Okay.
Here's the deal.
The California State Univeristy Board of Trustees proposes a 10% hike in student fees for 2007-08. If this fee increase is realized, this means that students will be paying almost twice as much as they were in 2002.
Meanwhile, classes are more crowded, it is harder and harder to enroll in required courses, and student services are being slashed.
So yesterday, we had a big rally on campus, including a huge march through campus and the halls of the Administration building, expressing our collective outrage that six-figure executives think it's appropriate that:
• Last fall, the CSU Trustees awarded campus presidents and the top administrators in the Chancellor’s Office 19% increases in compensation -- including salary increases averaging 13.7% per person.
• At their January 2007 meeting, CSU Trustees will vote on another 4% salary increase proposed for the same executives.
• With these raises:
-the average 2-year salary increase = $42,000
-salary paid to the top execs in 06/07 will be 19% more than in 04/05
• By contrast, since 2002, CSU faculty received only a 3.5% raise, in July 2005.
• Compensation increases awarded to some executives in 2005 totaled more than the annual salary paid to full-time faculty.
Here's the deal.
The California State Univeristy Board of Trustees proposes a 10% hike in student fees for 2007-08. If this fee increase is realized, this means that students will be paying almost twice as much as they were in 2002.
Meanwhile, classes are more crowded, it is harder and harder to enroll in required courses, and student services are being slashed.
So yesterday, we had a big rally on campus, including a huge march through campus and the halls of the Administration building, expressing our collective outrage that six-figure executives think it's appropriate that:
• Last fall, the CSU Trustees awarded campus presidents and the top administrators in the Chancellor’s Office 19% increases in compensation -- including salary increases averaging 13.7% per person.
• At their January 2007 meeting, CSU Trustees will vote on another 4% salary increase proposed for the same executives.
• With these raises:
-the average 2-year salary increase = $42,000
-salary paid to the top execs in 06/07 will be 19% more than in 04/05
• By contrast, since 2002, CSU faculty received only a 3.5% raise, in July 2005.
• Compensation increases awarded to some executives in 2005 totaled more than the annual salary paid to full-time faculty.
One of my classmates, Jay Tena shared this message with the audience. Oh how I wish I had a way to embed the audio!
First, I would like to thank all of you who showed up in support of our
cause which is to address the rampant increase in student fees. Without you, we
would not have a cause. Without you, we would not have a university to attend.
You are the most important people here and I appreciate the chance to talk to
you. This rally is about the misappropriation of funds endorsed by those in
power that have their own agenda, padding their bank accounts at the cost of
student’s education. This action is not congruent with such ethical issues as
accountability, equality, and the right of every individual to achieve their
highest potential. For many this includes a college education. For many in the
Inland Empire, college is the one way to pull themselves out of the cycle of
poverty that exists in our community. Here are just a few of the problems that
exist at all 23 California State Universities:
1) Chancellor Charles Reed and the Board of Trustees are requiring students to pay an additional 10% increase per year in student fees which have been raised 76%
since 2002. In addition, they plan to keep raising fees by 10% until 2010. This
not only insures that the marginalized population in the Inland Empire will lose
the ability to receive a college education, but it also effects the middle class
where students must work a full time job, support their families , and attempt
their dream of a college degree, which would allow them to support their
families at a higher level.
2) Often, students can’t get the classes they need to graduate on time because the administration will not allot money for additional full-time professors.
3) In addition, the lecturers they hire don’t have offices so students can’t get valuable 1:1 time to address any questions they may have about their course work. This is an attempt to save money as lectures are paid very little money and don’t quality for benefits for many years while working for the university.
4) Briefly, I would like to address one of the biggest atrocities the administration is proposing. CSU administration and the Board of Trustees intend to increase the student population enrollment by 2.5% while cutting or significantly reducing funds for student outreach programs such as the Educational Opportunity Program, better know as the EOP Program. Here is the Mission Statement of the EOP Program:
The mission of the EOP program is to provide access to higher education for
historically low-income, first generation disadvantaged students who have the
potential to succeed at the university level. EOP recruits, retains and
graduates students by providing a comprehensive program of support services
which include admission, academic advisement, career and personal counseling,
tutoring, financial assistance and graduate school information.
To lose this vital program would be a disgrace to our community and our school. We
must not allow budget cuts to affect this service to those in San Bernardo and
Riverside Counties, thus perpetuating the cycle of poverty in our community.
There is some hope however, a Joint Legislative Audit Committee voted
unanimously to explore all 23 CSU’s campuses to find how much money was paid
from state appropriations and student tuition and find where that money was
spent. As much as 4 million dollars in special perks and extra compensation has
been paid to departing CSU officials without public disclosure by the chancellor
or the Board of Trustees. State Senator Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, is pushing
a bill through the Senate to compel CSU trustees meet in public when discussing
and deciding executive compensation issues.
In summery, here are a few of our demands:
1) Roll back student fees to the 2002, 2003 level
2) Fund more classes not executives
3) Increase funds for outreach and retention programs such as the EOP Program
4) SHOW US THE MONEY. Let CSU’s allocation of funds be public record to
guarantee above the board policies
5) And PUT STUDENTS FIRST
Finally, I would like to thank the California Faculty Association, the professors and staff at all 23 CSU campuses who support our cause, and the students who are advocating for this ethical issue. Let our CSU campuses reflect a sterling example of
people working together for a common goal; equality and accountability and a
quality education.
While student after student addressed the crowd and gave their personal testimony, CSU President Albert Karnig, who makes an annual salary of $237,072, and also receives an annual housing allowance of $50,000 and an annual car allowance of $12,000, requested to speak to us.
But we didn't let him.
There is nothing that he could say to excuse the misappropriation of student resources.
Here I am with a few of my MSW's to be. I'm the one on the left with my handmade sign.
