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The University of California is the world’s premiere academic institute. Our resources, our students, our innovations, and our potential are second to none – and part of keeping UC the best University in the world means pushing for its excellence into the future.

Why the need to lobby?
For the past five years, the excellence of UC – and Cal – has been put in jeopardy by a legislature that has consistently slashed the funding of higher education. With dwindling state support, UC has been forced to place the burden on California’s students and their families. Since 2001, undergraduate fees have skyrocketed more than 79%, graduate fees 84%, and professional fees 69-131%. Last year, Governor Arnold Schwarznegger announced a freeze on student fees. He proposed a 0% fee increase for both UC and CSU – adding a total of $71 million to the UC budget to avert a pending 8% fee increase approved by the UC Regent. Students hoped that this would be the case again this year, unfortunately it is not.

As students of the country’s #1 public university, we have everything to lose if the State continues to slash Cal’s funding: our world-class faculty, our world-class facilities, and – yes – our world-class ranking. To educate our legislators of the impact and value of UC to the State of California is to show them our numbers. Currently, Cal holds 32,000 of the State’s future leaders. Cal Lobby Day 2007 is our opportunity to bring our passion and our concerns to the capitol and fight for the continued excellence of Cal.

* Accounts for the aggregate of costs-of-living and student fees.

Why lobby in March?
This January, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed a budget in which undergraduate fees would increase by 7% - $495 fee hike. We, as students, must rise to the occasion and demand an affordable education. The Governor promised California that he would prioritize higher education. His actions say otherwise and we must hold him accountable.

Now, the legislature must revise the Governor’s draft proposal by May. March is a critical time, as the revision process begins in Senate and Assembly committee hearings; thus it is imperative that we remind our legislators that we will not tolerate another fee hike. If we are to be at our strongest – now is the time to act.

Hundreds of students. One Voice.
This March, students of Cal will come together under the shared goal of keeping our University the best in the world. Blind to party lines, Cal Lobby Day 2007 adheres to one ideology – the genuine love for Cal. This is our University, and this is our responsibility. Stand up and be heard!