Spring Break
Letter to the editor
The power of students
Roberto Torres
Issue date: 11/12/08 Section: Opinion
No matter who you voted for, the real winners of this election was you, the youth voters. According to CNN, in California alone, more than 850,000 voters younger than the age of 30 went out to vote. This is a big deal and let me tell you why.
Most of these young voters went to college or are going to one. Most likely, they're from a CSU, UC, or community college. So, where have these students been in the past? You see, in the Legislature, all that matters is that they will get elected, so they make sure their voters are happy. In the past, most of these legislators have chosen to let our fees go up. They continue to fund the CSU at the bare minimum, sometimes even reducing our funding, forcing the Board of Trustees to raise our fees. The state budget is in bad shape and guess who's going to pay?
That's right, you. See, our legislators think you won't vote. They believe that they can make decisions which will affect us, and we won't say anything about it. Chancellor Reed also knows that you're either going to take a fee increase or leave the CSU, a choice you're unlikely to make.
Well, I have news for them, that's all about to change. More than 850,000 of us made our voice heard for who would lead our nation. Now we need to send a message to our Legislature. We must let them know that we will no longer take anymore taxation on our education. We are tired of being taxed double. We students face higher taxes, a higher cost of living, and higher fees. While most people are upset with more sales tax, we face that and fee increases. While some work to pay for their mortgage and their car, we work to pay for some of the same things, plus an education. There needs to be a change. But it won't change without you!
This election is the perfect example of the power we students have. If we all got together to fight against fee increases, they would not mess with students. We need to become more active in fighting against these potential budget cuts. We need to show the administration that raising our fees and cutting our services is not tolerable in the CSU. We need to stand up and say, "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!" We must show those who represent us that they can no longer bully us around. We must demand the change we deserve!
When I ran for executive VP of ASI, I made a promise to fight these budget cuts, and that is exactly what I intend to do. But ASI can't do it alone. WE NEED YOU! If we all became more active in politics, I would bet that students would be less likely to get bullied. We need to organize and show our decision makers that we will no longer take more budget cuts or taxes on our future.
There is a storm coming. The increase to our parking permits was the first of many fee increases to come. We face potential midyear cuts, and even midyear fee increases. We cannot allow our Legislature to let this happen. We are the future and it is time we take action. We need to be more active with the CSU Alliance. We need to know about the organization Students For California's Future. We need to know what ASI is doing for us. Together, we can fight these fees, but we must all come together. Divided we fail, but united we conquer. I know it's cliché, but its message is clear. We must work as one to achieve the preservation of the CSU. We must work together to have the CSU be an affordable, accessible institution of quality. And just as this election has shown us, YES WE CAN!
Roberto C. Torres is the executive VP of ASI
Most of these young voters went to college or are going to one. Most likely, they're from a CSU, UC, or community college. So, where have these students been in the past? You see, in the Legislature, all that matters is that they will get elected, so they make sure their voters are happy. In the past, most of these legislators have chosen to let our fees go up. They continue to fund the CSU at the bare minimum, sometimes even reducing our funding, forcing the Board of Trustees to raise our fees. The state budget is in bad shape and guess who's going to pay?
That's right, you. See, our legislators think you won't vote. They believe that they can make decisions which will affect us, and we won't say anything about it. Chancellor Reed also knows that you're either going to take a fee increase or leave the CSU, a choice you're unlikely to make.
Well, I have news for them, that's all about to change. More than 850,000 of us made our voice heard for who would lead our nation. Now we need to send a message to our Legislature. We must let them know that we will no longer take anymore taxation on our education. We are tired of being taxed double. We students face higher taxes, a higher cost of living, and higher fees. While most people are upset with more sales tax, we face that and fee increases. While some work to pay for their mortgage and their car, we work to pay for some of the same things, plus an education. There needs to be a change. But it won't change without you!
This election is the perfect example of the power we students have. If we all got together to fight against fee increases, they would not mess with students. We need to become more active in fighting against these potential budget cuts. We need to show the administration that raising our fees and cutting our services is not tolerable in the CSU. We need to stand up and say, "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!" We must show those who represent us that they can no longer bully us around. We must demand the change we deserve!
When I ran for executive VP of ASI, I made a promise to fight these budget cuts, and that is exactly what I intend to do. But ASI can't do it alone. WE NEED YOU! If we all became more active in politics, I would bet that students would be less likely to get bullied. We need to organize and show our decision makers that we will no longer take more budget cuts or taxes on our future.
There is a storm coming. The increase to our parking permits was the first of many fee increases to come. We face potential midyear cuts, and even midyear fee increases. We cannot allow our Legislature to let this happen. We are the future and it is time we take action. We need to be more active with the CSU Alliance. We need to know about the organization Students For California's Future. We need to know what ASI is doing for us. Together, we can fight these fees, but we must all come together. Divided we fail, but united we conquer. I know it's cliché, but its message is clear. We must work as one to achieve the preservation of the CSU. We must work together to have the CSU be an affordable, accessible institution of quality. And just as this election has shown us, YES WE CAN!
Roberto C. Torres is the executive VP of ASI
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