California might have changed its governor, but the state is still facing a massive budget deficit, and today UCLA will host a forum to discuss the effects of the state’s budget crisis.
The forum will be open to the general public, and will bring together different experts from the California State University system, the University of California and community colleges, as well as business and government professionals who will explain the origins of the deficit and propose ways to overcome it.
This is the first such forum organized by the UC Office of the President, and it could not have come at a more appropriate time. Just last week, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced a proposition to slash $3.8 billion from the budget to combat the expected state budget shortfall. Financial experts have said it would total at least $17 billion.
The proposed cuts would affect several programs, including ending art therapy for the developmentally disabled and reducing food stamp eligibility.
Also on the table are cuts in funding for outreach programs at public universities, programs many believe are responsible for increasing the number of underprivileged students in higher education.
Colleen Bentley-Adler, a spokeswoman for the CSU chancellor, and forum participant Charles Reed said the chancellor hopes the collection of experts can effectively address the proposed cuts by the governor.
“The budget crisis has a major impact. It is important that all of higher education present a unified front to the governor to show how devastating these cuts would be to access and quality,” Bentley-Adler said.
Along with Reed, participants in the forum include UC President Robert Dynes, California Community Colleges Chancellor Thomas Nussbaum and Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle.
Though students will not be among the forum’s speakers, members of the Undergraduate Students Association Council will be attending the event as observers.
“By attending, council members will be able to receive important info on budget issues, as well as gain a different perspective and ask critical questions,” said USAC President Anica McKesey.
The forum will consist of three successive panels.
The first panel will explain the background of the state budget crisis, the second will present a variety of potential reforms to combat the budget deficit, and the third will finally discuss the budget deficit solely in relation to higher education.
After each panel, observers will get 15 minutes to ask questions from the panelists.
Steve Olsen, UCLA’s vice chancellor of finance and a participant in the higher education panel, said the focus of the forum was to bring attention to the budget crisis, but not necessarily to form concrete solutions.
“I would be very surprised if someone comes up with a magic formula to solve the entire issue. The budget deficit is a very complicated problem, and no solution will be found in a few hours,” Olsen said.
Olsen added that even if no solutions are presented, the event is still valuable to members of the public since they will be able to have their budget questions answered by experts of the subject.
Bentley-Adler also emphasized the importance of student participation in the forum, saying it is the students who will be most impacted by any cuts.
She added that though events such as this are beneficial, it is the students who will ultimately be the most valuable in influencing Sacramento.
“Students should be going to Sacramento and letting the governor and legislators know how the cuts will influence them. We can tell the governor and legislators, but when they hear it from students, it will be much more effective,” Bentley-Adler said.
The forum will take place today at
1 p.m. at Covel Commons. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, log on to http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/budgetforum.