Volume 137, Issue 4
News Budget
Crunch Fatalities BY
SUSAN BARNES As many as 15,000 California community college students, staff and supporters are expected to rally March 15 at the state Capitol Building in Sacramento to protest Governor Schwarzenegger's proposed 2004-2005 budget.
At least 1,500 participants are expected leave early on some 33 buses from City College to join the massive demonstration titled by organizers, "March in March." Community college supporters from all over the state will assemble at 10 a.m. in West Sacramento's Raley Field and march together with floats touting life-sized "Missing Student" sculptures across Tower Bridge to the state Capitol Building's west lawn and steps for a three-hour rally. A total of about 120 "Missing Students" will be on view that day as a graphic reminder to the governor and state legislators of how many students will not be able to attend college if Schwarzenegger's proposed budget passes.
The California Community Colleges Board of Governors estimates that 175,000 students are now missing in the system due to last year's budget cuts and fee hikes. Protesters are opposed to a new budget that calls for a second year of painful financial cuts and sharp tuition increases in California community colleges, as well as substantial enrollment and financial cuts and tuition increases in the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems. As City College Chancellor Philip Day put it, "I think with the governor's budget and the tuition increases that have been proposed, he (Schwarzenegger) is giving a blanket invitation to students not only from community colleges, but from UC and CSU systems to "March in March." Under Schwarzenegger's plan, City College students could see their tuition, which just climbed from $11 per unit one semester ago to $18 per unit this semester, shoot up to $24 per unit by fall semester 2004.
At the same time, community colleges anticipate about 20,000 new applicants from the general population next year, which includes a large influx of unemployed workers seeking further job training. Also, community colleges would be expected to absorb up to 28,000 eligible candidates, who might be rejected by UC and CSU, if Schwarzenegger's budget is adopted. "In my experience, it's usually the most disadvantaged who end up getting pushed out," City College Dean of Governmental Relations Leslie Smith said. "We believe that referring the UC and the CSU students to the community colleges probably could have the impact of pushing out the most vulnerable."
Sarah Wilson, a City College sophomore biology major, relies on financial aid to help support herself while she works part-time and maintains a 4.0 grade point average. She said Governor Schwarzenegger's budget is "wrong because it ultimately reduces funding for higher education, and diverts it to other political agendas that are not as much in the people's best interest." Last year at this time, a "Keep the Doors Open" rally attracted about 10,000 Protesters to Sacramento. The rally proved pivotal in holding down community college fee increases from the proposed $24 per unit to $18 per unit and reducing budget cuts from the more than $800 million first itemized in Davis's budget to about $3.6 million. Students, who want to make bus reservations to attend this year's "March in March," should contact Greg @ (415) 239-3108, ebrock39@yahoo.com or Skip @239-3212, cfotch@ccsf.edu. By
Lubna Takruri Two hundred protesters, some in costume, chanted in front of the Bechtel offices in the Financial District on Feb. 25 in an attempt to bring attention to the "corporate takeover" of Iraq.
Bechtel is the recipient of one of the largest reconstruction contracts in Iraq, a controversial topic since foreign companies were denied the opportunity to even bid. Almost a year later, Bechtel's productivity is being questioned. "We're here to expose the complicity of corporate war profiteers," said Nate Dubhaigh of San Francisco. Dubhaigh and other members of the group Direct Action to Stop the War dressed in pig costumes with MCI, Halliburton, and Bechtel nametags. According to Dr. Lou Schubert, a City College Political Science professor, "Bechtel got a contract for Iraq because they are one of the only companies in the world that works on such a large scale." Bechtel was responsible for the projects like the Bay Bridge and BART, said Schubert. "This is about money," said Schubert. "I'm not going around saying they're saints, they are there for money." The peaceful crowd heard speeches by members of CodePink, Mourning Moth-ers, Global Exchange and other groups while employees from the building where Bechtel has offices looked on from the other side of the police barricades. The assembly proceeded around the block to Fremont Street and marched down Market to One Montgomery. They were flanked by 20 police officers on motorcycles who held traffic while the Protesters shouted anti-corporate slogans. "War for profit and corporate stocks," they said, "Give Iraqis back Iraq." After removing the pig mask, Dubhaigh said, "The blood of U.S. soldiers will be on Bechtel, Halliburton, and other companies driving war." "These contracts are being made in secret," said Ann Worth of Berkeley. "They [Bechtel] are charging the U.S. military for meals they're not feeding them," she added. "They're charging them for water repairs they're not fixing." Activists also took to the streets in Washington and New York to protest the corporate presence in Iraq. The Guardsman will pursue a response from Bechtel. Gonzalez Attends La Raza Event BY
MARLON LUMANG Matt Gonzalez, Presi-dent of the Board of Super-visors, addressed City College students at La Raza Unity Fiesta, Feb. 25, at the Student Union.
La Raza Unida, a student organization of Latinos and Latinas that focuses on education and community unification, held the event to raise awareness about the current budget cuts and the march to Sacra-mento, March 15. In his speech Gonzalez included issues about living wages, the budget cuts and how the Green Party is affecting the community. After his speech, Gonzalez remained at the event to speak with students. "I think he addressed the current issues to City College students in an effective way. That's rare among politicians like those that are routinely elected," said Nick Ocenitpinti, a City College student. Gonzalez arrived at the event 15 minutes late due to taking public transportation in the heavy rain that drenched San Francisco Wed-nesday morning. "That's what's cool about him. He's a renter and he also uses public transportation; that's why we support him. He's on the same level as the student," said Darren Villegas, a La Raza Unida member. Ballot Box: And The Winner Is... BY
FLYNN HAGERTY Proposition
55 Chancellor Phillip Day lauded San Franciscans, of whom more than 70% voted yes on the state proposition. It's a major infusion of funds. It will help rebuild the educational infrastructure of California from K through 16," said Day. Proposition
56 "I'm very disappointed...it would have been nice to see budgets on time," said Day. "The current situation...during the past 15 years has almost always led to state budgets being passed in the next fiscal year." Proposition
57 "The election results provide another piece to fulfill the college's needs," said Goldstein. City College Remembers Professor Leonard Sanazaro The life Leonard Sanazaro, a long-time professor of English and prolific poet, will be commemorated on Mar. 26 at the Diego RiveraTheater beginning at 3 p.m.
Administrators, faculty, staff, students, family, and friends are invited to honor Sanazaro, who died unexpectedly last month. Anyone interested in speaking or reading a selection, please contact Carol Fregly, 239-3882 or cfregly@ccsf.edu. Anyone wishing to contribute written material (poems, essays, and biographical anecdotes) for publication in the memorial service program, please send print-ready items to Louise Nayer L126 or contact her at 239-3483 or lnayer@aol.com. A scholarship fund will be established in Sanazaro's name, and donations supporting the fund can be made at the service. Anyone wishing more information on the scholarship fund may contact Jessica Brown, 239-3484 or jjb_sf@yahoo.com.
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