Despite the state’s economic crisis, Sacramento State President Alexander Gonzalez expressed optimism for spring 2010 as he outlined the university’s financial situation at his annual spring address on Thursday.

Sac State has responded well to challenges and taken the necessary steps to ensure quality education, Gonzalez said. He also discussed proposals being made in efforts to remedy the damage that has been done.

Addressing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s budget proposal, Gonzalez pointed out it is too early to form solid plans, since the proposal is still in its early stages and has yet to be revised.

“Gov. Schwarzenegger’s budget proposal is just that, it’s a proposal,” Gonzalez said. “Likewise the constitutional amendment that he proposed to guarantee higher education a percentage of the state general fund has many hurdles to clear before it can be enacted.”

The proposal, if passed, would restore $305 million in one-time cuts and provide $60.6 million for enrollment growth. However, the proposal is only a possibility.

“The budget dance with the Legislature is just beginning and what is proposed in January, as you all know, may not be what is translated to us and passed later in the year,” Gonzalez said.

Joining Gonzalez to discuss plans for handling academic affairs and enrollment at Sac State were Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Joseph Sheley and Vice President of Student Affairs Lori Varlotta.

Sheley discussed the inevitable consequences of budget cuts and the steps necessary to ensure equal opportunities and quality to everyone at Sac State.

“It’s critical that we manage enrollment such that we do not exceed target this year, it’s part of fairness to everybody involved, fairness to everybody who works here, fairness to students,” Sheley said.

Sac State has responded to the state’s financial crisis in a responsible fashion, Sheley said.

“I don’t think anything we do at this university now is unimportant or frivolous. … We squeeze more out of a buck than any university with which I am familiar,” Sheley said. “But we none the less have to prioritize what we do within our list of important functions.”

One step Sheley said he plans to take in response to the changes at Sac State is a revision of the current General Education requirements. He said the goal is to create more options for students so quality education can be achieved in a timely manner.

Varlotta also expressed pride in Sac State’s handling of the budget crisis, and optimism for the university’s future.

“Here at Sacramento State enrollment management has been and continues to be exceptionally well managed,” Varlotta said. “If you look at our enrollment targets over the last several years we have done a great job coming within a 1 percent margin of error.”

Varlotta also pointed out that even during such tough times, Sac State continues to strive toward being a destination campus.”We’ve done everything right, at the very time that we’re being asked to cut everything back.,” Varlotta said.

While the three speakers all expressed great faith in the upcoming semester and future of Sac State, some audience members were not so convinced.

Members of the California Faculty Association and students from the Sac State Coalition, a Sacramento-based organization that advocates for quality and affordability of higher education, attended the address and made sure to express their concerns.

During the address, 10 students from the coalition stood facing the audience with black tape over their mouths, holding signs that read “the tape on our mouths symbolized the voiceless … Gonzalez has repeatedly failed to listen … We have no confidence of Pres. Gonzalez’ ability to support and advocate for the students of CSUS.”

Cecil Canton, professor of criminal justice and associate vice president of the statewide CFA, said it was “absolute madness” that the students were not acknowledged by any of the speakers during the address.

“There was not one indication that those students were there. They were treated like they were invisible,” Canton said.

Although the protesters may not have been directly mentioned by the speakers, Gonzalez, Sheley and Varlotta did emphasize that the university’s main goal is to take care of students and everyone at Sac State.

Leidhra Johnson can be reached at [email protected].