By Sherry Posnick-Goodwin
The university: CSU Fresno may have to cut $3 million from its operation next year, or perhaps more. That's on top of the $10 million that CSU Fresno slashed this year. Last year's cuts resulted in layoffs of part-time instructors and lecturers as well as other positions, a reduction in course offerings, and overcrowded classes. In previous years, courses that were underenrolled still were held. But now they are being canceled, even though students still need them to graduate. Because of this, students face an additional semester or two of coursework and take longer to graduate. Instructors will be asked to take even more students into their classes next year. And students will be paying 10 percent more next year — while receiving 20 percent less in terms of a quality education.
Student Jessica Sweeten, Associated Student Body vice president
There were fewer offerings this year for the classes that I needed. So many classes had been cut. It was very difficult trying to get the classes that I needed and also being able to work.
Campuswide, the cuts are having a big effect. The new library just opened, and it is the biggest library in the CSU system. But it has no real furniture. We had planned for it to be a world-class library, but the school couldn't afford furniture, so staff put in any unused furniture it could find. The library got the leftovers.
I'm 20, a junior, and getting my degree in agricultural communications. Next year tuition will increase 10 percent, and that is going to be difficult. My mother is a teacher, and she has received a pink slip from the Hughson Unified School District near Fresno. She's been there five years. My brother and I are both in college.
I think that education should be one of the last things ever cut. As students, we are the future of this country and this state. And we are not getting the support we need to continue our education. We may be in the midst of extremely difficult times, but it's a grim outlook for the future that lies ahead.