Winter Session at SF State has been canceled this year, presenting yet another setback for students searching for units and trying to graduate as soon as possible.

As of Nov. 9, the University has canceled Winter Session classes. According to the class schedule this is due to "reduced support from the California Legislature and the governor."

"I'm basically stuck in school because of the budget cuts," said senior Huy Le. The 22-year-old has been taking 15 units or more every semester since he started at the University in the fall of 2005. This semester, the business and marketing major could only get six units.

According to Huy, business classes aren't normally offered during Winter Session, although the time could have been used to work on his minor in printmaking.

Many California community colleges have cut out their Winter Sessions due to the budget crisis as well, including San Jose City College and Fullerton College.

Junior Dasha Matsuura had hoped to take classes over the break to meet requirements for the study abroad program in Italy. The 20-year-old art student has been planning for the adjustment since last year.

"It seems as though students are asked to pay so much for each unit during Winter Session but the program can't even run on its own," Matsuura said.

Without Winter Session, Matsuura won't be able to take Painting 1 and Drawing 1, both prerequisites for art classes at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence. The two cannot be taken simultaneously and the budget cuts make them difficult to get into.

"The budget cuts are kind of a sleazy way to get out of the crisis," said senior Ben Helms. The 22-year-old tried to crash a drawing class this semester.

"Now there's no winter session so a lot of things are piling up and it's all out of the students' grasp," said the Spanish and engineering major.

"The budget cuts have brought new challenges and new creativity," said David Wick, coordinator of study abroad programs. Wick encourages students to drop by his office to try to find ways around unit shortages.