In recent news, Governor Grey Davis proposed a budget cut of $60 million in reductions for all community colleges. Because of this downfall, community colleges everywhere will suffer by raising their tuition along with any other fees the college feels students should pay. For Cerritos College alone, this means that $4 million in reductions will be cut from our budget starting in the 2003/2004 school year.

This budget cut will especially be hard since it does not help the college or students in any way. Tuition may raise for regular students from $11 a unit to a devastating $24 a unit. “I think it’s unfair. I don’t think the board is taking into consideration that some students have to work long hours to pay for books and living expenses. Many students do not have enough money to go to school because of their immigration status. I came to a community college to pay less not to pay more,” said Jorge Alvardo, a Cerritos College sophomore. Non-residential and non-residential foreign exchange students’ tuition will also be affected in this cut. Students who were paying $149 a unit will now have to pay $158 a unit. These changes will take effect in the summer of 2003. Eric Gutierrez, a Trustees Board member, felt that student enrollment status would decrease especially for non-residential students.

“This policy is strict and does not encourage students to go to school. We may loose potential students.”

While students may think the tuition increase is unfair, the Board of Trustees assure students that they will try their hardest to fight it.

None of the money comes to them nor does the college benefit from it.

The Board encourages students to go to their local assemblyperson and discuss with them their feelings on the issue.