“Education is the silver bullet. Education is everything … Schools should be palaces. Competition for the best teachers should be fierce. They should be getting six-figure salaries. Schools should be incredibly expensive for government and absolutely free of charge for its citizens, just like national defense. That is my position … “

– Aaron Sorkin

 Next year, 6,000 of our students will come to De Anza College and be unable to access higher education. Our vital campus programs and student services will lose funding. Teachers, part-time teachers especially, will be unemployed. Their passion and devotion to teaching will be utilized elsewhere.

 This is not just about us students and those teachers. This is about Education. Education is the ability to learn about the world and ourselves. Education is the equalizer this country offers every citizen. Or so we thought. Next year, 6,000 De Anza students will not have educational opportunity.

 In my political work, I have met three kinds of people. The apathetic. The pathetic. The empowered. The apathetic are indifferent. Perhaps, they think that the issues do not matter. The pathetic understand the issues at stake, and they voice their concerns. But they do not know what to do.

 The Empowered see and understand the issues at stake, and are Empowered to take action. They care about these issues and the people involved. They feel that what is happening threatens their values. They want to do something … to enact change.

 When people speak out they are heard. When people speak out and take action they are seen. We as a society have been hopeless and helpless in general. I am asking you to be hopeful.

 When education neglects any person, society is neglecting every person. We are the people of our country. We must not forsake the underprivileged, the disenfranchised, the ignored, or the undocumented. They are the people. We are the people.

 Will De Anza students defend education? Or will students passively witness our education crumble?

 Be an advocate of change for the issues that you care about. Value this education. Our education. We are its constituents. Take action.

 Be empowered for our people.

Nevin Sarina

DARE member

(DARE stands for De Anza Restoring Education, and they meet Mondays at 6 p.m and Fridays at 4 p.m. at Coffee Society)