Step 2 of the coalition "CSU is the Solution"

Alliance for the CSU and the California Faculty Association have been engaged in "Step 2" in protesting the $386 million budget cuts from the CSU system, according to the Daily 49er.

Booths set up over the weekend and today at CSULB, just one campus out of the 23 CSU's that have been implementing the coalition, "CSU is the Solution," had students signing fax memos to send to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office in Sacramento.

A total of 1,018 faxes were sent from CSULB alone from a booth at Kaleidoscope and today in front of Brotman Hall, according to Tom Pinkava, a regional field representative for CFA.

"We're basically trying to jam up his fax machines," Pinkava said.

The coalition is making waves throughout California, "People have been getting a few hundred faxes a day," said Lydia Sondhi, a family and consumer science associate professor and the Long Beach chapter president of CFA. "We've got thousands of signatures being collected statewide."

Photo from Daily49er.com

Statewide protests fight for lower tution costs

In Sacramento, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and San Diego students organized protests on Monday, according to the Daily 49er, who covered every protest.

2,500 students showed up on capitol hill, while the other areas did not see a massive amount of protesters (ranging from 30 to 50 people in other areas). Their words were supported and received by many who watched. In Santa Barbara on-going drivers honked while cruising by the determined rally participants to show their support for students and the importance of education and its availability.

"We are a part of history in the making," said Carina Vega, the Student Senate for California Community Colleges Region 6 representative and organizer of the Santa Barbara protest. "What do we need to do now? Vote!"

The protests were organized statewide by the coalition, Students for California's Future.

Below is a video from the Daily49er at Sacramento.

Links to each of the protests throughout California:

Santa Barbara

Los Angeles

Sacramento

Riverside

San Diego

Photos from Daily49er.com

College Affordability Act of 2008

Some California legislators, students and parent volunteers at 30 CSU's and UC's are pushing the College Affordability Act of 2008, AB 2372, according to the Daily 49er. Joe Coto (D-San Jose), an assembly member, authored the bill that could potentially freeze tuition costs for the next five years if the bill is passed through legislation.

"This proposal adds—beginning in 2009—a new 1 percent surcharge on personal income above $1 million. This would establish a top state income tax bracket of 11.3 percent. It directs 60 percent of the new income tax revenues to the two university systems for undergraduate education. This proposal also freezes CSU resident undergraduate fees at their 2008-09 level for five years. After that period, the proposal would limit subsequent fee increases to no more than the annual percentage change in the California Consumer Price Index," according to the Legislative Analyst's Office.

A student-led organization, Tuition Relief Now, has had a similar initiative by getting signatures in what would hopefully end up on ballot. Chris Vaeth, the campaign director, said that when "collecting signatures to qualify for the ballot, student leaders are frequently asked why they are not instead pursuing a legislative route. AB 2372 is our answer."


Campaign video from Tuition Relief Now website.