‘Get out the Vote!’ rally educates student body

The “Get Out The Vote!” rally informed potential voters and students alike about issues related to education on the Nov. 6 ballot from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday in the Amphitheatre.

Several propositions and Measure A were some of the topics that were discussed during the event, notifying students of their purposes and the impact they will have on education.

People were able to visit informational booths at the rally, each containing information on the effects of various propositions. Political sciences major Aeriel Silva was one of the students passing out voter guides to visitors.

Silva said students should be more informed about the issues on the ballot because the election heavily involves their futures. If voters make the wrong choice, the future of California community colleges may be bleak, as the colleges will face more devastating cuts.

“Being aware is the first step. If Proposition 30 does not pass, colleges will hit rock bottom,” Silva said. “It will impact tuition fees. One unit used to be $26, now it has gone up to $46. My entering year in fall 2011, it was $36. That’s a dramatic increase in one year.”

Two of the biggest issues discussed were the possible passing of Proposition 30, the Schools and Local Public Safety Protection Act and Measure A, an $11 parcel tax that would be placed on residents of Contra Costa County that will help the Contra Costa Community College District.

Proposition 30 enacts a temporary sales tax and increases income taxes to fund education and public services, restoring $210 million for community colleges and would allow 180,000 students to maintain enrollment.

“The stakes are very high for this ballot because Proposition 30 affects us directly. The district is at its breaking point,” United Faculty President Jeffrey Michels said. “We have been cutting courses for years and turning students away. One-fourth of students entering (Contra Costa College) cannot get a math or English class. When they cannot get the classes they need, students are less likely to finish.”

Because there was a voter registration booth available at the event, students were given the opportunity to become registered voters.

Biochemistry major Kenneth Dunn said, “You feel more involved by putting in your vote. If the (propositions do not pass), a person does not have a say of what happened because they did not vote.”

“More classes will be cut and with less classes, people are more pressured to get into the classes you need instead of waiting to take them next semester.”