CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE : Student Petitions Oppose Fee Hike

Students at Cal State Northridge had collected 2,200 signatures Friday on petitions opposing a hike in fees by as much as 120%.

Organizers said they hope to deliver 5,000 student signatures to the California State University Board of Trustees meeting in Long Beach next week.

“It’s really pitiful,” said Jennifer Clark, a junior art major, who is circulating petitions. “This is the future and we can’t go to school. How can we be a productive part of society? I’m not sure if I’ll be attending next year,” said Clark.

She said that in one hour of collecting signatures, more than a dozen students told her they would not be able to attend next year if the increase goes into effect.

The plan to raise fees is one of several under discussion as alternative funding possibilities for the system.

Many students said they suspect the trustees have already approved the plan and will make it formal at their next meeting, Tuesday and Wednesday, in Long Beach.

CSU Chancellor Barry Munitz has stated that no decision has been made on fee increases for next year. Students from other CSU campuses, including San Diego, Long Beach and Los Angeles, plan to join in protests outside the trustees’ meeting.

The option that has students most concerned would restructure the fee scale so that student fees would pay between 25% and 33% of the cost of education, said Cook. Students are now paying 18%.

The highest range would increase full-time student fees to $2,880 a year. The current fee is $1,308 a year.

Over the last two years, enrollments have dropped by 27,687 students systemwide. Fees have risen 60% over the last two years and 13,000 classes have been cut system-wide, according to the California State Student Assn.

At CSUN, enrollment has declined 2,083 last year to a current total of 29,084,

Associated Students Director of Finance Steve Parker, a member of the Black Student Union, said increases had hit minority communities especially hard.

“I think it sends a message of lack of hope back to our communities,” said Parker. “We’ve got people out there who are trying to get out and trying to make progress and the door is being slammed in our face.

“Some of these students are coming up from the inner city, trying to get their education, trying to get in,” he said, “and if the financial aid isn’t there to match the increases, obviously they’re not going to be there.”

Student leaders are also planning a letter-writing and phone campaign.

“It needs to be joint action, coordinated with all the (CSU) campuses,” said Fabio Escobar, student senator. “We’ll get respect if we look like we’re strong and united.”