Rally to Stop Cutbacks in California Community Colleges

Friday, March 28, 2003

11:00-1:00 pm

Pershing Square

532 South Olive

Los Angeles

The Associated Student governments of the following community college districts sponsor the rally: Los Angeles, El Camino, Glendale, Orange County, Pasadena, Rio Hondo and Santa Monica.

Gov. Davis budget cuts propose the worst cuts in higher education—9%--for the 109 community colleges in California. He also proposes to more than double tuition from $11 to $24 a unit. This increase in tuition would not go to the support the community colleges but into the state general fund and is designed to drive low-income, minority and immigrant students out of higher education. State planners have decided they will try to drive between 100,000 to 200,000 students out of California public higher education through a combination of budget cuts and raising tuition.

Even before these cuts Los Angeles Community Colleges cut their 2002 summer classes (including English), thus turning away students and overloading courses. In the fall LA Southwest College in Southcentral cut over a third its English and English as a Second Language classes, laying off much of the part-time faculty. In the spring cuts in classes have ranged from 10 % (Santa Monica College); 20% (East Los Angeles College) to 40% (Los Angeles City College). But the cuts will be much worse in the fall. At Santa Monica College administrations want to cut 30% of all fall classes including cut 10 whole departments including architecture, respiratory therapy, etc. Santa Monica College has already given notice to full-time teachers in the 10 to-be-cut departments as well as already laid off part-time teachers. Class sizes in English classes in the LA Community College District were increased from 38 to 43 by the administration. Some union protections might be ended.

So come to Pershing Square, 532 So. Olive, Friday, March 28 between 11;00-1:00.