An estimated 26,000 students, faculty and staff from all over California will march for education in Sacramento on March 5 and SRJC students can be a part of it.
Associated Students Vice President of Advocacy Michelle Dowling said, “Students and faculty from California community colleges, CSUs, and UCs will all be marching in solidarity to protest the severe budget cuts to higher education.” Students, parents, teachers and workers are encouraged to demand Wall Street and the 1 percent pay to re-fund education, jobs and essential services, Dowling said. Some SRJC teachers may allow students to make arrangements for missed class time if they attend the march.
Students and staff who want to participate can sign up in the Student Affairs Office. “The first 100 SRJC students who sign-up to attend will receive free bus transportation and a free meal,” Dowling said.
Dowling said students should want to attend because this is a major election year with several competing tax initiatives to be voted in by the people. If successful, the initiatives will bring millions of dollars back to schools.
“We need our state to reinvest in education and our people, and the time for action and advocacy is now,” Dowling said.
The mass march is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. followed by a rally at the Capitol building at 11 a.m. Lunch at the Capitol building will be at 12:30 p.m. and the general assembly and the non-violent direct action training to occupy the Capitol will be at 3:30 p.m.
Channel6 • Mar 1, 2012 at 7:01 pm
As a low-income student, I rely heavily on the benefits available to me from the state and the federal government.
I am incredibly thankful these tools are available to me. I am incredibly thankful that I am getting a great education. I work hard, get good grades, and pay taxes.
Here’s what needs to come to light regarding the “1 percent.” Dowling’s demand for “Wall Street and the 1 percent pay to re-fund education” is patently false. This pseudo-anonymous “1 percent” already pays a great deal towards my (and Dowling’s) eduction. 35% federally is quite a hefty bill. That’s not to mention that “the 1 percent” don’t have this authoritarian hold over your life – unless you let them – nor over how education can or cannot be funded. As an aside, Reed Hastings – Netflix CEO and 1 percenter – led the charge for increased public school funding.
In terms of state taxes, that’s a different story altogether. California currently has five tax brackets, resulting in most of the state’s income coming from the wealthy (Pender). Decreased Wall Street income meant decreased state tax receipts. And here we are now.
Demanding that the “1%” pay more for education is already a reality.
Even if we got increased tax returns federally, how much money do you think will go towards education? According to the Congressional Budget Office, only 4%. Of that 4%, how much do you think goes to California? To it’s K-12? It’s community colleges? Two university systems?
Your beef should not be with the 1% – they pay for our education already. Your beef should be with how that money is spent!
Sources:
Pender, Kathleen. “Google’s April surprise for state.” San Francisco Chronicle [San Francisco] 09 May 2006, n. pag. Web. 1 Mar. 2012. .