Wednesday, April 17, 1996
Action could set dangerous precedentIn an attempt to solve
California’s lingering budget woes, Gov. Pete Wilson announced
significant plans to reduce the state government budget one week
ago. Part of his proposal included the privatization of one of four
University of California law schools.
The Daily Bruin strongly opposes this course of action.
Privatizing any part of the University of California compromises
both the letter and the spirit of the California Master Plan for
Higher Education. Envisioned by the state in 1960, the document
states that all qualified California citizens are entitled to a
high-quality, affordable education should they desire it in a
public institution  and that tax dollars should fund this
endeavor.
Since then, this fundamental philosophy has allowed the state to
accommodate the ever-burgeoning public demand for education through
massive expansion programs. And the UC system is currently renowned
worldwide for its academic and research success.
However, within the last 20 years, California’s citizens have
become unwilling to pay the taxes necessary to subsidize the amount
of state services  such as education  that are
currently available. Consequently, California’s politicians are
looking for areas in which to make cuts, and Governor Wilson in
particular has proposed privatization.
Such a move repudiates both the letter and spirit of the Master
Plan. Without question, privatization clearly contradicts the
Mission Statement, as it would ultimately exact higher tuition fees
from its students.
Moreover, such a move would set a dangerous precedent. As it is,
prior budget calamities have led our state’s politicians to raise
our registration fees and reduce the amount of funding for public
education in general. Privatization would send a message that
education is not a priority of the state  a sentiment clearly
rejected by California’s students.
Furthermore, the notion of auctioning off a law school is
ridiculous in light of the thousands of applicants who desire to
become lawyers each year. True, it is almost conventional wisdom
that the state has enough lawyers, and for some, this may provide
incentive to do away with a public law school.
But obviously, many Californians want to study law.
Privatization will not diminish their desire  it will only
make it more expensive. And in light of California’s Mission
Statement, this is unacceptable. Potential students should be
afforded the opportunity for whatever education they desire given
that they are qualified. As such, we call on both Gov. and the
California Senate and Legislature to re-examine their fiscal
priorities and make budget cuts elsewhere.