CSU administrators express need for hike

by Stephanie Paniagua | Staff Writer |

Over $333 million has been restored to the CSU system to ease the effect of the already hundreds of millions of dollars cut by state legislators.

The CSU system has suffered a $650 million decrease in funding and faces an additional “trigger cut” of $100 million, bring the grand sum to a whopping $750 million if the state does not meet its projected tax revenue next month, explained CSU Assistant Vice Chancellor Robert Turnage during a teleconference on Nov. 14.

On Nov. 16, the Board of Trustees approved the CSU’s proposal to restore $333 million to offset the potential $750 million cut CSU is facing, according to CSU spokesperson Elizabeth Chapin.

During the teleconference, Turnage explained that the CSU system has lost a total of $868 million to their $3 billion budget that was granted to the system four years ago. He further explained that the $333 million proposal is mainly for restoring programs that have been cut from schools rather than focusing on student enrollment rates.

One other item that was proposed and approved the same day was the proposal for the restoration of funds in a tuition hike that will be implemented fall 2012. Tuition is expected to be raised by $498 per quarter.

“I honestly hate how tuition is going to be raised again,” said student Katie Aragon. “We are supposed to be the future of America, yet we are struggling to get there because by the time we graduate we are going to be consumed with so much debt,” said Aragon.

Aragon further explained that it is hard for her to see her parent’s struggle to pay her tuition since neither her nor her older sister, who is enrolled at Victor Valley Community College, do not receive financial aid.

CSUSB’s Associated Students Incorporated (ASI) has taken action and is determined to have student’s voices heard by encouraging them to fill out a form that is to be sent to Gov. Jerry Brown about how tuition increases are affecting them.

“Many students are in debt with loans and work two or more jobs in order to pay for their tuition,” said Aaron Jimenez, president of CSUSB’s ASI. “The state needs to make higher education a high priority and make cuts elsewhere,” said Jimenez.

However, Turnage refutes these claims saying that the CSU is trying to improve financial aid programs to assist those in need and those affected by the tuition hike. Turnage said that there is currently approximately $2 billion of financial aid available, not including loans, and that the reason why most students suffer is because they do not take advantage of the aid that is out there.

According to Chapin, 45 percent of CSU students do not pay a dime of tuition because of grants, loans and any other financial aid awarded or offered to them. This percentage does not only include low-income families but also middle-income families who make $70,000 or less.

Student Maryam Hassan, reported that she came to CSUSB in order to save money her first year before transferring to UCR.

“My dad is so surprised at how much my education is costing me. It’s a shocker to him,” said Hassan.

Hassan further reported that her father went to college and received loans like her as well. Even though Hassan’s father reminds her that college is expensive he still encourages her to take out as many loans as she needs because in the end it will be worth it.