Community Colleges : CHANCE FOR A BETTER LIFE : Platform : Coping With Fee Increases, Fewer Classes : ROSHAWN E. MATHIAS; Student at El Camino and Compton colleges, 21

I have to drive to several different schools in different areas, because a lot of the classes aren’t offered (on a single campus). It is costing me more overall, because of fees, transportation. Parking used to be free, and now they’re charging $15 a semester, or you can risk getting a ticket. And books! They have new books (each semester.) You can’t get an older version, because they are all new.

I don’t think (administrators) look at the overall picture. They’re not looking at it from the student’s point of view. They make it hard to get financial aid and grants. I work full time. I’m on my own. I have 18 units and four classes. I’m going to night school. I can’t receive financial aid.

A lot of students will have to work full time and take fewer classes. They’ll take three years instead of two.

If they try to raise the fees, they should at least keep the same amount of classes. Everyone waits to get in (to required classes), and you don’t know if you’ll get in. I could go to a class for a week, and wait to see how many drop out. But if you are No. 12 and only six drop out, then you’re out of luck.