Cutting Classes Where It Hurts

After years of deficit spending, the Los Angeles Community College District must balance the books by trimming its budget. As the fall semester begins, campuses across the county are cutting hundreds of classes, whittling away at sports programs and trimming library hours and other services. ANNA MARIE STOLLEY talked to students about the situation.

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BETTY HALEY

39, Mission College

I’ve been taking classes here for three years. My major is child development.

I need two required English classes to graduate. I registered for one of them but got a letter telling me it was canceled due to budget cuts.

I feel like I’ve been cheated. I’m angry because it looks like I won’t get my degree in May. I’m going to have to stay another semester or longer.

There’s all this talk about getting people off the streets. Put the money into the colleges so people can get their education to get jobs to get off the streets.

I’ve talked to other students. They are upset, some are dropping out, because if the classes they need for degrees aren’t available, why bother coming?

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RONALD OLIVER

42, Mission College

Students need to tell the administration, the people in government and the State Board of Education not to cut our classes.

They’ve limited the library hours. Where are people going to study?

I’m paralyzed from the chest down with very little movement in my arms and none in my legs. I was injured 14 years ago, and I never expected to go to school. But I am, and it feels great. It makes me feel that I am whole.

The school has helped me to do my work and the state pays for my education. The school tries to get me the right equipment and tutor so I can get a degree in computer science. The lab used to be open Monday through Saturday, but now it’s just Monday through Thursday.

They started this new class this summer called digital imaging. Everybody thought it was great. It ran from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, but I would come in at 5 p.m. and leave late because I liked it so much. They were planning on keeping the class going, but they canceled it after the summer.

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RAYMOND LARRAGOITIY

20, Harbor College

I have noticed some changes, but only slight ones. I got all my classes this semester, but some of the hours I work in the tutoring lab have been cut. I used to work 20 hours in two weeks, now it’s 16 hours.

My on-campus work gives me some spending money and lets me help my parents out. I spend about $200 every semester on classes. I will supplement my income with an off-campus job this semester.

Students here just aren’t all that worried about the budget cuts as far as I can tell.

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MALENA ZAPATA

19, Pierce College

Volleyball is in my heart. It keeps me focused. I’m on the team here at Pierce and I plan to use it to help me get a scholarship to a four-year college.

I came to Pierce for many reasons, but one of them is that I couldn’t afford to go to a four-year school.

This year, we can’t afford new balls for the team. It’s time for new nets; they are practically falling down. We have old uniforms and had planned to get new ones this year. We’re not, unless we do it through our own fund-raising.

When they don’t put much money into teams, people don’t come to the games. Without a highly run program and fans supporting you at games, it’s not as motivating.