The Death of Higher Education

A new school year brought hopes to second-year undeclared student major Robin Kim. With her upbeat attitude and soft-spoken nature, Kim enrolled in three science courses for a pre-dentistry career pathway while being involved in her sorority, Chi Alpha Delta.

Little did she expect such a fiscal predicament—like not being able to finance her tuition. During fall quarter, Kim was at work in the evening and checked her e-mail on the computer. She received an e-mail from the Financial Aid Office regarding her financial aid package. As an out-of-state student, there were no more subsidized loans available to her. She would have to take out a hefty private loan, or risk leaving UCLA. In the cubicle of her workplace, Kim broke down.

All of her hard work and accomplishments, close relationships, boyfriend and sorority sisters, and her hope for the future— they all seemed ephemeral.

“The fact that it could be taken away any day is heartbreaking,” Kim said. “You don’t want to have to worry about paying for your education. You think that everything is going to be taken care of and everything changes. I’m glad to be here and I’m trying, but it’s hard.”

The Fee Effect

But Kim may witness even more changes in tuition costs. On Nov. 17 - 19 in Covel Commons at UCLA, UC Regents will be voting and deliberating on the proposed mid-year fee increase. Whereas undergraduates are currently paying $7,788 with referendum fees—and with the proposed mid-year increase being $585—the total annualized fee would be $8,958. California’s state budget is projected to fall into a seven to eight billion dollar deficit next year in 2010-2011. Current projections and proposals include student fee increase of $1,344 for the next academic year, according to a proposal submission from the Office of the President, Mark Yudof. If both fees are passed, this will mark the first time in the University of California’s history with two consecutive fee increases in one academic year. The rises in fees of $585 to tuition will undoubtedly, disproportionately affect lower class students, minorities, out-of-state students, and AB540 students.

“If $100 for textbooks per class is too expensive, then what is a [tuition] increase going to look like?” said Steven Day, visiting East Asian Studies Professor and former UCLA graduate student.

“Honestly, we are still trying to get back on our feet from [last year’s] increase. With another fee increase, with no financial aid, it could mean no AB540 students,” said fourth-year political science major E. Ganoa. “AB540 students will have to withdraw from the University in record numbers in order to work enough to pay just one quarter off at UCLA.” Ganoa is a member of Improving Dreams, Equality, and Success (IDEAS), a community outreach project and advocacy group for undocumented students.

Students have contested that the actions of the Regents do not correspond with the 1960 Master Plan of Higher Education. The Master Plan defined the roles of the University of California, California State University and California community college systems; it was approved by the Regents and the State Board of Education. Tenets of the Master Plan ensured the accessibility and affordability of higher education through the Cal Grant program, tuition-free education and the selection of the top one-eighth (12.5 percent) of the high school graduating class a place in a UC.

However, throughout the UC campuses 2300 students (or 6 percent) will be cut from the freshmen class for 2010-2011. Funded by the state of California, UCLA will be witnessing a projected budget cut of $637 million. Current efforts to meet this shortfall include furloughs, pay cuts and eliminating student services and academic supports program. Started on the first of September, furloughs are structured pay cuts depending on an employee’s earnings. Those earning less than $40,000 will have 11 furlough days (equivalent to a 4 percent pay cut) while those earning more than $240,000 will have 26 furlough days (about a 10 percent pay cut).

To meet the demands of budget cuts in the classroom, Challenge 45 is a reduction of upper-division requirements for the major to 45 units. Students will have less options for classes and for majors, which are currently being streamlined.

“I hear that next year class sizes are going to increase,” said fourth-year Asian American studies center Peggy Truong. “I can’t even fathom the idea of being in a larger class size. You feel like another student ID number.”

Courses will be receiving dramatic cuts, especially in ethnic studies and language courses which are the foundation of diversity in academia. Language courses are a requirement for students in the College of Letters and Sciences and are also the means for students of color to learn their primary language, as well as develop new language skills.

Personalizing the Budget Problem

With the financial pressure resulting from the university’s budget cuts and nationwide recession, API students are struggling to balance academics, personal welfares and work jobs that support their families.

“I have a lot of friends whose parents have lost their jobs,” second-year English major Crystal Maranan said. “Their families are stressing out because they keep hearing about fee increases and they don’t know how to come up with money to pay for it.” The increased financial burden that many API students are experiencing is taking an overall toll on their mental health. “I feel mentally down,” said Kim. “It’s hard to get better. It makes it harder to try to be happy and strong because of this burden.”

“A lot of times students internalize all of the stress that they have. They’re not being up and front and facing the situation, a lot of students feel like they are just trying to get by,” said Truong, who is a peer counselor for a Southeast Asian retention project.

“Of the Pacific Islander population at UCLA, a large majority of those students are on financial aid,” said Austin Nakatsuka, peer counseling coordinator for Retention of American Indians Now (RAIN). “For those students especially, budget cuts affect them a lot. If they get cut from financial aid, theyhave to work to make up that money. It’s a huge burden.”

Students vulnerable to the financial situation may be mentally and psychologically affected by the recession. According to a mental health brief conducted by UCLA’s Student Affairs Information and Research Office (SAIRO), Asian and Asian American students in both 2002 and 2006 had the greatest frequency of psychological distress, depression and anxiety. Students with parents born outside the U.S. also had higher levels of psychological instability compared to students with parents born in the U.S.

“A lot of times, the way that API students find support and deal with issues going on with their lives and personal well-being is through involvement with student and leadership groups,” said fourth-year English and Asian American studies major Layhannara Tep. “You need that support group to ground [yourself ] and keep you going. Being less developed as leaders leads to taking less ownership of what you can do at this university as a student and eventually that leads to not getting the support that one needs for graduation – it’s a cycle.” Tep is the Academic Affairs Commissioner for the Undergraduate Student Association Council (USAC).

Reactions, Reflection and Action

The increased fees, furloughs and quality of education has caught the attention of students, faculty and workers. On September 24, UC campuses coordinated a walk out and rally in unity against the budget cuts. During the 21st Student of Color Conference at UC San Diego, about 1200 students marched through the streets with protest signs and chants against educational inequality and fee hikes. However, the sentiment among other students differs.

“A lot of students become apathetic and complacent, ‘Well it’s just going to happen’ and they don’t feel like they can do anythingabout it,” said Truong.

“It is important as a student to find an avenue to express grievances against the school,” added Tep.

“If anything, you still have the power to let your concerns be heard by administrators through phone calls, letters, or even through newsmagazines and [Daily Bruin] Viewpoints. As real students being impacted by these things, it’s important for us to express what’s going on. No one will know what’s going on if you don’t speak up.”

Despite negative ramifications of the budget crisis, third year Asian American studies major John Duong points out the importance of speaking out on personal experiences. “A really important thing is sharing your story, your own difficulties and struggles,” said Duong. “The API community tends to not be very vocal. Just saying what you’re going through is a big thing and presenting what your struggles are validates your experiences and the experiences of others in your community. Sharing your story encourages others. The more people know about your story, the more people might be moved to help.”

For the UC Regents meeting, students and unions are organizing protests and rallies. The External Vice President (EVP) Office of USAC is coordinating with other UC campuses to bus students from across the state and form Tent City, a congregation of tents housing students from other campuses near Pauley Pavilion. UC students will engage in on-campus rallies and demonstrations and host overnight events.

“The easiest way you can contribute to the death of education is to be complacent when it happens before youar very eyes,” said Tep. “As students and student leaders who are trying to revitalize education, it’s important for you to figure out where your role is in that process.”

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