distressed & disgusted

(Protesters at the California State University Board of Trustee Meeting: Long Beach, CA)

On Wednesday evening, I received a 'mass' email from SFSU's President, Robert Corrigan, informing all students that there will be a 20% tuition hike effective immediately. I am totally disgusted with the state of education in California!! This news come as a distress to not only students, but to faculties and their respective departments. In addition, we were informed that the 2009 Fall Class Schedule, of which I spent time reviewing, selecting and organizing my classes has been 'taken down' and will not be available until August. The reason is because of amendments and changes which will reflect a decrease in classes offered for the Fall semester! So, not only will the tuition fee increase but classes offered in the Fall will be less than ever? How is that supposed to make sense?

I understand that the government (politicians) or the power structure as it could be called, DO NOT reflect the people not only in the U.S. but all over the world. I am outraged and angered by the tuition hike, and plan to join in the protest should there be one in San Francisco. The news is hitting everybody now.

My overall outlook on my education journey is not positive at this point. I have 2 more semesters to go, before I officially finish. Now, I just want to finish before anymore 'changes' take place in these unstable economic times. Even though I know I have the capacity to cover my tuition cost but I am looking at the bigger picture. What about those students who work and go to school at the same time? What about those students who can't graduate on time? What about the direction of higher education particularly in the State Universities where education is supposed to be accessible for all people? Is raising tuition fee the only solution to a financial mess in California? What about what education is supposed to be for? When does politics ever leave education alone? How are people supposed to make a decent living when they are told that higher education is supposed to be the road to success? What more 'games' of society do we have to endure everytime people are put last in the totem pole?

I am not hopeful right now. i don't know when I will be. I hope I finish and at the end, still remember what education is supposed to be for. Thanks for reading!

Below is a recent article on the situation (copy & paste please):
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/22/MN7018STJC.DTL&type=education