There have been many arguments made in support of the increase in college based fees in the last few weeks. However, several questions remain unanswered. Faculty and staff, including President Baker, who support the increase have remained vague as to what the increase would do for students. Instead of telling us what will happen if the initiative passes, they merely warn of what might happen if the initiative does not pass.
It is hard to take the caveats issued by President Baker seriously when he doesn’t seem concerned enough to take a cut in his inflated salary. The justification that he earns “peanuts” compared to private sector CEOs is appalling.
The public education system, as indicated by its name, is built on the backs of the public. In this time of economic crisis, even CEOs whose professional goals are to make financial gains are taking huge paycuts. I find it utterly offensive that President Baker makes no such offer, and instead continues to give speeches on why students should pay the university more.
Cal Poly is blaming the state for its shortcomings and asking the students to pay for them but I have yet to hear the university itself take responsibility for any of these problems.
Lastly, as an English major in the College of Liberal Arts, I must bring attention to a problem I have not heard addressed in any of the dialogue regarding the CBFs. CLA tuition has traditionally been lower than other colleges for the obvious fact that we do not have labs and therefore do not require lab equipment or lab staff. Under this new initiative, all colleges will pay the same amount. Why should CLA students be asked to carry the burden of other students’ costs? This is a polytechnic university. Supporters of the fee increase keep citing the reputation that Cal Poly must uphold, not as an excellent university, but as an excellent polytechnic university. What responsibility do I, as an English major, have to ensure that engineers who graduate from Cal Poly are able to receive high paying jobs due to the reputation of the university’s engineering program?
There are too many shortfalls in this initiative. The university has failed to clearly outline what changes they will make so that our money will go to good use and so that we will not be asked to pay more in another few years. President Baker has failed to set an example by continuing to enjoy an inflated income while asking students to increase their fees.
Lastly, the new initiative asks for a set fee from every student across all colleges. Students who don’t use the resources and who don’t benefit from the polytechnic reputation should not have to pay as much as the students who do.
Lauren Stupek is an English senior and Mustang Daily guest columnist.