UC Students Should Demand Full Disclosure

Written by Michelle SeleskycloseAuthor: michelleselesky Name: Michelle Selesky
Email: mselesky@gmail.com
Site:
About: Michelle Selesky graduated from UCLA in 2007 and served as team captain of the UCLA Women’s Gymnastics team. She holds a Masters Degree in Political Management from George Washington University and currently resides in Washington DC.See Authors Posts (2) on November 20, 2009

Yesterday, I published an article on the University of California protests and why California Should Put Students First. The vote to increase student fees has now passed. This is Part II in my series.

The homepage of the University of California declares:

“The 10 campuses of the University of California open their doors to all who work hard and dream big. Through its teaching, research and public service, UC drives California’s economy and leads the world in new directions.”

This is clearly dishonest. On the contrary, the UC Board of Regents’ decision to increase student fees 32% or $2500 by next fall proves that the University of California is closing doors and driving California’s economy further into the ground by punishing those students who are the only hope for California’s future and recovery.

President of the UC System Mark Yudof argued, according to Inside Higher Ed:

“We’re being forced to impose a user tax on our students and their families. This is a tax necessary because our political leaders have failed to adequately fund public higher education.”

To be clear, no one is forcing Mr. Yudof or the UC Board of Regents to impose a tax on students. He is not the victim – the students are.  It is easy, and perhaps deserving, to blame someone else for the deficit – in this case California politicians – but the fact is that a serious discussion between the Board and the UC student body would reveal innovative ideas on how to cut spending without shifting the burden to students.

How can the Board recover from its $1.2 billion deficit? Ask the students.

Every Student Should Demand Transparency and Uncover Wasteful Spending

Since it is now student money that will be involuntarily subsidizing the state of California and the UC Regents’ inability to fund its own budget, every student across the 10 UC campuses should ruthlessly and enthusiastically demand full transparency on how their money is being spent, and identify every dollar of wasteful spending that occurs throughout the University of California system.

After voting to financially punish students, the Regents owe nothing less than to disclose their budget to the entire UC student body. In fact, it should be published in every UC campus newspaper.

Students should demand that the Board make their budget and spending plan available online TODAY.

The 2,000 students who gathered on the campus of UCLA this week, and the thousands more who gathered on campuses around the state, have the opportunity now to become cheerful watchdogs over the UC system and  identify and report every instance of wasteful spending they discover.

Notify the school paper.

Email the Chancellor.

Email UC President Mark Yudof (president@ucop.edu)

Contact the UC Board of Regents.

True Leaders

Students of the University of California have the opportunity to become the leaders that the UC Board of Regents failed to be.

By taking the initiative to demand transparency and uncover and eliminate wasteful spending, students can send the University of California back on track to fulfilling its mission statement of opening its doors to all who work hard and dream big.

—

Michelle Selesky graduated from UCLA in 2007, where she earned a B.A. in Political Science and served as team captain of the UCLA Women’s Gymnastics team. She holds a Masters Degree in Political Management from the Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University. Michelle currently works and resides in Washington, D.C.

—

Video of riots at UCLA