VAN NUYS : Students Endure Heat and Lines for College’s Summer Classes

Reductions in summer school classes at Pierce College and rising fees at Cal State Northridge have made the summer offerings at Valley College one of the hottest tickets in town.

More than 750 college students from throughout the Valley braved high temperatures and other frustrations as they lined up for hours to apply for 121 classes being offered this summer at Valley College, a sign of the increasing competition for college courses.

Campus police handed out priority tickets to keep students from cutting in line. Even then, arguments still broke out.

“We didn’t know it would be this big of a problem,” said Jeffrey Heier, a Valley College police intern who had to send several people back to the end of the line for trying to cut into line.

Students were not surprised at the turnout.

“Here, I have a better chance of getting classes,” said Pierce College student Charuthip Sindhupha, 18, who spent at least five hours in line at Valley College.

At Pierce College, the number of summer class offerings dropped from 90 last year to 36 because of a $300,000 reduction in summer school funding.

A number of students also showed up from Mission College, where only 49 summer classes are being offered. That is a slight increase from the 45 courses offered last summer, but short of the students’ demand for classes.

Besides availability, cost was also a reason for the long lines at Valley.

CSUN this year raised its summer class fee by $5, bringing the total cost per unit to $106, compared to $10 per unit at a community college.

At least one Valley student said she resented having to compete against students from other colleges for summer school.

“I think it sucks because I’ve got, like, 40 or 50 units,” said Jeanette Jarvis, 30. “I stood in line when I got into Valley and now I’m competing against other people when I should have a preference.”

Some students saw it as one of the prices they must pay for a college education.

“To get out of this system in two years, you have to be prepared for sacrifices,” Sindhupha said.