LPC students prepare for rally in Sacramento
Kelly Sheeran
Issue date: 3/5/10 Section: News
LPC students will be joining a massive community college demonstration in Sacramento to speak out against education cuts on March 22.
In the wake of California's budget crisis, mounting cuts to education have many LPC students worried about the future of their education.
Just over 100 students from Las Positas, including ASLPC President Masi Quorayshi, Director of Legislation Justine Whitfield and student Senator Scott Ault, will be joining thousands of other community college students for the "March in March" in Sacramento.
Students will be speaking out in order to halt the progress of state legislators as they debate Gov. Schwartzennegar's proposed billion dollar cuts to California's public education.
According to a news release from the California Board of Education, on top of the proposal to cut spending for public education by $680 million for the 2009-2010 school year, the Governor has now asked for schools to make more than $1.4 billion in cuts during the last few weeks of school year and another $4 billion in the next year.
"Congress tends to be very short-sighted," Whitfield said. "But the short-sightedness actually causes major problems in the long run because those who are struggling to get their education now will be the voting population in the future."
Last year, only a handful of students from Las Positas made it to Sacramento for "March in March," but this year, Student Senator Scott Ault said that 101 students had been confirmed so far.
"Classes are being cut, and that's where it's really starting to hurt the students." Whitfield said. "And I feel like we're going to get a lot more students who are going to want to be involved."
On Thursday, Mar. 4, a "local day of action" was held by members of the ASLPC to gather student awareness and recruits for the "March in March." The schedule for the day included, conservative politician Robert Beadles, who will be challenging Rep. Jerry McNerney in the 2010 general election later this year.
Student testimonials stating how each student has and will be affected by cuts to education were also posted on the walls in the main dining hall of the cafeteria. The testimonials will be taken with members of the ASLPC attending the "March in March" to the event on Mar. 22.
"Once we start talking about it," Director of Public Relations Alex Blue said, "people are going to listen."
In the wake of California's budget crisis, mounting cuts to education have many LPC students worried about the future of their education.
Just over 100 students from Las Positas, including ASLPC President Masi Quorayshi, Director of Legislation Justine Whitfield and student Senator Scott Ault, will be joining thousands of other community college students for the "March in March" in Sacramento.
Students will be speaking out in order to halt the progress of state legislators as they debate Gov. Schwartzennegar's proposed billion dollar cuts to California's public education.
According to a news release from the California Board of Education, on top of the proposal to cut spending for public education by $680 million for the 2009-2010 school year, the Governor has now asked for schools to make more than $1.4 billion in cuts during the last few weeks of school year and another $4 billion in the next year.
"Congress tends to be very short-sighted," Whitfield said. "But the short-sightedness actually causes major problems in the long run because those who are struggling to get their education now will be the voting population in the future."
Last year, only a handful of students from Las Positas made it to Sacramento for "March in March," but this year, Student Senator Scott Ault said that 101 students had been confirmed so far.
"Classes are being cut, and that's where it's really starting to hurt the students." Whitfield said. "And I feel like we're going to get a lot more students who are going to want to be involved."
On Thursday, Mar. 4, a "local day of action" was held by members of the ASLPC to gather student awareness and recruits for the "March in March." The schedule for the day included, conservative politician Robert Beadles, who will be challenging Rep. Jerry McNerney in the 2010 general election later this year.
Student testimonials stating how each student has and will be affected by cuts to education were also posted on the walls in the main dining hall of the cafeteria. The testimonials will be taken with members of the ASLPC attending the "March in March" to the event on Mar. 22.
"Once we start talking about it," Director of Public Relations Alex Blue said, "people are going to listen."
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