Keeping the state’s turbulent budget crisis in mind, Sacramento State’s President, Alexander Gonzalez, said that he will move forward with “cautious optimism” while trying to steady the school’s financial situation at his annual fall address today.

“The deep budget cuts of the past two years have been a nightmare,” said Gonzalez to an audience of approximately 500 staff, students, and faculty.

This crisis forced Sac State to make difficult decisions, such as imposing furloughs on professors last year and cutting enrollment by 3,000 students this year.

Gonzalez said advocates of the university system are still fighting for the initial $365 million California State University funding proposal in the state budget, “…and it appears to have wide support.”

“Nothing is easy about this,” Gonzalez said, “To you students: please bear with us and remain in good spirits about things to come.”

Addressing the possibility of future budget cuts, Gonzalez said Sac State is always prepared for the budget crisis because the administration plans a year ahead of time and anticipates these complications.

“The worst-case scenario is happening now, and we will still persevere,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said students are more impacted than anyone by the budget deficit because classes are continuing to be cut and fees are continuing to increase.

“The state legislation will eventually decide how much they want students to pay for higher education,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez also recognized Destination 2010 accomplishments and said Sacramento State’s transformation into a destination campus has provided significant public support and funding. Gonzalez thanked everyone behind the project.

Not everyone, however, was as enthusiastic about the project as President Gonzalez. Kevin Wehr, president of the Capitol chapter of CFA, said Destination 2010 has misplaced priorities, namely the construction of the purely recreational multi-use facility, The Wellness, Education, Leisure, Lifestyle center.

“We have a new fitness center, but where are the new classrooms? That’s what the administration needs to be spending money on,” Wehr said.

Another complaint Wehr has is that Gonzalez did not address the recent 5 percent fee increase that was passed in June.

“I have students falling asleep in my morning classes because these fee increases force students to pick up second jobs with late shifts,” Wehr said, “I think he’s really out of touch with student life.”

Wehr also said that the sacrifices made by the faculty throughout this crisis were not acknowledged.

Stephen Garcia, Sac State’s vice president for Administration for the past 10 years believes otherwise. Garcia, who has worked closely with Gonzalez, said he and Gonzalez have been a good team with the right priorities.

“He’s entirely student-focused, which is why I’ve always stood by him. He’s made a vision to improve student life on campus, and he’s met that vision very well,” Garcia said.

Despite their disagreements, Gonzalez and Wehr both said that if students are unhappy with the state of the university’s budget, they can and should inform the state legislature by holding political demonstrations at the Capitol and organizing student-led campaigns against cuts to public education.

Micah Stevenson can be reached at [email protected]