Sigonee
Current Event Posting #4
Topic: Education
Title of article: No More California Dream?
Author: Inderpal Grewal
 Publication name: Huffington Post
Date of Publication: May 11, 2012
Length of article: 910 words

Main Ideas:
California public universities now have increased their tuition by 6% to 9%, even as demographic changes and economic conditions mean that the number of students are increasing.  The prison system now gets more state funding than universities, meaning that the Corrections lobby is more effective than university leaders in working with the legislature.  Maybe it's because university leaders are okay with increased tuition.  That is why students and faculty continue to protest on campuses, like last week on May Day, rather than at the state capital.  A UC Irvine student states, "We're transforming what is the world's greatest education system, the world's best research institution paid for by the public and by the state by taxpayer money, and we are destroying everything that is making the UC system great."  The Dean of the Business School at UC Irvine, Andrew Policano, wrote an article on May 7 entitled "Universities Must Adapt to Financial Realities" in which he claims the best solution for public universities is to charge what the market will bear, as do business schools.  According to Policano, universities need "market orientation, efficiency and entrepreneurial activities" in order to capture "market share."  Basically what Policano is trying to say is that if students are not willing to pay high prices for some programs, it means that they don't value them enough.  He believes students should pay higher tuition even as student debt is now higher than credit card debt.  At other schools, there is no movement to a market-based utilitarian educations; other schools continue to produce leaders and teach liberal arts, while having great research facilities, whereas this level of education will not be offered to all Californians.    

Conclusion:
California public universities have produced a broad variety of careers for many students.  Limiting these universities to a business school and a corporate market-based model is a disturbing thought to many.  Many professors and students in California know that administrators like Policano are working against a democratic education.  This corporate speak of efficiency, productivity, and perceived value proves corporate leaders revealing themselves to be selfish.  Students and faculty of California public universities will continue to march and protest to fight for a fair and affordable education system.