Campus crowded all year

As more and more students flood the Cal State University system statewide, solutions to the overcrowding problem are not easy to come by.

The Chancellor's office has asked all CSU campuses to consider moving to a year-round system.

At Cal State Long Beach, administrators are considering eliminating Summer Session courses by incorporating them into a new semester.

Many problems arise from this possible venture. Even CSULB President Robert Maxson's executive assistant, Armando Contreras, saw problems with the Chancellor's suggestion.

Contreras noted that many major maintenance projects are scheduled in the summer because there are fewer students on campus. He also noted budget considerations the Chancellor seemed to forget in making his suggestion.

First of all, how is the university going to find the money to pay professors for another semester of work? If you haven't noticed, CSULB is not the wealthiest university in the CSU system. Sure it leads all CSU campuses in fundraisers, but can we rely on the generosity of the Long Beach community and our alumni to pay the costs of opening, running and maintaining an extra semester of classes?

Does the university expect students to take advantage of the summer classes being offered? Many students at CSULB receive financial aid. Currently, financial aid does not cover summer classes. If students cannot afford to attend regular semesters without student loans and grants, how can the Chancellor expect them to attend year-round classes?

Implementing a year-round course schedule sounds like an easy solution to a difficult problem. Like most things, if something is too good to be true, it probably isn't true.

The increase of students swarming the CSU campuses is a good thing. More people are getting a college education, which will enlighten generations to come. However, the trend doesn't seem likely to endany time soon.