At the meeting, David Bradfield, CSUDH chapter president, California Faculty Association (CFA), announced the formation of the “Alliance for the CSU,” a statewide grassroots campaign to fight the cuts and spread the word that the CSU is the solution to the state’s economic problems. The Alliance marks the first time in many years that faculty, staff, administrators and students have banded together for a common cause.

The proposed CSU budget reduction consists of the Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s unallocated cut of $312.9 million and $73.2 million necessary to avoid a 10 percent student fee increase in 2008/09. The budget cuts comes only three years after the CSU budget was reduced by more than $500 million during the 2002-03 and 2004-05 fiscal years.

The forums are part of a CSU communications and advocacy effort to relate the impact that the cuts will have on local campuses and their regional economies, and to encourage the entire CSU community to take part in a system-wide effort to urge lawmakers and the governor to restore the funding.

President Mildred García estimated that the cuts to CSU Dominguez Hills would be approximately $3.2 million, and when added to the school’s existing $2.8 million deficit, would leave the Dominguez Hills campus with a $6 million deficit.

“As we look at this, what is happening to Dominguez Hills?” García asked the assembled crowd. “We’ve already barred admissions to first-time, full-time freshmen, the administration has suspended searches for faculty, we have [hiring] freezes on staff. We’ve got to turn this around and the only way we turn this around is when our voices are heard.

 “Let’s remember that the CSU opens the doors and creates the workforce for this state. We have the programs that prepare that workforce,” she continued. “Underrepresented students from the lower economic strata have not made decisions earlier to admit themselves because they have juggling acts. They have parents that are sick, they have children. They have to work. They are poor and they’re trying to get out of that poverty and we’re barring the doors to those students.”

Of particular concern for CSU Dominguez Hills is its leading role in graduating many of the state’s teachers and nurses. Workforce studies indicate that there will be increasing demands for new teachers and nurses to replace those retiring in the next decade. The proposed cuts have profound implications for the CSU system and this university’s ability to continue to provide the educated workforce that contributes to the economy of California.

Handing out buttons proclaiming “The CSU is the Solution,” leaders at the strategy meeting explained that higher education supports workforce development and is a solution to California’s economic problems. Serving as a moderator for the meeting, Bradfield argued that the CSU budget needs to remain intact.
“The message we need to send to lawmakers and the governor is, ‘CSU is the solution,’ ” said Bradfield, noting that the CSU generates $4.41 in economic activity for every dollar invested.

Other speakers included Kate Fawver, assistant professor of history and chair, Academic Senate, students Monica Gardiner and Kayla Mason, CSUDH Chapter of Students for Quality Education, Ifeanyi Ebigbo, president, Associated Students, Inc. and Steve Teixeira, director, Student Support Program, CSU Los Angeles and councilmember-at-large for Academic Professionals of California, Bargaining Unit 4. The panel of speakers encouraged attendees to join the statewide grassroots effort to prevent the funding cuts from going through by making phone calls and sending emails to the governor and their state representatives stressing the university’s value to the local economy.

- Brenda Knepper and Joanie Harmon