La Voz

Issue date: 1/29/07 Section: Opinion

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's latest attempt to save California's environment, health care and prison system may have critics and voters applauding his efforts, but one group remains shafted: college students.

In his annual State of the State speech, the Last Action Hero proposed spending $38 billion to provide affordable health care for every Californian, $10.9 billion to renovate prisons and expand jail capacity and $7 billion for environmental preservation and conservation.

Doubling since 2002, tuition at University of California campuses will increase 10 percent, forcing students that pay an average of $6,141 in annual fees an extra $430. A 7 percent tuition increase at California State University's twenty-three campuses raises the estimated annual fee of $2,520 by about $252.

In addition to tuition, California 's 610,000 college and university students will also pay separate fees such as health services and recreational activities. Conan the Destroyer can save health care dependents from disease, the environment from pollution, and prisoners from aching backs, but he can't help students that are forced to resort to alternative financial options such as getting a second job, joining Uncle Sam's army, or ultimately dropping out.

So, while inmates sleep on comfortable Sealy Posturepedics in the confines of a warm cell, college students must endure excruciating pain from sitting on outdated plastic chairs in 3-hour lectures.

Spending $7 billion to protect wildlife and forests is noble, but there is undeniable irony when it's coming from a guy who once mowed down a rain forest with an M-16 grenade launcher and smashed the Predator with a pulled out tree log.

For all his faults and shortcomings during his 3 years as governor, let's give Junior some credit.

The Running Man has dedicated $52 million to build and improve Career and Technical Education programs that integrate academics with technical and occupational courses, paving the road to higher education and careers for students. CTE also creates apprenticeships, internships and training opportunities in today's demanding job

market.

Mr. Freeze's plan for affordable health care is inscrutably essential to all Californians.

Some of the highlights of the plan are guaranteed coverage, so Californians won't worry about losing their health coverage, and affordable coverage, such as Medi-Cal, to low-income individuals. Maybe Eraser is looking after us. Maybe there is an unforeseen long-term goal.

Or maybe he simply doesn't like college students. As the Kindergarten Cop would tell his unhappy kindergarten class: "Stop whining! You kids are soft! You lack discipline!"

There will be minimal financial relief for the starving college students this year. You may have to shell out more cash for your tuition, but at least you have your health. The proposed spending plan may be unfair in regards to UCs and CSUs, but we'll all have to go with the Terminator if we want to live.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools