On Tuesday, September 12, 2023 I sent in my written remarks to the CSU Board of Trustees opposing the proposed 6% (annual) tuition increase. I was home sick and I worked from home virtually, watching it all online. Here’s my remarks…
Good morning CSU Board of Trustees, and all CSU Campus Presidents
My name is Sandra Adams and I am a senior at CSU Long Beach where I serve as a Lobby Corps Representative on student government. I am a first-generation college student; I am also a single mom. I am not only paying for my full tuition, student fees, and book out of my pocket but I am also partially funding my son’s CSU Northridge education from my pocket as well. I am currently paying for two CSU educations. I receive no help from financial aid as I went to a previous CSU. My home campus refuses to release my financial aid giving me a different excuse every single semester leaving me feeling hopeless that I will receive help. Every week I have to choose between paying my tuition fees and my basic needs. No one should have to choose between trying to better their life for not only themselves but their families, and their basic needs. The cost of living is increasing in the State of California; housing is now out of reach for many due to the unnecessary astronomical housing costs. People are choosing between a roof over their heads and food on the table. I feel that raising the salaries of CSU Presidents, giving them extra money for housing and transportation while increasing the tuition for students ; students who are struggling to live.
My cousin, President John Adams, said that schools were “the only means of preserving our constitution from its natural enemies, the spirit of sophistry, the spirit of party, the spirit of intrigue, profligacy, and corruption, and the pestilence of foreign influence.” His wife, also my cousin, Abigail Adams, was a huge supporting of women’s rights especially in the field of education. She believed that women should not submit to laws not made in their interest, nor should they be content w/the simple role of being companions to their husbands. They should educate themselves and be recognized for their intellectual capabilities so they can guide and influence the lives of their children and husbands.”
John Adams also said that the core curriculum should be engagement in “propagating knowledge, virtue, and religion” among all classes of the people. While there is a wall of separation between government and religion, John Adams did not know that when he made his remarks about core curriculum in 1797. Fast forward to 2023, everyone on all 23 CSU Campuses is aware of the financial burdens students face, however, still feel the need to build the wall of separation by increasing financial burdens. Why should students suffer the burden of the tuition increase and why should future students feel discouraged that a higher education and success are something that only the rich can afford.
While John drafted the constitution for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the world’s oldest constitution, where he made slavery illegal, and this is 100 years before the 13th Amendment in the U.S. Constitution. John said that “slavery is an unnecessary evil that is a threat to the experiment, American Democracy.” John also committed treason against the British Crown when he drafted and signed the Declaration of Independence. Fast forward to 2023, racism is still to this day, a threat to our democracy, now we add the lack of education is a threat to our democracy, to our government, and to our own country.
I challenge the CSU Board of Trustees by doing the right thing, just as my ancestors did over 200 years ago. Tear down the wall of separation between students and higher education.
Education is a right, not a privilege.
In Service,
Sandra Adams
Lobby Corps Representative (at-Large), Associated Students, Inc.
Office Hours: Thursdays, 11:00am – 3:00pm. USU-311
California State University, Long Beach ’23
Political Science Major w/concentration in Law, Politics, and Policies
PROUDLY “KEEPING STUDENTS FIRST” SINCE 1956
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Sandra Abigail Adams 