Weekend Cheer from the New York Times

California Cuts Threaten the Status of Universities

Jennifer Medina, 6/1/12, NY Times

Class sizes have increased, courses have been cut and tuition has been raised — repeatedly. Fewer colleges are offering summer classes. Administrators rely increasingly on higher tuition from out-of-staters. And there are signs it could get worse: If a tax increase proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown is not approved this year, officials say they will be forced to consider draconian cuts like eliminating entire schools or programs.  For generations, the University of California system — home to such globally renowned institutions as Berkeley and U.C.L.A. — has been widely recognized as perhaps the best example of what public universities could be. Along with the California State University system and the state’s vast number of community colleges, higher education options here have long been the envy of other states.

But after years, and even decades, of budget cutbacks from the state, that reputation is under increasing threat. University leaders, who had responded typically to earlier budget cuts with assurances that their institutions were still in top form, now are sounding the alarm. In trying to rally support, they openly worry that their schools do not offer the same quality of education as a decade ago.  Nathan Brostrom, executive vice president of business operations for the University of California, said the system was now in the middle of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression…

Full article at http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/02/us/california-cuts-threaten-the-status-of-universities.html

Nonetheless, do try to have a positive outlook!

Anyway, our legislature is clearly focused on priorities:

A new state program would be created to reduce the number of illegally dumped mattresses under legislation narrowly approved by the state Senate May 31. The bill – SB 1118 by Sen. Loni Hancock, a Berkeley Democrat — would require mattress makers to collect used mattresses with their brand name and force mattress retailers to pick up old mattresses when a consumer buys a new one...

Full story at http://www.californiascapitol.com/blog/2012/06/california-may-crack-down-on-abandoned-mattresses/

Just don't let them find out about: http://couches.wordpress.com/