On paying for a college education in California

While all can applaud Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s decision not to force large tuition increases on UC and Cal State students again this year (Dec. 29), the fact remains that his “compact” with the two university systems remains in place.

This agreement allows fee increases every year at least as fast as income growth. In exchange, higher education gets 3% to 4% increases in the governor’s budget. The net effect is a shift toward privatizing higher education. The compact represents a fundamental break with California’s Master Plan for Higher Education, which promised a high-quality, low-cost education to everyone willing to do the work.

Schwarzenegger’s decision provides an opportunity for the public and Legislature to decide if California should return to the promise of the master plan or continue with the compact’s privatization.

Truly public higher education has been the most successful thing California has done for the last two generations. It should be restored.

STANTON A. GLANTZ

Professor of Medicine

UC San Francisco

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As the father of a UC student, I applaud your Jan. 2 editorial pointing out the ever-increasing financial burden on UC and Cal State students.

Recent exposes of nepotism, inflated salaries and unjustified bonuses show faculty and administrators to be feeding at the public trough with little oversight, on the scale of Enron or Tyco. There’s no telling what egregious abuses the state Assembly hearings this spring will uncover.

CHARLES SYKES

San Jose