Just five miles from Sacramento State, the world came to watchthe changing of California’s political climate Monday asArnold Schwarzenegger became the state’s 38th governor.

One thing that will not change anytime soon is the policy forhigher education as the new governor and his staff have no plan toreduce fees and tuition for California’s college students,nor does he plan to immediately do anything about studentgrowth.

Schwarzenegger’s inaugural address did not mention the feehikes or anything related to education, but expressed his gratitudefor voters and his promise to serve California.

“To other all across this state – Democrats, Republicans,independents – it makes no difference – I took this oath to serveyou,” he said.

An immediate repeal of the 300 percent increase in the car tax,the convening of the special session of the legislature regardingthe state’s fiscal situation and the workers’compensation system and the repeal of Senate Bill 60, which allowsillegal immigrants to have a driver’s license, were the onlyissues mentioned in Schwarzenegger’s address.

The actor-turned-politician ran on a campaign of improvingeducation in California with a strong emphasis on K-12 butmentioned nothing about the state’s public community collegesand universities.

“I’m hopeful that he will be as supportive withhigher education as he is with K-12,” said AssociatedStudents, Inc. President Peter Ucovich. “But I can’tread his mind so I don’t know what to expect.”

At the recall debate at Sac State on Sept. 24, Schwarzeneggersidestepped questions from reporters about fee increases.

“The governor can’t undo fee hikes becauseit’s legislation and made into law,” Senate minorityleader Jim Brulte said. “It’s not like the car tax,which was done by an order and can be undone by anorder.”

Brulte refused to comment if the governor would inducelegislation to undo the fee hikes.

“I don’t think he will roll back the fees,”said Clara Potus-Fellow, a spokeswoman for the California StateUniversity. “There are so many problems that he’sfacing; it would be very hard for him to reduce the feehikes.”

Schwarzenegger supporter Assemblyman Abel Maldonado, R &-San Luis Obispo, said Monday that the new governor and educationsecretary Richard Riordan will create a policy for higher educationthat will benefit everyone.

Secretary Riordan refused to answer questions regarding feeincreases or when the governor plans to unveil his unknownpolicy.

“I guarantee that the college students of California aregoing to see a governor that’s very committed to theircause,” Maldonado said.

The governor’s office refused to answer any questionsregarding higher education.

Besides fee hikes, another issue facing California’spublic universities is the legislature’s order for no studentgrowth next year. The order led colleges to enforce stricterenrollment requirements and turn students away which has universityofficials concerned.

“I think it really has to go back to the trustees anduniversity officials,” Secretary Riordan said. “Theyhave to figure out a way to get students out of college and nothave them take so many “puff’ courses. We want themtaking important stuff.”

The CSU has high hopes for the Schwarzenegger administration.Despite not having a higher education policy the Chancellor isoptimistic that the new governor will increase funding and create apolicy that will be satisfactory to the students and thegovernor’s office.

“Chancellor Reed is confident that he will be a goodgovernor and is looking forward to working with him,”Potus-Fellow said.

Reed was one of the 7,500 invited guests that attendedMonday’s ceremony at the Capitol. Another notable guest whoattended the swearing-in was Sac State President AlexanderGonzalez.

Gonzalez was not a guest of Gov. Schwarzenegger, but instead aguest of Chancellor Reed.

“I wasn’t planning on going and I didn’t findout that I was going until Friday night so I had to change my wholeschedule around,” Gonzalez said. “It was an historicevent and it was interesting to see.”

The historic event was the largest inauguration in Californiahistory and was covered by nearly 700 journalists from around theworld, despite being described by Schwarzenegger’s staff as a”low-key event.”

Guests included former governors Jerry Brown, George Deukmejianand Pete Wilson, along with departing Gov. Gray Davis.

Fifteen foreign dignitaries from 13 countries were also inattendance. They included diplomats from Mexico, Egypt andSchwarzenegger’s native Austria. Governors from five Mexicanstates also attended.

Vice President Cheney was invited but declined to attend. TheBush Administration was represented by Agriculture Secretary Ann M.Veneman and Ruben Barrales, Deputy Assistant to the President andDirector of Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.

Entertainment for the event included a mariachi band, twochoirs, Japanese drummers, the 59th Army National Guard Band andactress/singer Vanessa Williams, who performed the nationalanthem.

Actress Jamie Lee-Curtis, actors Rob Lowe and Tom Arnold andcomedian Dennis Miller were among the Hollywood elite to attend theswearing-in. Former Republican gubernatorial candidates Bill Simonand Darrell Issa were also in attendance.

More than 25 protesters representing women’s organizationCode Pink lined L Street just before the ceremony to rally againstthe new governor.

“We want a full investigation of the sexual harassmentallegations,” Code Pink’s Medea Benjamin said.

The new governor said he has high hopes for California, which hecalled “the golden dream by the sea.”