All-Campus Budget Advocacy Meeting

Tuesday, April 8, at 11:30, California State University held an all-campus budget advocacy meeting in the Bell Memorial Union auditorium.  The president sent out an email saying that, “Due to extraordinary cuts proposed to the CSU budget that amount to $386 million, the faculty and staff unions, students, and the campus administration have agreed to work together to advocate that the Governor and Legislature consider alternative solutions to the state fiscal challenges.”  Approxamately 800 students and faculty attended this meeting, filling up the entire BMU auditorium.

CSU Chico President

The meeting began with Paul J. Zingg, President of CSU Chico.  He began the meeting with a speech where he said that we all are fighting for “higher education, safe community, and education opportunity.”  He also talked about some history on California economy and the baby boomers.  Also that we fight for the promise to new college seekers, a population of color…    Zingg also mentioned that Legislators need to consider alternate solutions or be replaced.

            The next person who spoke was Bob Linchet (maybe misspelled).  He said, “We are here today as a family… The $400 million cut from the CSU will result in 10,000 eligible students from being rejected by the CSU system.”

            Then Kathy Kaiser, Chair of Faculty Senate, gave a speech about CSU Chico and how much this college has done for the community and the State.  She stated that “ Chico has one of the highest graduation rates for all CSU.  She also said how this year Chico has received the highest number of applications ever.  She quoted some person who said, “Let them eat cake,” and Kathy Kaiser said we need something other than a fictional cake on a table.

            Pat Gamp spoke about how California pays more money on prisons than the schools.  He said that If all the students, faculty, and over 2 million alumni of the CSU system tell someone the importance of the CSU, that Legislature will hear. 

            Esmeralda Campos, AS Director of Legislative Affairs, spoke about how students are speaking to people about the importance of the CSU, and how we need to support their efforts.  She also brought up the event on next Monday of a rally against the budget cut in Sacramento. 

            Susan Green came up again and presented a power point presentation.  She said the budget cut is like Jimmy Stewart in the movie “It’s a wonderful Life,” we see the future but it doesn’t have to be that way.  The power point repeated the info of the budget cut and the problems it will cause. The three points of the power point was #1 Education will help the economy, #2 Access, cuts limit access to education, and #3 Infrastructure, cuts will weaken Infrastructure.

            Next President Zingg asked for questions.

Q:  How can students help with this issue?

A:  Contact AS office, fill out your information on card for the “Alliance for the CSU,” attend the rally in Sacramento on Monday.

Observer 1: He doesn’t feel this is enough, more people need to take action.

 Observer 2: Gave his opinion on the issue, and said we need legislatures here, so they can hear what we are saying.

Q:  What should faculty do for students who wish to go to Mondays rally in Sacramento?

A:  Please don’t penalize these students for missing class.