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Staged
ceremony to represent absent students
By Jeff Au Spafford
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer
Frustrated students are taking action against
California’s budget cuts on higher
education by staging a mock graduation ceremony
in Sacramento today.
One thousand, five hundred empty chairs
will be set up to represent the 15,000 eligible
students who were denied acceptance and
access to the California State University
system.
The ceremony will take place on the north
steps of the California State Capitol Building
in Sacramento to demonstrate the harsh impact
the budget cuts have had on higher education
in California.
The graduation, called Commencement 2010,
represents the 1 students who would have
graduated around that time; the half hour
ceremony will have speakers, a master of
ceremonies and student speeches.
The idea originated from Mike Johnson, the
Associated Student, Inc. president, during
a brainstorming session and presented to
the public during a March budget summit
at CSU Channel Islands.
The idea caught on, and ASI has partnered
up with organizations such as the University
of California Students Association, California
State University Association, Action in
Defense Education and the California Faculty
Association to put on this event.
Zahra Billoo, secretary of governmental
affairs for ASI at Cal State Long Beach,
says that "as a representative of California,
the AS[I] is [here] to help. We are constantly
working the most to ensure acceptability
and affordability to education."
There has been relatively little discussion
on any economic impact on higher education,
and ASI, with other supportive organizations,
hope to gain some media attention today.
"The purpose of this event is to ask
the governor and legislators to put education
as a priority," says Laura Kerr, director
of governmental relations for California
State Students Association.
"Five hundred million dollars were
cut over the past three years on education.
We want to hold legislators accountable
for closing the door on higher education
to students."
Within the few years, the government has
increased fee, cut financial aid to many
students and decreased funding for outreach
programs.
Billoo also stands for education access
to all students, because education "is
a right and not a privilege and [the students]
will not stand for it."
Kerr adds that we need to create "a
place for the working class to learn and
create a strong workforce."
ASI hopes the demonstration will add pressure
on legislators to stop reprioritizing education
and listen to their constituents of frustrated
college students.
However, Billoo encourages more student
involvement and activism.
"Our strength is in the students. If
you are bothered by all this, come out and
do something about it," she said.
Last month, students nationwide reached
the media with an organized walkout and
protests on tuition increase.
After Commencement 2010 takes place, the
CSSA and other organizations will depend
on more student rallies and combined efforts
with the 23 campuses to take turns lobbying
to gain the governor and legislators’
attention.
Students can get involved by contacting
legislators and voicing their opinions.
Organizations will continue to fight the
state capitol to put education first.
"It is unjust," states Billoo.
"And it’s bad for the state of
California."
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