By Brian Villalba
I am not saying that I am going to break up with East Los Angeles College, but I think we should start seeing other people. I am not getting what I expected in this relationship.
The Los Angeles Community College District has been cutting budgets and it has affected the quality of education that I am receiving. It may seem silly to treat ELAC like a person because it is an institution, not a person.
In spite of what the Supreme Court says, institutions are certainly not people even corporations. Then should we be monogamous with our educational institutions?
The answer is no. ELAC isn’t going to have a broken heart if you cheat on it. It won’t even notice. If we aren’t getting what we want, we should go somewhere else. ELAC is one of many community colleges in the area.
If ELAC is not giving us what we want we should feel free to go and get what we need from one of the other community colleges. We should take our money and invest it in an institution that is going to fulfill our needs. Due to the budget problems, we are being neglected and it is getting worse.
If there are even more cuts for fall, then that is going to put even more pressure on the students to get the classes that are needed. We are going to have all the new freshmen to compete with for classes in addition to the students that were not able to transfer to a Cal State because of closed spring admissions. All the cuts have backed up the system and have students bogged down in their progress toward education.
Time is not on our side here. We are stuck in a system that is getting worse so we should diversify our portfolio. If ELAC is cutting more general education classes, then we should try to take a few classes at Pasadena City College. PCC is desirable as it is not a part of the LACCD and isn’t subject to the same budget cuts.
The Pasadena Sun has PCC’s course reductions at about 3% for the spring semester. According to Campus News, course reductions have been up to 17% depending on the semester. If ELAC isn’t going to get its act together, then there is going to be a student revolt.
Students are frustrated. Some will just muddle ahead. Some will go to other schools. Some will just stop going to school. Even though dropouts pay the price for not finishing school, part of that is the failure of ELAC for not meeting students’ needs in a timely manner.
Not everyone can afford to delay entry into the workforce. Education is intrinsically good. Knowledge provides us with the power to make the life for ourselves that we wish. The problem is that ELAC is being stingy with its knowledge.
I am not saying I have a solution for ELAC, but I am just a student. If it is up to me to find a solution then we are in big trouble. For myself, I have a solution.
Take classes elsewhere.