Cal State LA Turns Away Students

by Cayce Callaway Monday, Jul. 30, 2001 at 1:15 PM

"Perhaps I was blind to the facts, but I was promised an education for my time and efforts. But now I feel stabbed in the back by the program. I'm trying to look to the future and leave all my past behind me but it's hard when people keep shutting the door in my face. All I'm trying to do is get an education. I'm tired of seeing my family and friends stuck in the ghetto with no way out. I'm trying to make a difference, but you're making it hard for us." Richard Valencia

Cal State LA Turns A...
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22 students from the Gang Violence Bridging Project, a division of The Pat Brown Institute, visited the office of David Sandoval, the director of EOP, as well as several other campus administrators at Cal State LA last Wednesday to denounce the treatment they received under the program. The students point to a contract they signed with EOP last September when they began the project which strongly suggested that fully participating and completing the Powerbuilders program would enable them to enter Cal State as freshman this fall. Instead of the 60 entrance slots Sandoval told Amanda Perez-Sosa, the Coordinator for the Powerbuilders, he would provide after the 8 month program, he has admitted less than 20 students.

Students are also demanding answers to questions regarding transcripts lost in the EOP offices and criteria used for admitting students as many of the top scoring students were not selected.