I Don't Care if Your Eligible We're Packed!

At least 10,000. That's how many applicants will be denied entry to California State Universities, even if they are eligible. CSU Chancellor Charles Reed got the go ahead from the governing Board of Trustees, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

This is the first time 48 years that they plan on refusing eligible students. The reasoning behind this that CSU's don't have the funds to meet the demands of so many students.

"State legislators enacted $215 million in CSU budget cuts in September, and the chancellor agreed to $31 million in additional concessions last month. The governor has now proposed $66 million in midyear budget cuts, with the prospect of deeper cuts next year."

The CSU community argued that by investing in the state's higher education they are investing in the state of California, but it fell on deaf ears as the budget cuts continued to come.

But since classes are becoming more crowded and students are taking longer to graduate in part because of it the current priority is the 319,000 currently enrolled students.

What Students Expect from President Elect Barack Obama

ESHA MOMENI HAS BEEN RELEASED ON BAIL!!!!!!

Esha Momeni has been released from Evin Prison in Iran!!

I heard the news this morning and have no other details but are happy that she's safe and back home with her parents.

I am ecstatic to meet her and extremely happy that she is with her family.

This wouldn't have been possible without everybody's efforts and prayers...

Bless her heart for being so brave!

Here's a Video on the State's Defecit by KCRA

Students Expect Tuition to be Higher and Financial Aid to be Lower Next Year

In order to address California's estimated $11.2 billion deficit Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today called for a special legislative session where he proposed not only a tax increase but cuts in education, health care and welfare payments.

The governor's proposal includes $4.5 billion in cuts and a $4.7 billion raise in taxes.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle this is where students will be hit directly:

• $2.5 billion in education funding for K-12 schools and community colleges, the state's largest financial obligation that represents about half of its general fund spending.
• $132 million in funding for the University of California and California State University systems.

Democrats Will Probably Control the Senate

CNN projections indicate that Democrats will have a major say in the Senate. If they want a filibuster proof Senate, Democrats will need 60 seats. And so far they only have 51.

Having the three-fifths majority will allow them to invoke cloture, a device to end filibuster, according to CNN.

If this does happen then Democrats will no longer have any excuses for not getting anything done because of Republicans.

Obama the next President of the United States

Barack Obama's victory came faster than I expected it to, the moment in which CNN proclaimed him the winner almost passed me by. However it was expected as he had won key battleground states Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

The message of change permeated from the president elect's campaign, but while he is the first African American president the change he promised is still yet to come.

"What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night," Obama said during his victory speech. "This victory alone is not the change we seek — it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you."

Still, as WhalesOnline.co.uk reported, this certainly destroyed the myth that the United States wasn't ready for a black president.

Students from the Black Student Union were ecstatic and were calling loved ones when they heard the news.

“I expect Obama to make things better than what they how they are now, although I don’t expect miracles,” Ebony Conley, BSU member, told the Daily Sundial. “I expect things to be better for all minorities and I expect for everybody to see that we are all equals.”

FREE ESHA ~

CSUN is holding a candle light vigil for Esha Momeni on November 12.

There is a table  set up in front of the Manzanita Building on the south side of campus.  Visit the table above for candy and to speak with a graduate student who is also working on his thesis project for CSUN.  The person who is behind this table is working on his documentary on Lebanon.

See you all in front of the Oviatt Library on November 12th!