Editorial

Tomorrow, Proposition 1D will likely pass.

Though we applaud the principles of this amendment, we believe the way the school administration will spend the money is frivolous and not in the interest of students.

The measure will raise $10.4 billion, all of which will be allocated to the improvement of public schools’ facilities. California’s higher education system will receive $3.1 billion to construct new buildings and related infrastructure, alter existing buildings, and purchase equipment for the buildings.

The measure allocates $1.5 billion to California’s community colleges, $890 million to UCs and $690 million to CSUs.

CSUN’s take from this amendment is estimated to be $64 million. Out of that, $9 million will go to upgrading the mechanical and electrical systems of older buildings.

Fair enough. You would think that $56 million or so would be used for items that would directly benefit students: Buildings that would provide more classrooms – the campus is bulging at the seams with 34,000 students. Perhaps more pay for professors – teachers who could teach more classes so there could be enough of them for seniors to graduate on time. This might help our graduation rate, which is set at a disgraceful 38.9 percent for six years.

No, the money will not be spent on anything like that. It will be spent on a 1,700-seat performing arts center.

We are all for the arts and believe that they should be fully funded. We also believe that the new PAC, which would be a “cultural center,” would be a fine idea if the needs of the students were met.

But the needs of students are not being met.

There are too few mandatory classes offered. The school has record amounts of students, but not the classrooms and teachers to provide them with an education.

CSUN projects a 14.88 percent enrollment increase from 2005-06 to 2011-12. How is the PAC going to help accommodate the projected enrollment increase?

The administration has to raise another $50 million or so to fund the center. That means $100 million that will not directly provide for the immediate needs of students.

We guess students can take comfort in the fact that while they might be turned away from yet another overcrowded class, they will be able to attend the next big Broadway show. After all, we all know that is more important than getting the credits we need for our degrees.

At first glance, Proposition 1D is very enticing, because who doesn’t want to improve our schools? But voters need to take the time and read the small print, and must demand from their politicians a better proposition that can be effectively implemented to the areas in need.