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| SDSU denies enrollment of 1,740 students, Assemblymember Marty Block files bills to improve access to higher education |
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By Aurora S. Cudal Wearing their graduation gowns, two students affected by the changes in admission policies at San Diego State University (SDSU) aired their sentiments at a press conference held at the Bonita Library, recently. Donna Chanthalangsy and Christian de Leon, both of Asian decent, expressed the hope that what happened to them and the rest of the 1,740 students who were denied admission, will not happen again. Last year, SDSU implemented its admission changes without notifying the surrounding community that would have been affected. Hence, students who have planned their academic curriculum for the original admissions criteria, found just weeks before the application opened, that the eligibility requirements they worked for years to meet were no longer acceptable. Speaking separately before educators and community leaders, Donna and Christian expressed their gratitude to Assemblymember Marty Block for filing AB 2401 and AB 2402, two significant legislations that call for increased transparency when California State University (CSU) campuses make changes to their admissions policies that affect local student populations, and would also formally recognize and reinstate local admissions priority for CSU campuses to students in the region that meet the admission requirements. Arlie Ricasa, President of the Sweetwater Union High School District Board of Trustees, applauded the students for their strength to stand up for what is right. She said that SDSU was unfair to qualified local students who prepared and worked hard for four years and more to attend SDSU. “I support the students, not only as an educator and elected official, but as a mother. Many of the students would have been the first generation in their families to attend a university but SDSU’s sudden admissions policy change and flawed process altered their dreams,” said Ricasa. Assemblymember Block said, “These students played by the rules and fulfilled the requirement for admissions, yet they have been disenfranchised by their local public university. It is deplorable that SDSU’s administration changed its admission policy at the last minute without public input and no regard for the students. “To stand up for these students and to prevent this situation from recurring in the future I have proposed legislations that will provide greater transparency measures when admission policy changes are that affect local students, and ensure that qualified students who are place-bound are able to pursue higher education at their local CSU campus,” Assemblymember Block affirmed. Last week, the Senate Education Committee voted to overwhelmingly approve AB 2402, while AB 2401 was held in committee. Assemblymember Block issued the following statement: “Today represents a significant step to increasing transparency in the CSU admissions process, to ensure that critical changes affecting local students are made in the light of day and with input from the students, parents and community members who would be impacted. This legislation will go a long way to help prevent situations like what happened to the 1,740 students in San Diego, who were rejected because of a short-sighted change in admissions policy made at the 11th hour by San Diego State University’s administration behind closed doors. Our fight is not over and I look forward to working with the CSU Chancellor’s office and all stakeholders involved to rectify the situation, and prioritize local, qualified students to improve access to higher education in their local area.” |