Protest, Tweet, Raid Savings: Students of Color Fight to Stay in School

Julianne Hing

Protest, Tweet, Raid Savings: Students of Color Fight to Stay in School

We’re in a recession right now (news flash!), and I don’t know one person who’s not been impacted by the miserable state of the economy—or I’m just not rich enough. Grandmas, new parents, mid-career folks, everyone’s got a story. Check out a web preview of Cindy Von Quednow’s cover story for the September/October issue of ColorLines to find out what students of color are doing to stay in school during these trying times.

Cindy writes:

[Mondragon’s] campus, where 27 percent of the students are Latino, has also endured massive cuts. Currently the campus faces a $42 million cut and decreasing state support from about $6,400 per student to $5,000, according to the university’s president.
“I think it’s ridiculous when we are taught that we should pursue higher education when the state is not making it financially possible,” said Mondragon, who also works with Students for Quality Education.
Early on, Mondragon knew that her family couldn’t help her pay for college. Until recently, she had fared well on her own with a scholarship and financial aid. But last winter, she had to take a third job after her financial aid was cut.

“I was running out of money, but I didn’t want that to stop me from going to school,” said Mondragon. “I know I will finish school, and I’m not going to let money be a threat to me.”

I was reminded of Cindy's piece when my mom told my about my cousin, a sophomore at a state college in the Bay Area. CSUs across the state have had to cut hundreds of classes, lay off teachers and furlough staffers, even though student fees are up 30% this year. Two weeks into the fall semester, nearly $2k in registration fees paid, back-to-school outfits chosen, and my little cousin still only has one class.

My cousin has friends who risk losing their financial aid if they aren't full-time students. And in order for my cousin to stay on the health care insurance she gets through her mom's work, she needs to be a full-time student. And so my auntie told the company her daughter's enrolled in 14 units, when she's had to beg her way into the one class she does have.

Speaking of which, wouldn't some healthcare reform be nice right about now?

Click here to read the rest of "Protest, Tweet, Raid Savings" on ColorLines magazine.

Posted at 4:16 PM, Aug 27, 2009 in ColorLines Features | Education | Permalink | View Comments