Cal Grant limbo

Cuts to Student Aid Commission could affect financial aid

Camille Anglo | Staff Writer
angloc@imail.losrios.edu

“Major sacrifices mean tough decisions,” City College President Kathryn Jeffrey said.

That is the thought running through students’ minds when hearing the possibility that the Student Aid Commission will have a reduced budget.

“To the college’s understanding, some cuts have been made, but many are proposed and not finalized,” Amanda Hamilton, the public information officer for City College, said about the possible cuts made to the Student Aid Commission.

The Student Aid Commission is the program that manages Cal Grants. Cutting its budget means putting students at risk of receiving less or none of the Cal Grants they qualify for. It is possible that many students who rely on this part of their financial aid might not be able to go to school.

“There is nothing we know at the moment,” said Louise Schroeder, the administrative services manager at the Student Aid Commission. “We currently cannot release any information until we are able to work through the details.”

Despite the uncertainty, students are not taking the possibility of a budget cut lightly.

“It’s ridiculous because there are other things you can cut,” said Katherine Fukui, a City College student commented. “People need their money to go to school.”

Although Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed that he would not cut the Cal Grants for students, he reduced the funds for the Student Aid Commission. Nothing is known about how low the Cal Grants might go.

“That’s not right,” Fatima Arsala, a student from American River College commented. “These cuts are messing with somebody’s education and their ability to go to school. That’s something that shouldn’t be going on right now.”