Why I'm marching on the capitol

Last week my office was in a small panic. A group of students—all young, single mothers—crowded around and listened to an email being read about the proposed cuts to California support services.

The email detailed a possible cut of monthly government assistance to about half of what it is now. This is an addition to the almost 10 percent decrease in aid that was made last year, when Governor Brown first took office. The worry showed on the girls' faces as they contemplated having to get by with half of the resources they are receiving now and still find the time to take classes and raise their children.

The decreases made last year have already caused these young mothers to pick up additional work hours and relocate to smaller, more affordable housing facilities. One young woman was even forced to move into a Woman’s Home run by her church when she could no longer afford her rent payments.

This news comes as another devastating blow to those needy students, whose tuition has just increased by another $10 per college unit. Now, a full time student can expect to pay at least $552 a semester to attend a Los Rios community college.

Last semester, in addition to the cost of tuition, the cost of my textbooks was above $600. Luckily, I am one of those students whose costs are covered under the CalWorks program. The condition for me to receive CalWorks assistance is that I work and attend college at least 32 hours a week. But if these services continue to be cut, college will no longer be a viable option for me and so many other students.

This tuition adjustment may seem minor, but considering these increases coupled with the decreases in support, one might began to wonder how school will remain in reach for California’s young people.

It is for this reason that California’s college students have decided to come together and participate in a statewide protest called March In March on Monday, March 5. Together all California Community College, California State college and University of California college students will descend on the steps of the state capital and protest these cuts to our support services and invaluable education.

Students are fed up with the devaluing of our education and the future of California families. It is our hope as students that the lawmakers will understand our disdain for their decision making, and once again make education and the future of California as we know it a priority on Capitol Hill.

Students, the very fabric of California’s future and economy, should never have to consider the question, “What will we do now?" when it comes to our education.

Petra Duke Maxey is a student senator at Cosumnes River College and campus coordinator for the March in March.