Davis must oppose raising UC’s tuition

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If Gov. Gray Davis doesn’t stand up for the University of
California by securing it more funding, UC students will be looking
at an increase in student fees anywhere from $1,000 to $2,620 next
year. The state originally estimated its budget deficit to be about
$12 billion, but now it says the deficit is really about $17
billion, making recent talks about raising fees more realistic.

A fee increase this drastic will only hurt students’
ability to attend a UC school. Davis’ funding should reflect
his claim that education is a top priority ““ particularly
during tough economic times ““ by holding up his end of the
UC-State Partnership, which guarantees the university increases,
not decreases, in funding. Davis cannot afford to back out on
funding public education. Students are this country’s future
leaders, and they must have access to an affordable and quality
public higher education.

If the UC does not receive sufficient funding from the state,
the UC Regents will have no choice but to either cut funding for
important programs or increase student fees. As of yet, Chancellor
Albert Carnesale has not done his part by standing up for students
and opposing increasing student fees. He should use his position to
help persuade Davis and state legislators to spare the UC as many
cuts as possible, since he, more so than any other person at UCLA
can effect this type of change.

But ultimately, the decision lies with Davis. If Davis is really
the student advocate he claims to be, then he should put his money
where his mouth is and shift state funding from nonessential
programs to the UC and cut others completely if necessary.