The Master Plan created the three-tiered system for public higher education. It formed the California Community Colleges system, a network of 110 campuses, where any individual over the age of 18 and a desire to learn could go to obtain an Associate’s degree, a certificate or prepare to transfer to a 4-year institution.

It formed the California State University system, a web of 23 campuses, where any individuals who met certain qualifications could pursue a Bachelor’s, Master’s and selected Doctoral degrees.  Many of California’s teachers, nurses and engineers got their start at a state university.

Lastly, it established the University of California, a research hub of 10 campuses, where any individuals who met certain qualifications could pursue degrees on par with those offered at the State University in addition to study law, dentistry and medicine. Moreover, it was the de facto research arm of the state, discovering and creating new knowledge.

Together, the three systems form the pipeline of California’s future entrepreneurs, teachers, public servants, doctors and leaders.  With the power of one belief, to the power of 3 systems, to the power of 143 campuses, to the power of millions of students, there lies a promise to the future of California and the world.

Since then, the Master Plan and the belief it was based on has been under assault.

This assault began in 1978, when a majority of voters fundamentally, and unknowingly, changed our society from majority democracy to minority tyranny. Proposition 13 amended the state constitution to require two-thirds of the legislature to approve budgets or raise taxes, instead of a democratic majority.

In 1978, an individual had to pay $0 to attend community college, $212 to attend a California State University and $720 to attend a University of California. Thirty years later, in 2009, an individual has to pay $600 to attend community college, $3,797 to attend a California State University and $8,020 to attend a University of California.

Five years after Proposition 13 passed, in 1983, the belief in a free public higher education died when students had to pay $100 to attend community college.

Our representative government is controlled by a minority tyranny because of Proposition 13 and has maintained a public policy of imposing fees on individuals who seek higher education and knowledge.

For all allowance, for all the financial aid, for all the scholarships, for all the jobs, that a student can get, receive, obtain and work, this very poisonous notion that it cost to access a higher education is detrimental at the least and damning at the most.

It is this very poisonous notion that leads individuals, families and communities to perceive that they cannot afford college; that they will not be able to pursue higher education; that education is not and isn’t supposed to be free and that the knowledge obtained through such education is limited only to those who can pay.

What bothers me most about this very poisonous notion is not the immediate cost it had on me and my family, but the affect it has to limit our communities’ ability to experience a world of new knowledge.

When people cannot obtain higher education, they cannot readily formulate new scientific theories, express new thoughts about culture and society, find new cures to cancers and diseases, envision new ways of harnessing the power of the sun, earth and water, implement new ways to perform life saving medical procedures, discover new life forms in the depths of our oceans and beyond the galaxies we can see, and produce a foundation of knowledge for the next generation to build upon.

Our generation understands this; that is why we are fighting, with tooth and nail and sweat and blood.

We must continue to do whatever it takes to wipe away this very poisonous notion and restore belief in a free public higher education. This must eventually be achieved by restoring majority democracy and enacting public policy that invests in higher education. It is only by doing so that the next generation will have the means to access a world of new knowledge left undiscovered by our generation, not by our own choice, but by the choice of those before us.

The people of the Central Valley worked long and hard to advance the argument over several decades on why the region needed a public research university.

Influenced the leadership of the Board of Regents throughout the years to usher the dream into a reality.

Persuaded state and federal public policy makers on the merits of investing in public higher education.

Hired a top-notch staff, led by Chancellor Carol Tomlinson-Keasey, to make certain the soil would be tilled, the floors plans would be drawn up and construction would begin and continue.

The very idea of shutting down a university is outrageous but my full fury is not directed at 23 misguided professors, rather its focused on the Governor and less-so on the Legislature because I believe the elected leader of our state is ultimately responsible for whatever happens.

The Governor has shaped the discussion by claiming the May 19, 2009 election results were the people saying “no more.” No more taxes, no more borrowing.

He successfully shaped the debate which has limited an entire range of options because people assume what he says as political reality then debate within whatever political reality is remaining.

The budget deadlock and fiscal crisis has undermined our ability to invest in what matters most. We are forced to look at options which are detrimental at best and disastrous at worst. This is the direct result of the Governor unable to view, discuss, debate and decide within the maximum range of options. Eliminating debate at such a critical time in California’s history is unacceptable.

But no matter. Our university in the Great Central Valley will withstand adversity and flourish here, now and forever in the cradle of California, the bread basket of the world. Unequivocally, UC Merced is Here, Now, and Forever!

It’s my second year participating in CHESS. Last year, I did a workshop with Olgalilia and Miguel. It was great!

This year, I teamed up with Olgalilia and Jose to help train students from Central California. w00t!

I enjoying teaching, training, whatever you want to call it. It’s fun to spark discussion, ask questions, give answers, and have a better understanding of things after the intellectual give and take of a classroom-like setting.

I was really fired up on Sunday after our lobby visit preparation, mock lobby visit and discussion. There is so much at stake and students and younger people are on the front lines in the Capitol arguing the need to invest in education.

Mayra was sitting in the back row observing. It was great to have her there; her presence in reassuring and inspiring. Her and I have talked about the future and what it will look like. There is much work to do.

Check out http://www.csustudents.org/about_cssa/chess/ for more info about the conference.

Also, check out http://www.studentsforcalifornia.org as well.