The System of Budget Crisis: Community Colleges vs. Cal State

So now, no doubt most of you awesome humans are feeling the affects of the "recession". Many Californians have to decided to go back to school, and take advantage of the "time off" they have from work. And no doubt many of those people are feeling...annoyed.

Because of the budget cuts, The Los Angeles Community College District has cancels lots of summer classes at the nine community colleges part of the district. Because of the budget cuts, there will be no Winter Inter-Session at Los Angeles City College. Because of the budget cuts, classes are either filling up rapidly, or not at all. Classes that don't fill up fast enough are cut without any hesitation.

Cal State universities are not facing this problem, but just applying is still a hassle. To apply to a Cal State school (just the application fee) costs $40 - $55, of which many of us don't have. If you went to a community college and payed $20-$30/unit, then you spent roughly $1200+ (on 60+ units) and should have therefore been able to avoid the math and English placement tests. Because you avoided these tests with $1200+, you avoid the nearly $35 (total) it costs to take them.

So say you're like me: very small part-time job (with a barely there salary), no financial aid because you live at home with your parent(s), no car and unable to get a part-time job that pays more because you are full-time student...with no car. Then say you leave you community college for a Cal State, like say Long Beach. If you are like me, you could probably benefit from housing, but because you live in LA County, you are priority number four on the Housing Office's list. Priority is given to 1)Students who live outside America, 2)Students who live outside the state, 3)Students who live outside LA County and 4) Students who live in LA County. Just apply for housing costs $30 for the application fee (which I didn't have, had to borrow).

Alternative plan, take the bus. 2+ hour bus ride+ $2.50 each way = $5 + Five or more hrs on the bus) everyday.

This is the system. The system of dependence. The same system that told me my education would be better at a 4-year university is the same system that cut the budget for the classes at the community college. The same system that makes you pay for a placement test, is the system that can't give you an easier way to get to (and pay for) where they say you need to go.

In other countries, education is not free and its not a right. In some countries, its a privilege. Even just going to primary school (elementary school) costs money that people don't have.

But this is America, Land of the Free (key word free). Education should be free and if you are going to make me pay $20-700/unit then at least help me get there. Help us to get to school faster. Help us get on-campus jobs. Help us with child care. Help us. Don't keep us down.