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Coalition takes it to the Capitol to fight tuition increases

Student and parent volunteers at 30 California State University and University of California campuses are coming together to push Assembly Bill 2372, the College Affordability Act of 2008.

California Assembly member Joe Coto (D-San Jose) authored the bill that would freeze tuition for college students in the CSU and UC systems for five years beginning in the 2009-10 fiscal year. After the five-year freeze, tuition could not be raised higher than the rate of inflation.

The act would also provide a new source of revenue for universities through a one percent tax on personal incomes of more than $1 million. An accountability panel with six members appointed by the governor would also be established.

Chris Vaeth, campaign director for Tuition Relief Now, a student-led ballot initiative to freeze California’s tuition fees, said that while “collecting signatures to qualify for the ballot, student leaders are frequently asked why they are not instead pursuing a legislative route. AB 2372 is our answer.”

Vaeth said that they have been frustrated by past attempts at getting a tuition bill through the legislature, but are now willing to offer the legislature an opportunity to try again.

“We welcome passage of the College Affordability Act through the legislature or on the ballot, or in any way that enacts the first long-term tuition policy in decades,” Vaeth said.

“I think that the College Affordability Act is great,” said Grady Dunn, a junior journalism major.

Dunn, 25, has held a job throughout his college career. “Tuition fees are constantly going up, and I can only work so many hours before my schoolwork is affected.”

Dunn said he felt tuition rates are not allowing a chance for potentially good students to attend college. He supported the five-year tuition freeze and thought it will help students to more accurately budget their college expenses.

With so many students having to work to pay for college, San Jose State alumnus and California Assembly Member Jim Beall (D-San Jose) has campaigned on their behalf. Beall supports the legislation and said he had to work 30 to 40 hours a week while in college and still had to borrow large amounts of money.

“Unless we do something radically about tuition… we will have an undereducated state of California. That would be the worst economic disaster we possibly think of,” Beall said.

“As a student who has worked full time throughout college, I think something needs to be done,” said Erin Keim, a senior anthropology major. “The higher the fees, the more students have to work and the less they spend on their studies. It shouldn’t be this hard to get an education.”

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