Students Wonder Whether Budget Squeeze Will Raise Fees

Students registering for classes at Cal State Fullerton on Monday were disheartened by the prospect of deep budget cuts planned for next fall, particularly if it means increased student fees.

Associated Student Government President Joe Ahn, 23, is one of those recommending eliminating the $1.3-million-a-year football program to save money. “It’s real sad and . . . it was one of the hardest decisions I’ve made,” Ahn said.

Ahn said the program may yet be saved if community, alumni or private sponsors come up with the money, but deep cuts to many other programs will be unavoidable. “I don’t think football is going to be the most significant cut,” he said. “I think there are going to be other things that people are going to be shocked about.”

But the possible demise of football was foremost in the mind of Terrance Sullivan, a freshman and safety on the Titan football team. “I think it’s kind of a shame,” Sullivan said.

If the ax must fall, Sullivan hopes that the decision comes soon. “They should go ahead and cancel it so players can . . . go to other places to play,” he said, adding that he would transfer to San Diego State.

Although there were no classes Monday, hundreds of students were on campus registering for the spring semester which begins next week.

Most of those questioned by a reporter were opposed to cuts that might necessitate higher student fees or make it more difficult to get classes they need for graduation.

The cuts would go into effect in the coming school year, which begins next fall. University President Milton A. Gordon said Saturday that the school must trim $14 million from its budget, although it will probably be months before it is determined exactly what areas will be targeted.

Each division of the university is taking a look at possible areas to cut, but one of the first casualties of the financial squeeze may be the Division 1-A football team, which has operated on a shoestring for years.

The school announced last week that the campus athletic council recommended dropping the 21-year-old football program, even as construction continues on campus of the Titan Sports Complex, which will feature a 10,000-seat football stadium. It will be another week or so before Gordon acts on the recommendation to scrap the football program.

Few of the students interviewed Monday expressed any opinion about the fate of the football program. Most talked about fees, although some conceded that even a potential 20% tuition increase would be manageable. Fees currently run about $800 a year for a full-time student.

“I don’t think that it’s fair because students don’t have that much money,” said Danny Vu, 25, an electrical engineering major.

John Enomoto, 25, a senior criminology major, said the crisis has a familiar ring.

“Last year they were talking about (cuts),” Enomoto said. “It doesn’t . . . worry me too much. You talk about budget cuts, and they are building new things all over the campus--the sports complex, and I believe they are extending the university center.”

But if student fees are raised again, “I would be bent out of shape,” he allowed. “Who wouldn’t?”

At worse, increased fees pose a temporary cash-flow inconvenience for Terry Meeks, a 31-year-old computer science major, who takes classes at night and works for an Orange County computer firm during the day.

“I’d have to put out (money) up front,” Meeks said. But his employer reimburses Meeks the cost of tuition for classes in which he earns a C grade or better.

There was uncertainty Monday over which departments and which course offerings may feel the squeeze.

Karen Bellerose, a 35-year-old graduate student, said she already is having difficulty getting the classes she wants. “All the courses I wanted to take are full, so I have to petition and hope they squeeze me in,” she said.

Tina Moreno, 18, of Riverside, a dance major, said Fullerton’s dance department could suffer from cutbacks because it is relatively small.

“The dance department needs to build another studio, and they may not be able to do that,” she said.

“It doesn’t have any direct effect on us now, but as music majors it will, I’m sure,” said Krisa Moore, 18. “I’m only in my second semester, a lot of the basic first- and second-semester classes are going to be there. The more specialized you get, it’s going to be harder” to get classes.

On a more personal level, Moore said she is glad she will not have to deal directly with increased fees.

“But if my parents weren’t able to pay (the tuition), we’d have to pay ourselves,” said Moore, who works for minimum wage in the college’s bookstore. “Trying to work as a freshman is really hard. I know a lot of friends couldn’t afford” last semester’s 10% fee increase.