VENTURA : Students Protest Plan to Cut Budget

Hundreds of people gathered Wednesday in the quad area at Ventura College to rally against proposed budget cuts that threaten to close classroom doors and force teacher layoffs.

“I’ve always opposed fees, but I’m only one voice,” college President Jesus Carreon said at the noontime “Teach-In” sponsored by the Associated Students group. “You’re not only students, you’re taxpayers.”

Speaker after speaker urged students and faculty members to write or call their legislators and lobby against Gov. Pete Wilson’s January proposal that would slash more than 11% from the state’s community college budget.

Physical education department head Steve Tobias said more than 200,000 community college students statewide were unable to continue their education after the last round of budget cuts in 1992 that resulted in fees rising from $6 to $10 a unit.

“We believe a great deal of those students (left) because they could not deal with that additional $4 fee,” he said.

Jean-Louis DeBien, a 29-year-old re-entry student, said he doubts that the protest will have much impact on politicians in Sacramento.

“It’s almost starting the cycle of the ‘60s all over again,” he said of the protest.

Tuition could increase from $10 a unit to $30 a unit if the proposed spending cuts are approved, administrators said. They also predicted drastic cuts in class schedules and staffing if the governor’s plan is adopted.

Earlier this month, however, scores of angry students told Ventura County Community College District trustees that classes should be the last things to be cut. The board ordered administrators to look elsewhere for potential savings.

But none of the rally cries Wednesday helped DeBien, who said he paid $575 for tuition and supplies for his 16 units this semester.

“That went on my wonderful Visa bill, which I get to break down over the next few months,” DeBien said. He said he plans to be one of hundreds expected to march at 3 p.m. Saturday from the quad to the County Government Center in another show of solidarity.