Thursday, November 15, 2007
UC Regents and CSU Trustees Out of Touch With Average Californians
The California Young Democrats have endorsed the YES on Proposition 92 campaign-the California Community College Initiative because for far too long the budget has been balanced on the backs of students and our community colleges have been shortchanged. The UC Regents and CSU Trustees are out of touch with average Californians, and more focused on raising salaries than ensuring every Californian has the opportunity to go to college.
A statewide survey released earlier this month by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) found that a strong majority (65%) of Californians say that many residents who are qualified don’t have the opportunity to attend college. California residents see college as essential but access elusive, costs rising, and the state system underfunded. Two-thirds of adults think that the cost of college prevents qualified, motivated students from pursuing higher education.
The PPIC survey also found that over 70% of Californians say that the state’s economy will need a higher percentage of college-educated workers in 20 years. Overall, most residents give excellent or good ratings to the state’s community college system when it comes to training students for technical or vocational jobs (70%) and preparing students to transfer to four-year institutions (71%). It is important to note that two-thirds of all CSU graduates and one-third of all UC graduates began at community colleges.
UC chancellors' pay could increase up to 17% in 2008 (11/10/07 By Eleanor Yang Su, San Diego Union-Tribune) “UC's proposal comes on the heels of California State University's decision in September to raise campus presidents' salaries by an average of 12 percent.”
A statewide survey released earlier this month by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) found that a strong majority (65%) of Californians say that many residents who are qualified don’t have the opportunity to attend college. California residents see college as essential but access elusive, costs rising, and the state system underfunded. Two-thirds of adults think that the cost of college prevents qualified, motivated students from pursuing higher education.
The PPIC survey also found that over 70% of Californians say that the state’s economy will need a higher percentage of college-educated workers in 20 years. Overall, most residents give excellent or good ratings to the state’s community college system when it comes to training students for technical or vocational jobs (70%) and preparing students to transfer to four-year institutions (71%). It is important to note that two-thirds of all CSU graduates and one-third of all UC graduates began at community colleges.
UC chancellors' pay could increase up to 17% in 2008 (11/10/07 By Eleanor Yang Su, San Diego Union-Tribune) “UC's proposal comes on the heels of California State University's decision in September to raise campus presidents' salaries by an average of 12 percent.”
Sunday, November 11, 2007
California Young Democrats Speak Out on ’08 Ballot Initiatives
The California Young Democrats have taken positions on the three ballot initiatives that will be on the February 5, 2008 statewide ballot.
Proposition 91-NEUTRAL
Transportation Funding. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Proposition 92-YES
Community Colleges. Funding. Governance. Fees Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Proposition 93-YES
Limits on Legislators’ Terms in Office. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
These decisions were made at the biannual California Young Democrats retreat in Tahoe, CA which was attended by over 300 young Democrats. The California Young Democrats also voted YES on a resolution calling on all presidential, legislative and local Democratic candidates to uphold the highest standards of civility and discourage negative campaigning as intolerant behavior, including unwarranted attacks on one another and to constructively address intra-party differences through vigorous debate on the issues, while staying focused on our mission of electing Democrats and a government of which we can be proud.
The California Young Democrats honored three individuals for their commitment to the organization while active members and the ways in which they have continued to empower and give a voice to young people: Jay Hansen, Legislative Director for the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California; Scott Lay, President and CEO of the Community College League of California; and Paul Mitchell, Political Director for EdVoice. The California Young Democrats’ Mentor of the Year Alexandra Rooker, Senior Lobbyist for the Communication Workers of America, AFL-CIO Local 9400 and 1st Vice-Chair of the California Democratic Party was in attendance to help thank Jay Hansen, Scott Lay and Paul Mitchell for all of their efforts to engage California’s youth.
The California Young Democrats will be actively involved with the campaign to pass Proposition 92-the California Community College initiative because for far too long the budget has been balanced on the backs of students and our community colleges have been shortchanged. In order to keep California’s competitive edge over the next 20 years, almost 40 percent of the workforce will need to be college educated. Unfortunately, today we are well below that percentage. Our community college system is California’s lynchpin to ensuring we produce the highly skilled workers required to meet the demands of the next technological era.
“As a Saddleback Community College graduate, I saw firsthand how higher tuition fees impacted students,” said Tim Steed, President of the California Young Democrats. Steed continued, “By lowering fees, we make sure more students can attend college. When fees were increased in 2004, hundreds of thousands of community college students either dropped out or just didn’t enroll. Those impacted the most are minority students - there are almost four times as many minority students attending community colleges than are attending CSU and UC campuses combined. For generations community colleges have been the best investment California makes in education. Community colleges serve a large and diverse population of Californians who become an integral part of the educated workforce needed for California’s evolving economy. For many Californians community college is the only opportunity they have to get a college education. By passing Proposition 92, we can ensure that everyone has a chance to go to college.”
The 2008 election will mark a turning point in American history and the California Young Democrats will be the margin of victory for progressive change.
Proposition 91-NEUTRAL
Transportation Funding. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Proposition 92-YES
Community Colleges. Funding. Governance. Fees Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Proposition 93-YES
Limits on Legislators’ Terms in Office. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
These decisions were made at the biannual California Young Democrats retreat in Tahoe, CA which was attended by over 300 young Democrats. The California Young Democrats also voted YES on a resolution calling on all presidential, legislative and local Democratic candidates to uphold the highest standards of civility and discourage negative campaigning as intolerant behavior, including unwarranted attacks on one another and to constructively address intra-party differences through vigorous debate on the issues, while staying focused on our mission of electing Democrats and a government of which we can be proud.
The California Young Democrats honored three individuals for their commitment to the organization while active members and the ways in which they have continued to empower and give a voice to young people: Jay Hansen, Legislative Director for the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California; Scott Lay, President and CEO of the Community College League of California; and Paul Mitchell, Political Director for EdVoice. The California Young Democrats’ Mentor of the Year Alexandra Rooker, Senior Lobbyist for the Communication Workers of America, AFL-CIO Local 9400 and 1st Vice-Chair of the California Democratic Party was in attendance to help thank Jay Hansen, Scott Lay and Paul Mitchell for all of their efforts to engage California’s youth.
The California Young Democrats will be actively involved with the campaign to pass Proposition 92-the California Community College initiative because for far too long the budget has been balanced on the backs of students and our community colleges have been shortchanged. In order to keep California’s competitive edge over the next 20 years, almost 40 percent of the workforce will need to be college educated. Unfortunately, today we are well below that percentage. Our community college system is California’s lynchpin to ensuring we produce the highly skilled workers required to meet the demands of the next technological era.
“As a Saddleback Community College graduate, I saw firsthand how higher tuition fees impacted students,” said Tim Steed, President of the California Young Democrats. Steed continued, “By lowering fees, we make sure more students can attend college. When fees were increased in 2004, hundreds of thousands of community college students either dropped out or just didn’t enroll. Those impacted the most are minority students - there are almost four times as many minority students attending community colleges than are attending CSU and UC campuses combined. For generations community colleges have been the best investment California makes in education. Community colleges serve a large and diverse population of Californians who become an integral part of the educated workforce needed for California’s evolving economy. For many Californians community college is the only opportunity they have to get a college education. By passing Proposition 92, we can ensure that everyone has a chance to go to college.”
The 2008 election will mark a turning point in American history and the California Young Democrats will be the margin of victory for progressive change.
