EOP budget crisis

Gov. Schwarzenegger has slammed California State Universitys across the state with this year's budget cuts. The increasing fees have had a dramatic effect on all students, but even more on minority students. Programs offered in helping less fortunate students to obtain college degrees, such as the Educational Opportunity Program, may suffer from reduced funds and university enrollment.

"First of all, although it is certain about the budget cuts, it is still uncertain about how much will be cut," said Fernando Beltran, interim director of EOP. "EOP and other programs have suffered limited funds for about 12 years."

The biggest immediate impact on EOP is the recent cut back on admissions.

"EOP applicants apply to the university and then through EOP, but admission through EOP takes longer because we review the student's background and their letters of recommendations," Beltran said. "Their admissions usually aren't reviewed until much later."

The biggest impact will be the student population from EOP. This year, the university has decided not to accept any more applications after Feb. 1, increasing a huge loss of applicants through EOP. EOP's student population consists of mostly women along with Latinos, South East Asians, African-Americans, and Caucasians students.

Although many students are enrolled in EOP, not all of them have attended a special program inside EOP called Summer Bridge, which helps students become familiar with the university's services and get a taste of college life for three weeks in the dorms during the summer before their fall enrollment. Chuyita Verdugo, an EOP academic adviser, Summer Bridge Program coordinator and a CSU, Stanislaus graduate, is an example of a successful story of Summer Bridge and EOP.

"EOP admitted me into CSU Stanislaus and guided me throughout my undergraduate coursework," Verdugo said. "Not only did it provide me with another resource but also a family that helped and supported my education while I was performing and while I was not. I wouldn't have become who I am now if it weren't for the people that make up EOP today who truly believe in the significance of the program."

Verdugo started as a student in 2000 and participated in the Summer Bridge Program. "I learned about team effort, support, and also different programs on campus, which I would have never found out about through a regular student orientation," she said.

Other EOP students and former Summer Bridge participants, Carlos Delgadillo and Alida Madrigal, share the same triumphs and experiences as Verdugo.

"EOP has given me a huge opportunity to meet people and to become more social," Delgadillo said. "The counselors have become more of a family to me and now as a senior I can truly say that if it wasn't for EOP I would have been lost and been like most students here on campus. I have great trust in my counselor and EOP has provided an environment to encourage me to continue my dream of becoming a high school mathematics teacher."

Delgadillo remembers the Summer Bridge Program. "It gave me an away-from-home experience and also a life that I will never regret."

Alida Madrigal did not have the problem that so many freshmen experience when scheduling her classes for the first time. "My adviser has helped me out so much in registering for my classes," Madrigal said. "He has given me advice on what classes to take and how many units I need until graduation. This program has definitely helped me out!"

EOP's budget has shrunk quite significantly from 20 to 30 percent over the years, which creates a tight squeeze for staff to support a growing student population.

"We're still holding out hope," Beltran said. "There are people out there who are writing letters to our government in hopes to solve the budget cuts. They are exercising their rights to petition the government not cut education. It doesn't have to happen if we won't let it happen.