By Paulina Rojas

OASIS, Calif. — As soon as the sun starts to set in Oasis, a rural community in the eastern Coachella Valley, locals flock to the community’s first park, a simple soccer field with a gravel track around its perimeter that opened just a few months ago.

Children run about as mothers chat and teenagers hang out with their headphones on. Others bring snacks to share. This would be considered a normal scene in many other communities, but in this area it borders on revolutionary.

“A lot of cars pass by here and all the mothers would worry that something could happen to their children, since [before the park] there were no safe places to play,” said Rosalba De La Cruz-Olivarez, an Oasis resident and community leader with Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC).

Speaking in Spanish, De La Cruz-Olivarez said the park has not only created positive change among the children in her community but among adults as well.

“I have noticed a big difference in how the people here feel, everyone seems a lot happier because there is finally a place for us to go sit for a little while, outside of our homes,” Olivarez said.

Before the opening of the park, residents of Oasis would have to drive about 20 miles west to Coachella to get to the nearest outdoor public space. Which presents an obstacle for the many residents here who don’t own cars, in an area where access to public transportation is extremely limited.

While there are a number of parks in Coachella today, there was a time not too long ago when that wasn’t the case.

“You drive by the parks in Coachella and there is always a ton of people and then some,” said Assemblyman and former mayor of Coachella, Eduardo Garcia. “We are at a point where there is a park in just about every segment of the city and it is how a well planned city should be.”

When Garcia initially took office one of the first things he noticed was the lack of park space, and so he started to ask questions.

“I learned as mayor of Coachella in 2006 and when I was elected to the city council, two years prior that the population of the city had grown based on the development, but that the park space had not grown along with it,” he said. “I began to ask why that was.”

Now, 10 years later Garcia takes note of the positive impact parks have had on his city, and he is now using that to push for statewide legislation that would help bring similar benefits to more communities.

“We made the case that the investment of a $3.2 million dollar park bond will have a return on investment and address issues of quality of life and the health and wellbeing of people” he said.

The park bond – AB-2444 – is currently stalled in the state senate. But that does not mean Garcia has halted his efforts.

“We start with the park discussions for next year, this year already,” he said. “We’re going to have a couple of park hearings in our district and throughout the state to begin generating additional support.”

That support and community buy-in from all stakeholders is what led to the Oasis park being built.

“(What made the park a success was) the creativity and willingness of different sectors –government, non-profit, residents – to work together with a ‘can-do’ attitude,” said Silvia Paz, vice president of Desert Recreation District.

“Open space has a tremendous impact on community well being; having access to parks and recreation has been associated with improved mental and physical health, and it also offers youth a safe place to convene.”

Paz added that the park in Oasis is one of three being planned for the Eastern Coachella Valley. Funding is still being secured for completion of the park, which will include a basketball court and a play area with swings.

Back in Oasis, De La Cruz-Olivarez shared the details of the first birthday party that was held at the park a few weeks ago. A neighbor wanted to do something special for her son and everyone showed up.

“It was very beautiful to see everyone there together,” she said.

About the author:

Paulina Rojas joined Coachella Uninc. as a beat reporter in February 2016 after working as a city reporter in the eastern Coachella Valley for more than a year. Although born and raised in New York City, Paulina feels right at home in the eastern Coachella Valley. She loves the warmth of the people and buying fresh bread from her favorite bakery in downtown Coachella. Paulina is a graduate of the University of Houston, and her work has appeared in The Las Vegas Review – Journal, The Houston Chronicle, HelloGiggles and Vivala. View her author page here.

By Paulina Rojas

Editor’s Note: Olga Montes is the Community Engagement Coordinator at Planned Parenthood. A sexual health educator for over 18 years, she says with the internet and social media there is more openness about things like LGBT issues, but also more pressure. She sat down with Coachella Unincorporated to share her thoughts on where young people in the Valley are at when it comes to sex and how parents can help guide them.

What are some of the most common misconceptions that youth have about sex?

I think a lot of it is that they need to know that they are normal. Cause no one really talks to them about these feelings. We also tell youth that being sexually healthy does not mean being sexual. They can be sexually healthy and not be sexual, it is about the way that they feel about themselves and that they are totally normal. Starting off with that is really important.

Over the years, what is the biggest change you’ve noticed in young people’s attitudes towards sex?

They do seem to be more open about things, especially about LGBTQ issues, which is really great. It shows that these kids are a lot more open and accepting.

In what ways do you think the internet and social media have changed the way young people think about sex?

It’s interesting because on the one hand the internet gives young people more access to information but on the other hand they get exposed to this warped view of how they are supposed to be and how they are supposed to look. There seems to be a lot more pressure and the way [young people] are communicating with each other seems to be a lot less personal.

What are some of the reasons that make parents afraid to talk to their kids about sex?

They’re embarrassed to think about their kids being sexually active. While they understand that they need to be protected, a lot of it is just that they don’t know how to approach the topic. During our presentations we usually tell parents, “It’s okay if you don’t know everything, the important thing is that your children see you as a source to go talk to.”

What is a good starting point for parents when talking to their kids about sex for the first time?

We go over values and beliefs first and then we ask them what they grew up with. Did their parents talk to them about sex? A lot of times they haven’t. A good place to start is by saying, “hey we’re in this together, I might not know everything but we’ll figure it out.”

Part Two: Youth Get Real About Sex

About the author:

Paulina Rojas joined Coachella Uninc. as a beat reporter in February 2016 after working as a city reporter in the eastern Coachella Valley for more than a year. Although born and raised in New York City, Paulina feels right at home in the eastern Coachella Valley. She loves the warmth of the people and buying fresh bread from her favorite bakery in downtown Coachella. Paulina is a graduate of the University of Houston, and her work has appeared in The Las Vegas Review – Journal, The Houston Chronicle, HelloGiggles and Vivala. View her author page here.

Nota de la Editora: Esta mañana, el Tribunal Supremo anunció que alcanzó una votación dividida 4-4 en el caso de inmigración de Estados Unidos v Texas, que se dirigió a la DAPA (Acción Diferida para los padres de los estadounidenses y residentes permanentes legales) y se expandió DACA (Acción Diferida. para Llegados en la Infancia) programas introducidos por el presidente Obama en 2014.  La decisión dividida del tribunal significa ambos programas, los cuales habrían proporcionado indocumentados con permisos de alivio de la deportación y de trabajo temporal, se han puesto en espera. Sin embargo, el programa de DACA original, que se lanzó en el 2012 no se ha visto afectado por la reciente decisión de la corte. Coachella Unincorporated habló con Megan Beaman, una abogada de derechos civiles y activista de la comunidad local, para aprender lo que los miembros de la comunidad deben saber a la luz de la decisión dividida del Tribunal Supremo.

• Recuerde Que Las Prioridades De Control Permanecerá En Vigor. De noviembre de 2014 las prioridades de aplicación del presidente Obama siguen en vigor, es decir, los funcionarios de inmigración se dirigen sólo a deportar a personas que caen en ciertas categorías, incluyendo individuos con antecedentes penales significativos y los que entraban en los EE.UU. después de 2014. 
• DACA sigue en pie. El orden DACA original, del 2012 sigue en efecto completo, lo que significa que no habrán cambios producidos en el estado o los derechos de cualquier persona que ya están en el programa de DACA. Los que son elegibles para DACA bajo la orden original todavía pueden aplicar. 
• Conozca sus derechos y manténgase a salvo. Miembros de la comunidad indocumentados deben permanecer vigilantes de sus propios derechos y la seguridad mediante la protección de sí mismos mientras que la interacción con los agentes encargados de hacer cumplir la ley y el control de la inmigración. Entre otras cosas, no firme nada sin antes consultar a un abogado, y no admite nada acerca de su país de origen o estatus migratorio. 
• Siga luchando. Incluso si usted no puede votar, trabaje para conseguir que los miembros de la familia, vecinos, amigos y otras personas estén registradas para votar. La votación para los candidatos que nos traerá el tipo de reforma migratoria que merecemos para que podamos mantener nuestras familias unidas. 
• No pierda la esperanza. En cada movimiento para el cambio y la justicia, debemos sobrepasar obstáculos y fracasos de experiencia antes de que finalmente ganemos, al final, la justicia prevalece. Mahatma Gandhi dijo: “Primero te ignoran, luego se ríen de ti, después te atacan, entonces ganas.” La lucha puede ser larga, pero finalmente la justicia prevalecerá.

En el caso de que usted, o alguien que conoce, sean detenidos, tenga cuidado de no renunciar a ninguno de sus derechos sin consultar primero con un abogado.

• Usted tiene el derecho a no dar su consentimiento para la búsqueda de su casa, automóvil, o su cuerpo, sin saberlo, para evitar poner a sí mismo o a otros miembros de la familia indocumentados en riesgo de detención.
• Usted tiene derecho a hablar con un abogado antes de contestar cualquier pregunta o tomar cualquier decisión cuando esté en contacto con agentes de inmigración o la policía.
• Usted tiene derecho a permanecer en silencio y no responder a las preguntas hechas a usted por la inmigración o agentes de policía, en particular las preguntas acerca de su estado migratorio o país de origen (nacimiento).
• Usted tiene derecho a no firmar nada sin recibir el asesoramiento de un abogado sobre las consecuencias a que sin querer podría ceder sus derechos a la futura ayuda de inmigración.
• Usted tiene derecho de llamar al consulado de su país de origen, el cual tiene derecho a visitarte, y que puede ser capaz de conectarlo a otros recursos.

Editor’s Note: This morning, the Supreme Court announced it reached a 4-4 split vote on the immigration case United States v. Texas, which addressed the DAPA (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Legal Permanent Residents) and expanded DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) programs introduced by President Obama in 2014. The court’s split decision means both programs, which would have provided undocumented community members with temporary deportation relief and work permits, have been put on hold. However, the original DACA program from 2012 has not been affected by the court’s recent decision. Coachella Unincorporated spoke to Megan Beaman, a local civil rights attorney and community activist, to find out what community members should know in light of the Supreme Court’s split decision.

• Remember Enforcement Priorities Remain In Effect. President Obama’s November 2014 enforcement priorities remain in effect, meaning immigration officials are directed to only deport people who fall into certain categories, including individuals with significant criminal histories and those who entered the U.S. after 2014.
  

• DACA Still Stands. The original DACA order from 2012 still remains in full effect, meaning no changes will be made to the status or rights of anyone already in the DACA program. Those who are eligible for DACA under the original order can still apply.
  

• Know Your Rights and Stay Safe. Undocumented community members must remain vigilant of their own rights and safety by protecting themselves while interacting with law enforcement and immigration enforcement agents. Among other things, do not sign anything without first consulting a lawyer, and do not admit to anything about your country of origin or immigration status.
  

• Keep Fighting. Even if you can’t vote, work to get family members, neighbors, friends and others registered to vote. Voting for candidates who will bring us the type of immigration reform that we deserve so that we can keep our families together.
  

• Don’t Lose Hope. In every movement for change and justice, we must overtime obstacles and experience failures before we eventually win—and in the end, justice does prevail.  Mahatma Ghandi said, “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” The fight can be a long one, but justice will eventually prevail.

In the event you, or someone you know, are detained, be careful not to give up any of your rights without first speaking with an attorney.

• Exercise your right to not give your consent for search of your home, car, or person, to avoid unknowingly putting yourself or other undocumented family members at risk of detention or removal.
• Exercise your right to speak to an attorney before answering any questions or making any decisions in contact with immigration or police officials.
• Exercise your right to remain silent and not answer questions made to you by immigration or police officials, particularly questions about your immigration status or country of origin (birth).
• Exercise your right to NOT sign anything without receiving advice from an attorney about the consequences—you could unintentionally sign away your rights to future immigration relief.
• Exercise your right to call the consulate of your country of origin, who has a right to visit you, and who may be able to connect you to other resources.

Building Healthy Communities Eastern Coachella Valley (BHC ECV), a coalition of community organizations and east valley residents, partnered with the Coachella Valley Teachers Association (CVTA) to advocate for transparency in the funding process and to give input on funding priorities for CVUSD schools.

Prior to the LCFF hearing, BHC’s Schools Action Team asked to present a Restorative Justice Resolution at the board meeting but were not approved by the school board. Still, team members, parents and students waited more than two hours to give public comment at the hearing.

The resolution asked the CVUSD school board to adopt a comprehensive school climate policy for all CVUSD schools that included Restorative Justice practices, discipline practices that emphasize restorative ideologies over expulsions and suspensions. The Schools Action Team is currently piloting a Restorative Justice program at Bobby Duke Middle School with support from the school’s principal,vice principal, dean and several teachers.

Coachella Unincorporated spoke to people at the LCFF hearing Tuesday night to ask how they believe the LCFF funding should be invested. Read their responses here:

Read more about Restorative Justice:

Parents Push for Restorative Justice

Mother of Four Helping Transform Education in the ECV

THERMAL, Calif. — As soon as this summer students at Desert Mirage High School will no longer have to worry about transportation to some of their favorite after school activities.

The Desert Recreation District has teamed up with The California Endowment and Desert Mirage to pilot the REC ROUTE, a transportation program aimed at giving students in the eastern Coachella Valley access to safe after school programs.    

“This pilot program would service Desert Mirage High School as a 15 passenger van that offers free and convenient transportation for east valley youth to access various recreation and enrichment activities,” Karina Rodriguez, Community Services Supervisor at the DRD said.

The REC in REC ROUTE stands for Recreation, Education and Culture. It is part of an effort to promote physical activity and social cohesion.

Some of the locations along the route include the Boys and Girls Club in Mecca, the North Shore Community Center and the Thermal Community Center. The program is also expected to ease access to cultural and special enrichment events.

In February, DRD created a youth advisory council at Desert Mirage to ensure the program meets the needs of youth at the school. Juan Aceves, a sophomore at Desert Mirage, said he joined the council because he believes the program will give students, like him, access to much-needed transportation services.

“I think it’s a really good idea because young people don’t have transportation to get to many places. For me, [the REC ROUTE] would help a lot because I need help getting places,” Aceves said. “I live in Oasis, and when my parents work overtime and my siblings are in school, I need help getting to the store or the library.”

The youth council, made up of 16 students, meets twice a week. The students are currently in the process of surveying their peers to get input on planning transportation routes.

The REC ROUTE program is expected to launch this summer.

About the author:

Paulina Rojas joined Coachella Uninc. as a beat reporter in February 2016 after working as a city reporter in the eastern Coachella Valley for more than a year. Although born and raised in New York City, Paulina feels right at home in the eastern Coachella Valley. She loves the warmth of the people and buying fresh bread from her favorite bakery in downtown Coachella. Paulina is a graduate of the University of Houston, and her work has appeared in The Las Vegas Review – Journal, The Houston Chronicle, HelloGiggles and Vivala. View her author page here.

If I wanted to get to work on time, I knew I needed to get out of bed before dawn in order to catch a bus that took a good hour and a half to get me to work. This was my life for three months, three days a week. I’d start every day while it was still dark, hoping I wouldn’t miss the only bus that serves my community of North Shore. Losing such an opportunity would mean a three hour wait for the next bus, with an almost two hour travel time to get to my job in La Quinta.

Essentially, missing the bus meant missing work.

North Shore, if you aren’t aware, is a community by the Salton Sea. Occasionally it smells like fish. More than occasionally, it’s impossible for a young person like me to find work. With only one place of employment, a small carniceria, I had to look out towards the west for work. The closest town, ten miles away, didn’t hold many possibilities for me. I had to look out about thirty miles away to the city of La Quinta.

Thankfully, I got a job. I was also thankful that North Shore, at the time, had recently been added as a stop to a new bus line. I was less thankful about the fact that this bus line had a limited route and didn’t run on the weekends. My initial ride was quite an experience. In many ways, it felt like being in a dentist’s office that was also in motion; there was a lot of waiting and most of the people didn’t look comfortable. That hour and a half ride actually resulted in many moments of self reflection. My smartphone games were played until boredom and social media sites were browsed ad nauseum. Fortunately I found light in the darkness in the form of the bus driver.

So often and so long did I ride the bus, that a friendship grew between the bus driver and I. At one point he revealed to me that he had previously been a trucker, which explained how he could bear driving such a long line. Occasionally I had chats with other riders. Mostly I would just observe. An old friend actually began riding as well, and the tedium subsided. Mostly I would just observe. An old friend actually began riding as well, and the tedium subsided.

Even I, who had found comfort in the long rides, always had the terrifying image of missing the bus in the back of my head. One morning I did wake up late. I shot out of my house running through the sand towards the stop, waving the bus down. Turns out befriending the driver helped in that regard, as he recognized me and gave me a few moments to catch up. Months later that bus driver got switched to another line, and a few days after that I got a driving permit. Worrying about the bus is no longer an issue, but I still think back to those days.

Not everyone would be willing to make sacrifices that I did, and for so many there’s no other choice. It’s exciting to have the bus and I’m grateful for even having the chance to get out of my community more than occasionally. But it’s unfortunate that to ride it requires not only a bus fare; it necessitates planning and patience. Having ridden the buses on the west side of the valley, I can easily say that the people of North Shore don’t have the luxury of taking a nice trip on a whim.

About the author:

Jonathan Gonzalez,19, is a youth reporter for Coachella Unincorporated and a lifelong resident of the eastern Coachella Valley. Jonathan enjoys telling stories from his community and likes to think of life as an adventure.

By: Paulina Rojas

MECCA, Calif. — On Saturday, residents from all over the eastern Coachella Valley gathered at the Mecca Community Park to celebrate art, music and culture at the Fifth Annual The HUE Music and Arts Festival.

The event was planned entirely by the Youth Organizing Council (YOC) of Building Healthy Communities Eastern Coachella Valley (BHC ECV). Planning The HUE was a way for the young people be civically engaged, according to Victor Gonzalez, civic engagement manager and youth coordinator for the YOC.

“We try to make sure that we do it with an art component, art can be used as activism, so that’s what The HUE is about,” said Gonzalez.

Although it was a windy day, festival-goers were treated to live music on two stages, art displays by ECV youth and food provided by North Shore residents. In the Crisalida trailer, people viewed paintings and poems created by students at Toro Canyon Middle School, and there was a photo sideshow celebrating community ‘changemakers’ that was created by youth from the YOC and Coachella Uninc. reporters.

At it’s core, The HUE represents something much bigger than just a concert, according to Juliana Tabuada, a freshman at Desert Mirage High School who was also part of the YOC.

“I think events like this bring the community together, it shows unity that we have and that’s really important,” said Tabuada. “I hope [The HUE] is something that becomes something as big as ‘Coachella,’ where anyone from the valley can come and just enjoy and be a part of this.”

More than 11 community organizations, like Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo and TODEC Legal Center, were also at the event to help connect festival-goers with local resources and programs. Helping the people of the eastern Coachella Valley get more involved in their community is the true mission of the festival.

“The HUE is a place where we try to learn about our culture and embrace it, but it’s also about how do we make it better,” Gonzalez said.  “That’s why we have all of these organizations here to make sure people know what is going on in their community.”

About the author:

Paulina Rojas joined Coachella Uninc. as a beat reporter in February 2016 after working as a city reporter in the eastern Coachella Valley for more than a year. Although born and raised in New York City, Paulina feels right at home in the eastern Coachella Valley. She loves the warmth of the people and buying fresh bread from her favorite bakery in downtown Coachella. Paulina is a graduate of the University of Houston, and her work has appeared in The Las Vegas Review – Journal, The Houston Chronicle, HelloGiggles and Vivala. View her author page here.

By Karla Martinez

North Shore, Calif. —For one night, bright colors washed over the remains of old abandoned buildings in North Shore giving them new life. Residents who followed a dirt path lined with lanterns were treated to a show of lights and images at the “Projections” community event on Saturday night.

Local Eastern Coachella Valley artists were invited to project images and video onto several old buildings during the community event. Other artists nearby played music and performed spoken word and poetry.

With help from Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI), a design organization based in Los Angeles, North Shore residents spent months planning the community event.

For the past two years, KDI has been working with North Shore residents to design a five-acre desert park. As part of their collaboration with the community, KDI worked with residents to create the North Shore Arts Committee, a group of residents dedicated to bringing artists and cultural events to the proposed park area.

Miriam Cervantes, a North Shore resident and volunteer with KDI, said the North Shore Arts Committee wanted to host a community event that would offer a different view of the decaying buildings in their community. That’s when the committee came up with the idea to project art onto the old buildings.

“The abandoned buildings located along Hwy 111 came up again and again … they contribute to outsiders’ negative perceptions of North Shore,” Cervantes said.

Cervantes said the residents of North Shore were tired of watching those abandoned buildings in their community decay.

Local artist and North Shore resident, Nick Flores said he was happy to participate in the community event. His artwork depicted a super hero’s hand drawn onto a blank canvas.

”They asked me if I could [participate], and I always try to put my art out there in the community,” Flores said.

Along with the projected art work, Purepecha tejidos were on display. Conchita Pozar displayed her colorful hand-stitched Purepecha skirts and shirts.

“I feel really good. I’m really proud to be able to present my tejidos here so other people can see the work that I do,” Pozar said. “My mother taught me how to create these tejidos, and it’s important to me because my grandmother taught my mother and it’s something very cultural where we come from.”

Another local artist, Daniel Morandos showed his short documentary that described his vision for the future of North Shore.

“Ideally, I would hope [North Shore] could turn into a center for the arts so we can have various events as the community grows throughout the years, and I want people to bring their events here to North Shore,” Morandos said.

North Shore resident, Jessica Gonzalez said she was excited to attend the Projections event and hopes the art committee will continue to plan cultural events in her community.

“There’s not a lot of places here where we can have the time to take in the richness of our culture and all the really beautiful things we have here in North Shore,” Gonzalez said. “Projections is a really good opportunity for all of us to take some time to think about our culture through the performances and the art.”
About the author:

Karla Martinez has been a youth reporter with Coachella Unincorporated for two years, where she has produced numerous articles and reflections on issues like community violence prevention to voter registration. In April 2015, Karla won the Young Lady of the Year Award for Riverside County District 4 for her work with the Land Use Planning Awareness project. View Karla’s author page here.

New America Media, Video, Peter Schurmann, Posted: Apr 16, 2015

Ed. Note: UC President Janet Napolitano is locked is a battle with California Gov. Jerry Brown and the state legislature over restoring funding to the University cut during the recession. In an interview with NAM Editor Peter Schurmann, Napolitano says the stakes are much higher than a budget tussle. They go to the heart of what role California and the nation sees for public higher education. 

High school students are getting acceptance and rejection letters as we speak. What’s the current picture with enrollment at the UC’s?

Applications came in higher this year than last year. It’s a record number, and it was a record number last year…demand is very, very high. But our budget is in such flux right now because of issues around what the state will reinvest, (and) what will happen with tuition, that we’re having to put a few more students on the wait list than we otherwise would prefer. We will manage those waitlists, and we really hope they will be reduced in size as we go through the year.

In the last three years more than 30,000 qualified UC applicants were turned away from the campus of their choice. Are there barriers to access?

There is an unmet need in California that I don’t think has been fully appreciated. In the UC system (eligible) students are still offered a seat but perhaps not at the campus of their first or second choice. (But) the chancellor of the CSU system says they turned away over 20,000 eligible students just last year, and they’re on pace to do the same this year…We need to talk about access and what California’s current college-age and future college-age generation needs.

You have been meeting with Gov. Brown to make the case for increased funding. What is your elevator pitch?

You remember that old song? “What goes up must come down.” My view is that what went down must come up…The amount of funds we get from the state today is the same amount we got in 1997, and we’ve added 83,000 more students, which is like adding three UC Riversides…The amount we’re getting from the state per student is a lot lower than it was then.

So what we’re facing is a budget crisis?

I think state budgets are about priorities and what comes first. ..Our budget was cut by a third from the state in just one or two years. That’s a huge cut to absorb, and it’s only now come back a little less than half way from when the cuts were made. If we go at the rate proposed by Sacramento…I’m not sure we would ever catch up, much less expand what the budgets were prior to the recession. .

The majority of students graduating from California high schools today are students of color. Is this an equity issue?

For me it’s a question of opportunity. If young people are doing the work, and getting themselves eligible and academically qualified to come to the University of California, I want them to not only be able to be admitted but get the best public university education in the world.

Media attention has focused mostly on public protests over the proposed tuition increases with far less public debate about state funding cut backs. Why is that?

I don’t know. If we could solve that riddle I would be so happy. The data is absolutely clear that tuition goes up when state appropriations go down…Tuition has been held flat for three years, and what we’ve proposed is no more than a five percent increase…not the great big double-digit spikes we’ve seen in the past. We want to keep it as low and predictable as we can.

A new bill is proposing to cap administrative salaries at the UC’s. Would that make up for reductions in state funding?

No. We have relatively few personnel at the upper reaches who are paid only out of core funds from the state…If you added all that paid together it wouldn’t touch the core budget of the university and what it means in terms of faculty…classes, class size, courses…the ability to graduate in close to four years. Those are the things that really drive cost.

What’s your long-term goal in this battle over state funding?

What we want do do is reengage the state of California in its public universities and its public higher education mission.

We’re getting further and further away from the original concept of public universities, which is that they would be as nearly free as possible. And we’re doing that, and having to do that because where once states invested enough to cover the operational cost of the university, they are moving further and further away from that model, leaving universities either to cut their own expenses, which we continue to look at and do, or having to look at tuition.

How do you see the college experience for this generation of Californians?

College is about learning things, mastering certain competencies. But it’s also about growing up, maturing, learning how to live on your own, forming friendships with your peers that last a lifetime. College is not only a job placement training experience. Students today in all likelihood are going to have 10 or 12 different jobs in a lifetime. …You can’t monetize these things directly but they certainly have value. And it’s that value I hope we don’t lose sight of for this next generation.