Proposed cuts will diminish opportunities
By William Chamberlin
The Guardsman
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed a $10 million cut from the Extended Opportunities Programs and Services budget for the 2010-11 fiscal year, leaving those in need with even fewer resources. During a time when everyone is looking for help and the needy are worse off than usual, slashing the funding for EOPS is like taking crutches away from a one-legged man.
The EOPS program is aimed at individuals affected by varied circumstances. Those new to the country, single parents with low incomes, people dealing with legal trouble, and individuals of low educational levels may all benefit from EOPS services.
The 2009-10 EOPS allocation was an estimated $70 million. While that may sound like a lot of money, it was stretched between 111 California community colleges, including some of the largest in the nation. Los Angeles alone has seven community college campuses with EOPS programs, whose allocations last year added up to just under $6.5 million.
EOPS provides counselors, tutors, child care programs, extra computer labs, assistance for academic planning and assistance buying books.
“It would be devastating,” City College EOPS Director Alvin Jenkins said. “We are not going to let it happen.”
There is no way to look past the obvious truth that almost everyone is in a bad way right now. From faculty to students, everyone is being affected by these harsh economic times. Over 350 classes were dropped from the spring 2010 semester and 2010 summer school is canceled. Few are unaffected.
City College itself is home to an excess of 100,000 credit and noncredit students, making the school one of the largest colleges in the United States. The City College EOPS budget was less than $1.1 million last year, which resulted in many students being turned away from receiving much-needed help.
“EOPS has allowed me to focus on my classes rather than worrying about the cost of books, which would prevent me from even attempting my academic goals,” said City College student Dave Holly, an EOPS success story majoring in education. He currently holds a 3.91 GPA.
These budget cuts debilitate the opportunities for those just trying get above water.
In the latest budget proposal, which was released on Jan. 8, the governor called California’s economic state a “fiscal emergency.” The EOPS hit was not even given proper respect in the barrage of budget cuts.
“I don’t know how we could continue to exist and still meet our mission,” Jenkins said. “The only option we would have would be to layoff staff.”
With no quick or easy solutions in sight there needs to be a better-prioritized list of what’s on the chopping block next for California. Educational programs in this state need a safe haven. California’s world renowned education system needs to be protected by something like diplomatic immunity. Give the education budget asylum. With poor educational resources there is no hope for improving one’s economic status.
“It is something I feel we can fight,” Jenkins said. “We can develop a strategy to do something about this.”
With many other programs going to be hit statewide, inside and outside the education bracket, now is the time to hold ground. Education programs should come first. Get the budget deficit off the backs of the students, or they won’t be the ones in the future, better armed with education, to help the state’s “fiscal emergency” become a thing of the past.
Cutting the EOPS budget and reducing the program to a shell of what it once was sends a strong message from the Governor. Whether he is not concerned with helping those who are struggling already or he just has no idea about the impact of his educational budget cuts, there needs to be an awakening of consciousness in the funding of our student support services.