[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Dina Cervantes
Chair
California State Student Association

The leadership of the Student Senate for California Community Colleges (SSCCC), California State Student Association (CSSA) and University of California Student Association (UCSA) have come together in a historic coalition, called Students for California’s Future and announced that Monday, April 21, 2008 will be a Day of Action across California with major marches being planned at the State Capitol and downtown Los Angeles.

Over 3.2 million students at the California Community Colleges (CCC), California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) systems are represented with the unification of these organizations because all would be adversely affected by $1 billion dollars in cuts to higher education.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Oiyan Poon
President
University of California Student Association

[Editor's note: These are the remarks delivered by Ms. Poon to the U.C. Regents shortly before they unanimously voted to support the recommendations of a study group report on diversity.]

Today, the UC Regents are considering several items that will significantly affect all 214,000+ University of California undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. As President of the University of California Student Association (UCSA), I observe the Regents’ deliberations and votes, and advocate on behalf of UC students for equity in access, affordability, and the quality of our University. I stand with students from across the state to tell the Regents not to water down the Diversity Report and to compel the Regents and the UC Office of the President to show their true colors by taking aggressive and concrete, action-oriented steps to address the diversity crisis facing our University.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Shiebler , President
University of California Student Association

Since the Governor released his budget proposal in January, students have made it loud and clear that California's families cannot take another fee increase & cuts to Academic Preparation programs. UC students statewide have sent over 12,000 postcards to the legislature, lobbied in-district and at the Capitol, and testified at budget and education committee hearings. And just last week, students faxed over 3,000 letters and made nearly 400 calls to Sacramento.

However, Governor Schwarzenegger released his revisions to the 2007-2008 California State Budget with much disappointment to California’s hard working students and families. As in the January Budget Proposal, the Governor has once again turned his back on higher education by maintaining a 7-10% increase in fees and zero funding Academic Preparation Programs.