In this time of extreme budget crisis, the DASB has a chance toassume a leadership role, to make a meaningful sacrifice to helpout programs in need. The DASB can minimize cuts to programs likeSTARS, SLAMS, CalWORKS, the Diversity Leadership Training Project,Red Wheelbarrow, creative arts and athletics.

Instead, the DASB wants to spend $50,000 of the students’ moneyon themselves.

This money goes to what is optimistically called the DASB andICC Leadership Scholarship, cash given to DASB and ICC officers fororganizing events for the students. One DASB senator earnedscholarship money for organizing a Thanksgiving dinner for thestudents. This dinner cost the students $6,000.

The money for the student budget comes from students who attendDe Anza when they pay for their DASB Card and other variousfees.

But now, the DASB faces a budget situation where they can’tlavish themselves with the students’ money. We know the DASB wantsto help students. To that end, they should give that $50,000 toprograms in need. This is a wonderful opportunity for them to takepositive action, to do something more than mouth emptyrhetoric.

Should the DASB decide not to help themselves to the students’money, they could do away with half of the cuts they have plannedfor some of the most essential student programs. If they gave themoney back to the College Life, College Services, Creative Arts andAthletics programs, those four programs combined would only have tosuffer about a 10 percent cut from the funding they received lastyear.

These are not small, insignificant programs, either. Theycombined to be more than half of the 2002-03 budget.

This $50,000 could be a tremendous help to programs that providecrucial support to groups of students at risk of falling short ofeducational goals. These programs aid minority students, studentswho are single parents and students who are returning toschool.

The money could also help out the arts and athletics programs.Hundreds of students participate in these programs, allowing themto take part in something that is important to their collegeexperience.

Left unchecked, these cuts would go to the very heart of whatmakes De Anza College such a great place for students: its vibrantcampus life, and its quest to provide social uplift to those inneed.

Those on the DASB who believe they serve the students wouldprobably agree that the students need the money a lot more thanthey do. But it should not be taken as an article of faith that amajority of the body feels that way. It is up to all of us, notjust those who would be affected by these cuts, to make our voicesheard. We must tell the DASB that this kind of action in the faceof such a crisis is wrong.

The DASB’s next meeting is Wednesday, February 26 at 3:30 p.m.in the Student Council Chambers, located in the bottom floor of theHinson Campus Center.

Now is the time to make a stand. What’s it going to be,DASB?