Events
Current Events
Here is the open letter that students hand-delivered to the offices of Chancellor Yang and Executive Vice Chancellor Lucas on Wednesday after the rally against the budget cuts. Included are the demands that were read at the rally. Thank you to those who supported us, and to all who came out! We definitely demonstrated our presence. And it's not over...
Sincerely,
Your Concerned Student Leaders at UCSB
January 28, 2009
Dear Chancellor Yang and Executive Vice Chancellor Gene Lucas,
We are a group of student leaders from all over campus that has come together out of deep concern for the effects that UC budget cuts will have on current students, future students, and the general campus community. We feel particularly threatened by the disproportionate cuts to student services at UCSB, the administrative support tax imposed on our student lock-ins, and the UC Regents? recent mandate to cut enrollment growth by 2,300 students.
Without student services like EOP and CLAS, many students would not be at UCSB right now- particularly students of color and low-income students. Curtailing enrollment growth will also harm underrepresented communities the most. We cannot afford to close our doors to 300 individuals who could otherwise attend, benefit from and contribute to our community. Additionally, we feel that the current administrative support tax imposed on our student lock-ins does not respect student sovereignty over our self-imposed tax, whose amounts and allocations were specifically designated and decided by students.
Despite these hard economic times, we ask that you as our administrators invest in our future rather than compromise it. Concerned that these budget cuts will adversely affect the diversity and well-being of UCSB students, we have rallied and marched through campus today with the following demands:
1. More Student Representation on Campus Budget Committees
That the A.S. President be appointed as a third co-chair of the Coordinating Committee on Budget Strategy (CCBS) alongside current co-chairs EVC Lucas and Academic Senate Chair Joel Michaelsen.
That the A.S. President?s subsequently vacant position be filled by a student who is accountable to his/her peers and decided by students.
2. Commitment to Greater Fiscal Transparency
That all CCBS meetings be open to all UCSB students, including student media, with Public Forum as a consistent agenda item.
3. Respect for Student Sovereignty
That the percentage-based administrative support fee on student-voted lock-in fees be repealed.
That this administrative fee not be used to mitigate budget cuts, but as compensation for the support services for which users receive.
That students be reimbursed entirely for the funds ever taken from student lock-ins that were based on percentage (of income, expenditures, etc.) rather than on the actual amount of support services received.
4. Preservation of UCSB Enrollment Standards
That a fund be created for the solicitation of donations to offset the Regents? mandate of enrollment growth cuts, so that 300 qualified students not be turned away from UCSB this Fall.
5. Advocacy for Prioritization of Higher Education and Student Well-Being
That Chancellor Yang take an assertive stance against the budget cuts and the unfair attack on student services.
6. Conversation with Concerned Student Leaders
That, within two weeks, a meeting be scheduled between Chancellor Yang, EVC Lucas, and student leaders to discuss these demands (see contacts below).
We, students, have a right to decide and know where our taxes, fees and lock-ins are going. Moreover, students should not bear the burden of this financial crisis. Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter. Don?t cut us out!
Sincerely,
A Concerned Group of Student Leaders at UCSB
CC:
UCSB Campus Community
The Daily Nexus
The Bottom Line
KCSB News
Santa Barbara Independent
Santa Barbara News Press
KEYT News
KCOY News
KSBY News
There is a petition in the A.S. office that can be signed to show your opposition to this tax on student fees or sign the petition online.
Past Events:
March Against the Budget Cuts:
North Hall to the Student Resource Building
Wednesday, January 28th 12:00-1:30pm read more
Meeting/Brainstorming/Organizing Rally - 5pm
Wednesday Dec 3rd UCEN - The Hub
Student Financial Crisis Forum
This was to provide a forum for questions and discussion on the issue of student lock-in fee taxation.
When: Thursday October 30th 2008
Where: Corwin Pavillion
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 pm
A press conference was held on Monday October 27th 2008 at 4:00pm in the Flying A room of the University Center. The issue of the taxation of student lock-in fees was discussed and there was a Q&A time.