Hundreds of students gathered on March 5 at Skyline College’s “teach-in” to protest the impending district budget cuts that could be up to $15 million.
     Faculty and students alike voiced their opinions during the two-hour session, rallying students to sign up for the March 17 protest in Sacramento, fill out post cards to local assembly people, and to register to vote – all of which were stressed as being crucial in the fighting of the proposed cuts.
     “Your education cannot be on the chopping block,” said Dr. Tony Jackson, a psychology teacher at Skyline. “It’s time to tell your legislators that we are not going to take it anymore.”
     Phyllis Taylor, a speech teacher at Skyline and also a speaker at the teach-in, understands the seriousness of how the budget could impact students – she was a single mother and a re-entry student into the community college system.
     “My biggest concern is about student services,” Taylor said. “This is all very scary. The cuts have happened so fast. The only thing I can think of to do is to get in a [protest] group fast.”
     If budget cuts do occur, many important services such as Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS), Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS), the health center, the learning center, and possibly the library.
     Denise Ratto, a student at Skyline who also attended the teach-in feels that though she would not be directly affected by the financial cuts, she has other worries such as class cuts.
     “I needed to take a chemistry class this semester and it was booked solid, next semester it will probably be even worse – I need these classes to graduate,” Ratto said. “I also worry about my friends and whether they’ll be able to get their classes or not. Some of them wouldn’t even be able to go to Skyline if the fees were increased – they already have enough to worry about.”
     Also a speaker at the teach-in, Skyline’s creative writing teacher Katharine Harer, expressed her disappointment over the state’s decision to make cuts from the community college system.
     “The cuts that are being proposed are inequitable – the community colleges are already under funded,” Harer said. “If approved, the cuts would devastate the community college system.”