wield? Few, I assume.
These assumptions of mine trouble me. I'm not sure if you-the reader, and presumably an SSU student-understands how severely these budget cuts could impair you and your future.
Graduate in four years? Ha! You can forget about that once the University chops 300 classes from the Fall lineup. Even the upperclassmen, who think they'll make it out safely before the crisis begins; think again. What if that last, crucial class you need to graduate is one of the 300 to get the ax, then what will you do?
And speaking of big numbers, you can forget the small, intimate classes that make SSU so popular in the first place. Budget cuts would force class sizes to grow while the availability of classes dwindles, along with the number of professors.
Yet, even if the average student comprehends the disaster that lies ahead, I doubt they recognize how badly the system has already deteriorated.
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