Spiraling budget cracks into college education

   The time to panic is now, with an expected loss of 11,000 students at Rancho Santiago Community College District, college officials would have to raise tuition by $10 to replace the money that those students would have brought in next semester.
   Worse yet, the Legislative Analyst's Office, a nonpartisan, nonpolitical body for state legislators, propose that community colleges in the state to raise tuition to $60 per unit.
   Unless you want to pinch pennies or work an extra 20 hours a week to make ends meet, it is time to let your government representatives know that you will not stand for this.
   The LAO's assessment is an honest representation of the muck that we are stuck in right now. Just as colleges become a necessity to remain competitive in the workplace, it is becoming out of reach.
   The falling economy has been a long time coming and legislators are being  pushed against a wall by many in their attempt to fix the problem. Their solution however, is to cut away at the state's public education system hurting students.
   Californians recently rejected budget initiatives that would have extended temporary tax increases implemented this year, and begin the process to pay back schools money they have failed to receive since this
disaster started.
   Those who voted on May 19th clearly did not stand behind education. Legislators need to actively see student dissent. That means voicing our stress, struggle, and the time we have and continue to invest in our education. Students may not contribute much to income taxes but they eventually could if given the opportunity to get the education they need to get one foot into the increasingly competitive job market.
   With less classes offered, students will struggle to get into classes they need to either transfer or graduate. Programs like the Extended Opportunities Program and Services and counseling that assist Santa Ana College students that need extra attention will be affected by further reductions. Even worse is the very possible elimination of Cal Grants.
   Those Cal Grants you are counting on for next semester may not make it to your bank account. For many this could mean not going to school for a while, or at least until this passes over, whenever that may be.
   It is uncertain as to when things will start looking up, so why wait to see what else will fall victim to the recession's
constant inflation?
   Getting a college education takes time and what officials foresee in the future will only dampen your plans to get out of here and start the life you mean to live. Speak up.