As I was flipping through the Sunday morning edition of the San Francisco Chronicle I came face-to-face with a full page of shock. San Francisco State University had bought a full-page ad to announce that because of California’s budget woes SFSU would not be accepting freshmen or transfer students for the 2010 Spring session.

Granted, the real influx of students comes around the Fall, but the idea that the admission’s Department is not letting anyone in for the second half the school year is downright unbelievable from where I stand.

I spent about three years at San Francisco State, prior to my two-year stint at San Francisco City College. Both schools were overcrowded and under funded.

The state of the educational system of California mutates along side the current state of the government. If our government is dealing with a massive deficit, like the one we are currently experiencing, government funded education feels the results first hand.

The SFSU website encouraged potential students to reapply in Fall of 2010 because there may be more available spots – like what – ten, fifteen? For many students living in Bay Area SFSU a cheap and convenient way of getting their education without the hassle paying out of State fees and taking our massive loans for private school.

An acquaintance of mine just got back from an Alaskan cruise with her boyfriend that cost $10,000 per person. She didn’t pay for it, but I couldn’t believe anyone would just throw away money like that. With two cruise tickets alone you could pay for about ten semesters of school at SFSU. I took every fiber of my being to not reach out from across the table and slap her.

The worst thing about SFSU is that depending on how far along you are the chances of getting a spot in the class you need are slim. If they’re cutting out a whole semester of students I can’t even imagine what Spring 2010 will look like for currently enrolled students.

Will the reduced number of classes force students to start a Black Market of class schedules where open seats will go to the highest bidder, or the person with the largest supply of weed?

Personally, I’m relieved to have graduated when I did. However, I worry about my friends who are still jumping through the flaming hoops, and my cousin who just started her second year at State and who will be paying back her students loans based on how long she’s there. There should seriously be some kind of rebate if the reason for your extended stay of education is the fault of the government and the school.

Oh, my little idealized utopia of educational freedom. So close, yet so really, really, really far.
—Eming Piansay