Once again, California’s education system is placed on the back burner.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2008-09 higher education budget has $4 billion allocated for the California State University system, which is about the same as this year’s allocation.

His proposal also includes another fee increase – 10 percent this time – for CSU students. This would raise fees for a full-time student to $1,900 per semester.

In the midst of continuous fat cat executive pay raises, the CSU decided to move application deadlines state-wide for freshman and transfer students as a cost-saving measure.

While SF State’s Jan. 15 deadline for applications was unaffected, the decision severely affected other CSUs. Our school did move the application deadline for transfer students from March 28 to March 3, however. The move may be effective in limiting enrollment, but it definitely gives prospective students the middle finger.

Common political wisdom holds that higher education contributes to a knowledgeable workforce and a stimulated economy, but the governor does not seem to see it that way. If the state wants to stay competitive, the governor needs to make sure that education stays affordable and accessible.

The CSU is short $312 million and needs to reevaluate this fiscal crisis. The solution should not involve the refusal to serve students by limiting access to higher education with last-minute deadline changes.

SF State President Robert Corrigan earns $289,749 a year. If he and all the other executives gave back a portion of their salary to show their commitment to higher education, the budget gap may be closed.

The CSU needs to remove the burden from the students and look the fat cats square in the eye. Something has to go, and students have power in numbers on their side.