Currently at Moorpark College, we are having constant talk about these budget cuts, and how they will be affecting community college students. It’s truly a sad thing to know that so many of the students that are from California Community Colleges are at risk of not having a seat in a classroom because of budget cuts.

We are an institution that contributes so much to the universities in California and we are also the first to have our tuition raised and our textbook prices skyrocketing. What can be expected next year is that student will be protesting a little more about the cuts to education.

I know for a fact that there is word up north on the state level that there are plans for a rally in Sacramento to really shake up the capitol, which will let the governor know that in 1977 at Santa Monica City College, he was a community college student, and he should be in favor of our institutions. At Moorpark College we are lucky enough to have a district that is managing the college well enough that the budget cuts will not be completely devastating. But we are not just one college we are apart of the bigger picture, 110 community colleges.

Moorpark has been an active member of the district, the region, and the state. This trend will continue to go on as we try to make an impact on legislation in California that will directly have a significant effect on students. Associated Student will be attending a conference in the spring in Washington D.C, where we will be lobbying in the interest of the students of Moorpark College and California.

What can be expected in this time of economic crisis is that tuition at Moorpark College may be raised to thirty dollars by summer 2009. A.S. is constantly representing the students of Moorpark College in the best way possible and we will keep that going. We will be having our winter retreat to reflect back on the fall 2008 semester to see what worked and what did not work. During this retreat we will be formulating new ideas and planning for our goals for the spring 2009 semester.

We hope to accomplish a lot in the second semester because now that the elected members are more experienced we can take on more challenging work to make Moorpark College a better place. We hope to leave something good behind after our terms are over, so that those students will be proud to say that they attend Moorpark College.