Pierce College Students Protest Projected Budget Cuts

Several hundred Pierce College students, angered over projected budget cuts that could triple school fees and eliminate at least 100 classes, protested on the campus Wednesday and heard that a planned elimination of summer school classes has been rescinded.

After students collected signatures on petitions asking that the summer school session be reinstated, college President Lowell Erickson told a noontime rally that he had reversed the decision that morning.

“It will be a small summer session,” said Erickson, who said he understood the students’ frustrations. “All the colleges are having this problem. We just don’t have enough money.”

The students walked out of classes and urged fellow students to fight budget cuts, finally spilling into the Campus Center where trustees of the Los Angeles Community College District were holding a scheduled meeting.

The students said they were especially frustrated that the 17,000-student campus may see its budget shrink by 11.6% next fall. That would reduce its revenues from $24 million to $21.5 million, which could cause the cancellation of as many as 200 classes and an increase in fees to $30 a unit.

“If you don’t have money, you don’t deserve an education. That’s what they’re telling us,” said one student, speaking into a microphone before a crowd of about 300 students.

The students, some carrying placards that read, “Cut your salaries, not our classes,” cheered speakers who urged the students to fight for their right to an education and booed the mention of Gov. Pete Wilson’s name.

Michael Dubusk, one of the rally’s organizers, asked students to keep up pressure on elected officials between now and June 30 when the state’s final budget is adopted. “We want our education restored,” said Dubusk, a chemistry major.

Saji Prelis, vice president of the college’s Associated Student Organization, said students want fees to remain at $10 a unit and a cap placed on the total amount of fees charged each semester.

After rallies near the library, students took their demonstration to Victory Boulevard and Winnetka Avenue, shouting at motorists to support their efforts, before marching back to the campus.