PRESS RELEASE

Monday, August 22, 2011

“When the Students Lead, the Leaders Will Follow”

University of California Student Association Unanimously Endorses Prop 1481, THE OIL EXTRACTION FEE TO RESCUE EDUCATION INITIATIVE

At the 13th Annual UC Student Congress, August 18-21, at UC Riverside, Prop 1481, The Oil Extraction Fee to Fund Education was unanimously endorsed by the University of California Student Association “which is the single recognized voice for over 220,000 students enrolled in the University of California System” (see attached Resolution of Support from UCSA).  Cypress College Professor Peter Mathews, lead proponent and co-author of the Prop 1481, stated, “The UCSA endorsement is invaluable in our quest to qualify Prop 1481 for the California ballot and will make a major difference in our success in bringing the highest quality, equal opportunity, and fully affordable education to California students.  Prop 1481 places a 15% severance tax on oil extracted in California, bringing in $3 billion for education K-College and University, to significantly reduce college and university tuition fees, restore class sections that were cut, rehire laid off professors and teachers, and reduce class sizes and restore the full academic year K-12.  Our quest is nothing short of Civil Rights and Educational Justice for all !”

The key points of the Resolution are “that UCSA endorses the proposed Oil Extraction Fee to Rescue Higher Education Initiative; that the UCSA pledges to participate in the campaign for the initiative; that the UCSA strongly urges the University of California Office of the President to join us in the proper advocacy for public education in the State of California through the endorsement of this initiative; and that the UCSA Board of Directors charges the UCSA President to present this resolution to the following individuals: Governor Jerry Brown, the University of California Chancellors, University of California President Mark Yudof, the University of California Board of Regents, the authors of Proposition 1481, and major members of the California State Legislature.”     Submitted the 19th day of August 2011

THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE OFFICIALLY CUT $1.4 BILLION FROM HIGHER EDUCATION; THE FINAL BUDGET (JUNE 2011) INCLUDED ADDITIONAL $300 MILLION TOTAL CUTS TO UC AND CSU.  BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT DOWNWARD TREND IN THE U.S. AND CALIFORNIA ECONOMIES, THE STATE BUDGET FACES A MID-YEAR DEFICIT OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS BEGINNING IN JANUARY 2012: $3 BILLION IN DELAYED PAYMENTS TO K-12 AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES; MORE SEVERE CUTS TO CSU AND UC EXPECTED:  7 DAYS SHORTENED K-12 SCHOOL YEAR, 80% INCREASE IN COLLEGE FEES WITHIN ONE YEAR (2010-2011), AND FURTHER TUITION FEE INCREASES FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE PROJECTED FOR JANUARY 2012.

Prop 1481 comes just in time to address some of the above major financial needs of California Education, Kindergarten through College and University.  504,760 valid signatures of California registered voters are needed to qualify Prop 1481 for a vote on the June 2012 statewide ballot.  Hundreds of volunteer activists statewide, from social justice, educational, student, teacher, professor, administrator and small business groups are currently circulating 154,000 Prop 1481 petitions (containing 770,000 signature slots) on college and university campuses, at grocery stores, farmers markets, shopping centers, and other places.   In the next two weeks, the Prop 1481 campaign will be distributing an additional 42,350 petitions containing 211,750 signature slots to be signed statewide.

Other student groups that have endorsed, or are supporting and/or distributing thousands of Prop 1481 petitions include the Student Senate for California Community Colleges (SSCCC), the California Community College Association of Student Trustees (CCCAST), and members of the California State Student Association (CSU).  (Please see attachments for full endorsement list and UCSA Endorsement Resolution)

For more information, please call Peter Mathews at (562) 234-3319 and go to our website at www.rescueeducationcalifornia.org.<http://www.rescueeducationcalifornia.org.>

UCSA is co-sponsoring with the Cal State Student Association (CSSA), AB 970 by Assemblymember Fong.  This bill would create a more transparent fee setting process that includes student consultation and notification for any fee increases, as well as codifying institutional aid and prohibiting the terminology change from student fee to tuition. The basis of this bill came from a resolution passed by the previous board in May, and the current bill language became public on June 4.  Currently the bill is on the “inactive” file on the Assembly Floor but can be moved at any time, and the deadline for it to move on to the Senate is January 2012.

For more information, contact Ellie Sciaky at gsavpexternal@gmail.com.

Join the Movement. This is Our Time!

Join us at the University of California Student Association Congress Aug. 18-21, 2011 @ UC Riverside

Are you upset about the recent 10.5% tuition increase?

Does it make you mad that the State of California cut UC funding by $650 million?

Do you want to help build a statewide movement of UC students?

Are you a current UC Student?

Join the Movement this Summer and Come to Congress!

On Aug. 18–21 at UC Riverside join hundreds of UC students from every campus at the annual University of California Student Association’s Congress.

The UC Student Association is the official collective voice of all UC students. In addition to workshops, trainings, clinics and social events, UCSA Congress delegates will discuss and choose the Graduate and Undergraduate campaigns that UC students will be organizing and advocating for in the 2011-12 school year.

This trip is 100% paid for by the EVP office, so don’t let cost be a barrier! Currently, there are enough funds to pay for 7 graduate students to attend. Spots will be given on a first come, first serve basis- the deadline to apply is August 5. Email esciaky@gmail.com for more information on how to join.

Despite a strong mobilization of students across the state against further tuition hikes, the UC Regents approved an additional 10.5% increase to tuition this morning.  The total tuition increase for 2011-2012 will be nearly 19%.  Only four Regents voted against this increase—Student Regent Mireles, Regent Marcus, Regent Island and Lieutenant Governor Newsom.

This tuition increase is a significant blow to affordability and accessibility in the UC system.  “This is a sad day for the University of California.  Once again, the Regents have refused to consider alternative options, and chosen the easy route of placing the entire burden on students and their families,” said Claudia Magana, UCSA President, and 4^th year student at UC Santa Cruz.

Students greatly appreciated the comments of Lieutenant Governor Newsom who was the only Regent, other than Student Regent Mireles, to speak out against the tuition increase.  “We agree with Lieutenant Governor Newsom.  This tuition increase is another direct attack on the middle class.  The Regents should have refused tuition increases, and done something different.  Students are afraid we are simply going to be in the same place next year,” said Nelson Cortez, External Vice President and 4^th year student at UC Santa Cruz.

The Regents had initially proposed a 5.6% increase to occur automatically in 2012-13 if an additional $100 million cut came down from the state. Students poured into the Regents meeting to speak against this “trigger” increase and organized across the state to make sure that their voices were heard.  “This trigger increase was completely unacceptable to students.  We mobilized and advocated aggressively with dozens of students coming for public comment and hundreds of students sending in letters and emails.  The removal of the “trigger” increase was a significant victory for students on an otherwise sad day for affordability and accessibility in the UC system,” said Joelle Gamble, External Vice President and 4^th year student at UCLA.

” My name is ________ and I’m a student at UC _______. The proposed tuition increase threatens affordability and accessibility of the UC system. I urge you to pursue a more balanced approach, oppose this fee increase, and remove any “trigger” increase. Please stand up and advocate for alternative revenue solutions to UC’s budget challenges that do not fall so heavily on students and their families. Thank You ”

In January, Governor Brown released a budget that cut the UC an unprecedented $500 million, and reduced the total funding for higher education by $1.2 billion.  Students opposed all cuts and told their legislators to find a real solution for higher education.

 

Now the Governor is abandoning his original budget plan that required bipartisan support and instead with Democratic leadership he has reached a deal yesterday that will go even further to reduce the state’s commitment to higher education.

The current budget proposal cuts an addition $150 million each to the UC and CSU, with more cuts of  $100 million promised to each system if revenue predictions fail to meet these new expectations.  Consequently mandatory student fees at the both systems are expected to increase 20-30% for the 2011-2012 year.

Your elected officials will vote on this newly crafted plan as soon as today and send it to the Governor for his approval by the end of the week. Call the Governor’s office now at (916) 445-2841. Here is what you can say:

” My name is ________ and I’m a student at UC.  I’m opposed to Governor Brown’s cuts to higher education as it threatens affordability and accessibility at all of California’s public institutions of higher education. I urge him to work towards a better budget deal that protects current and future students and our families. Thank you.”

Hello Grads,

Student representatives are scheduled to meet with the UC Regents this weekend to discuss potential fee hikes, among other pressing issues. Here is a link to the agenda:http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/regents/regmeet/nov10.html

Thanks to all of you who have applied! There are still a few positions left. Remember, University of California Office of the President reimburses you for travel, and it’s a great resume experience. Check out the following link for more information, or to apply: