Important Dates

March 4th, 2010
11:00AM
Walkout to Speak Out.
CSU East Bay, Hayward Campus

March 22nd, 2010
Statewide march at the State Capitol.
1315 10th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

More information about both events will be provided soon.

We've got money but its not for YOU!

Upon arriving to my GS class Thursday afternoon, there was much buzz about signing up for classes and how within the past hour classes had already been filled to capacity. I was also informed that a Philosophy class I would be required to take wasnt even on the list to choose from. But wait, it gets worse. I learned that out the $50 million given to CSU's, we would be getting $1.7 million of it. Great news right? WRONG. The money won't be used on us, oh no, it will be used on incoming Fall 2010 freshman.

Earlier that morning my English teacher mentioned to me that as of Spring 2010 she will have no job because she had been layed off as well as 90% of the English department. THIS is why. There is no money for lecturers. Classes have been completely cut, teachers are being let go and students cant get into the classes they need. I tryed to sign up for classes that night and 2 out 3 of the freshman cluster classes I need weren't even listed.

A friend of mine sent an e-mail to the cheif financial advisor asking him why this was happening. Mr. Sean Pibb, the cheif financial advisor, completely skipped over his question and simply told him what the money will be used for, leaving the impression that basically its not for us so don't worry about it.

This is OUR future they're messing with. I dont know about you but NO ONE decides what the outcome of my future will be but ME. So, speak up and let yourself be heard. We can make a difference!

- Tiffany Bledsoe

No money for lecturers?

Just a couple weeks ago the chancellor of the CSU system released roughly $50 million dollars in stimulus money to the CSU's up and down the state. However I was recently made aware that my Cal State does not have the funds to hire lecturers for our spring quarter. But doesn't that statement I just listed conflict with the fact that the University just received a share of a $50 million dollar stimulus? I asked the chief financial advisor at my University why it was that we did not have enough money to pay for lecturers when we just received a share of a $50 million dollar stimulus. This is what he said..

"I am sorry that you have been misinformed regarding how CSU plans to use our share of the $50M. The Chancellor of the CSU has directed us to use the money for Fall 2010 classes and to help implement the Graduation Initiative (a CSU-wide program that is designed to help close the graduation gap for under-represented communities). CSU's share of the $50M is approximately $1.7M of which $1.2M is earmarked for additional course offerings and $.5M for the Graduation Initiative."

He said I was misinformed when in fact I am the total opposite of misinformed. What he did was entirely skip over my question as of why the money is not being utilized for students here RIGHT NOW! He beat around the subject by saying it was for the Graduation initiative. He failed to tell me outright that the stimulus money was for NEXT YEARS FRESHMAN. What that tells me is that they don't care the students here now, what happened to the student being first? I pay tuition and I deserve to have my classes just as everyone else does. Basically they told me 'hey we already have your money so we're not going to help you, we need that money for freshman that haven't paid that aren't even enrolled yet.' Its all about where the money is going to come from next. Its GREED. And I know there are those that feel the same. take a stand. Tell me what you think.