Vee comment-26236 2010-05-04T21:04:05Z 2010-05-04T21:04:05Z I'm O Neg. and so I felt it was sinful to pass up the blood drive at my school and not give :) Vee 2010-05-04T21:04:05Z Kimberly Keyes comment-15776 2009-10-18T07:18:53Z 2009-10-18T07:18:53Z I don't think tuition increase is exactly the issue. I think the issue is that tuition was increased and the administration does not appear to be handling the money correctly. Faculty are being laid off and classes are overcrowded. I do not mind investing in my education, but the money needs to be used appropriately. There are students that may not be involved in their eduction and may not being paying for it, but for those of us who are, the last minute increase was very difficult. Sal: I am not sure why you think Sac State is a "pay what you get for" school because there are some great professors. Dr. Zuckerman, Dr. Lasher, Dr. Stoner, Professor Maviglio, and Professor Howard are just a few of the great instructors from the Coms department at Sac State. Also, the Communications Master's program is actually very well known and respected in the academic world. Kimberly Keyes 2009-10-18T07:18:53Z Jenn Walker comment-15710 2009-10-17T03:31:25Z 2009-10-17T03:31:25Z This is my second year as a student at Sac State. It does seem like there is a portion of the student body that does not engage a whole lot in their education, maybe they are not paying for it. There are overcrowded classrooms, and some of the facilities are quite old. However, out of the twenty or so professors I've had there so far, I personally have been disappointed with maybe two. All of the others have been really engaging and I've gotten quite a bit out of my classes. Although the tuition may be lower in California than in other states, there are a number of students who were not prepared for the increases, especially within a short frame of time, and are now struggling to find the extra money to pay. Jenn Walker 2009-10-17T03:31:25Z thsas comment-15696 2009-10-16T21:12:53Z 2009-10-16T21:12:53Z I believe you can still get good education benifits by joining the service. (That is the only way I could afford it, and it worked out great) thsas 2009-10-16T21:12:53Z Sal Lopez comment-15685 2009-10-16T16:02:43Z 2009-10-16T16:02:43Z Richard I agree with you. I'm fresh to California too and I am also shocked to hear people complaining about tuition increases. As a out of state student in CA I am paying less than If I would have been a resident student in my home state. However I must acknowledge that you pay what you get for. Sac Sate has some terribly out-dated facilities, crowded classes, and mediocre educators. Not to mention the student body that is filled with artificial-wannabe Hollywood- scum from Eldorado and Placer counties. Seriously I don't know how they get degrees... most of them are on academic probation and you have to fall under a 2.0 for that!! This school has some low standards. Sal Lopez 2009-10-16T16:02:43Z Richard Julian comment-15651 2009-10-15T22:09:38Z 2009-10-15T22:09:38Z Kimberly, the nepotism thing is a bit eye opening. $83K for fund raising?! Sign me up! I'm fresh to California and it shocks me when I hear people talk about tuition increases. It is easily half (or less) of most state schools in the northeast/mid-atlantic. To complain about tuition under $5,000 just seems so foreign. When I was going to a state school that is pretty comparable to CSUS, it was $9,000 a year for tuition alone and I believe it has increased since I've gone there. However, I must say: keep the fight going! If you don't show alarm, you'll be right up there with the east coast in terms of tuition. Richard Julian 2009-10-15T22:09:38Z Esther Hodapp comment-15646 2009-10-15T21:53:57Z 2009-10-15T21:53:57Z Kimberly - thank you for not being complacent. I think this is the first step in change - and hopefully this story can inspire others and be the start of something big. Esther Hodapp 2009-10-15T21:53:57Z Seth Sandronsky comment-15631 2009-10-15T16:23:34Z 2009-10-15T16:23:34Z The governor just vetoed SB 218, a bill introduced by State Senator Leland Yee, D-SF, after questions raised about the business practices of foundations on California State University campuses from Fresno to San Francisco, Sonoma to Sacramento. As Kimberly writes, students are paying more for less education at Sacramento State. For the current budget year, Sac State is sending $5.12 million to University Enterprises, Inc., $4.8 million of which is for its CalSTRS building on Folsom Blvd., in part to plug the gap of lease revenue from nonexistent tenants. CSU Chancellor Charles Reed’s office has added $1.5 million for the UEI building this year. The property, which UEI bought in July 2007 as the home bubble burst, has an annual mortgage payment of $3 million in 2009-10. That rises to $3.86 million per year through 2038-39. SB 218 would have increased the transparency of Sac State’s long-term financial liability to UIE by compelling it and other higher education foundations to conform to the protocol for information requests that state and local agencies must comply with under the California Public Records Act now. Seth Sandronsky 2009-10-15T16:23:34Z Kassandra Perlongo comment-15599 2009-10-15T06:31:17Z 2009-10-15T06:31:17Z I'm a Sac State student too Kimberly, and I completely relate to what you're saying. Students and professors are feeling the crunch. I have gone to office hours with professors and you can just see the strain in their faces. They want to help more, but no one has the time. It is unreal what we have to go through. I studied abroad for a year and honestly until anything changes I think that might be the best solution for students right now until this lunacy changes. It's almost cheaper to live abroad, and not worry about classes being cut! Kassandra Perlongo 2009-10-15T06:31:17Z The Parrhesiac comment-12411 2009-08-21T16:45:51Z 2009-08-21T16:45:51Z I'm going to bang my head against the wall...it will do me more good. THEY HAVE $10,000,000 CASH ON HAND! What is stoping them from buying some computers for the teens in THEIR OWN PROGRAM? Go back and ask THAT question. They are typical of residential facilities that warehouse foster children for huge sums of money. They do not spend the money on the kids, they spend it on cars, huge salaries, trips and conferences, and in their case, $300,000 on their phone bills. I could set them up with VOIP and cut their phone bill by $299,000 per year. That would leave them with almost 300K per year to spend on computers! The Parrhesiac 2009-08-21T16:45:51Z Kimberly Keyes comment-12361 2009-08-20T19:52:32Z 2009-08-20T19:52:32Z I appreciate your information and I understand you have strong opinions on the subject. I have worked with and volunteered for non-profits for over ten years, and I have my own opinions. They are focused less on the donators and more on the receivers-the teens to be clear. River Oak Center may or may not have funds available for computers. Regardless if they do, the teens did not have computers available to them before the DIY center opened. When I spoke to a counselor, who worked with the teens daily, she told me that their prior program had “nothing like this.” SO basically, if the donators had decided to donate to the Boys and Girls Club instead of the DIY center, the teens from River Oak would still be without computers and supplies. As far as River Oak versus Boy and Girls Club, both organizations have a purpose and both organizations are making a difference in at least one child or teen. AND It is important to remember that people that lack integrity can be found in corporations AND non-profits and people with integrity can also be found in both. As someone who is financially unable to donate money and youth centers, I personally do not feel comfortable criticizing those that are able and CHOOSE to do so. In fact the argument criticizing the wealthy is tiresome. To sum it up, I am sure that you are more informed on the politics of Sacramento than I and I am okay with that. In fact the discussion seems like something you are very familiar with and have probably debated in the past. I am more concerned with the benefits the teens received because of the center. Even if the center is or is not available to outside clients, there are ATLEAST forty teens who will enjoy it and I think that is significant. They probably do too. Kimberly Keyes 2009-08-20T19:52:32Z The Parrhesiac comment-12337 2009-08-20T16:07:28Z 2009-08-20T16:07:28Z "SMALLER CENTERS"???? "NEED MORE FINANCIAL HELP"???? "the teens that utilize River Oaks would still be without computers" ????? Kimberly you REALLY need to do your homework before you make such ill informed statements like these. Giving money to a very wealthy corporation instead of one that is struggling, and serves the general public and more local youth should not be irrelevant to anyone who cares about youth. River Oaks will utilize the donated equipment to support their program which is VERY LUCRATIVE for a few, and I can almost guarantee you that the general public will not utilize this "teen center". River Oaks is NOT just a non-profit, they are a mental health services corporation. I will just show you the facts. Last year’s numbers, source: Tax returns. They brought in over $18,000,000 dollars last year. They have $15,000,000 IN CASH on hand The CEO makes over $200,000 per year total package. They spent $500,000 on Travel in ONE YEAR Their phone bill is $300,000 per year, this is IMPOSSIIBLE, Jesus get a VOIP service! They own over $10,000,000 in property They spent $150,000 going to conferences. If I didnt know any better I would say they spend like AIG executives. Do you think River Oaks can afford some computers? Meanwhile the B&GC struggled to bring in $1,500,000 and LOSING $300,000 I know where the Wells Fargo/Maloof Sports money should have gone. The Parrhesiac 2009-08-20T16:07:28Z The Parrhesiac comment-12324 2009-08-20T06:03:23Z 2009-08-20T06:03:23Z All good questions Bill. Why didn’t they just donate to the Boys & Girls Clubs? The B&GC have a hundred years of experience working with youth. The Parrhesiac 2009-08-20T06:03:23Z Kimberly Keyes comment-12328 2009-08-20T02:28:21Z 2009-08-20T02:28:21Z The River Oak Center for Children was a non profit organization already established before the "Do It Yourself" teen center was donated. I questioned one of the counselors, Martha Pree about the activities that were available before the center was donated. Pree said that they had occasional outings and some sports, but "nothing like this." It would seem intuitive that smaller centers like the River Oak Center need more financial help than large organizations like the Boys and Girls club. If the computers donated to River Oak had been donated to another organization like the Boys and Girls Club, the teens that utilize River Oak Center would still be without computers. On a side note, there are at least two Wells Fargo employees on the Board of Directors for Sacramento's local Boys and Girls Club. Also, Wells Fargo has a history of making Forbes' List for 100 Most Charitable Companies. I am not going to further debate the motivation of the donators because it is irrelevant to the teens and children that are benefiting from the center. Kimberly Keyes 2009-08-20T02:28:21Z Kimberly Keyes comment-12327 2009-08-20T01:55:21Z 2009-08-20T01:55:21Z As the writer of this story I can answer a few of the questions. The center is located near Madison Avenue and more detailed information can be found through internet research. The River Oak Center for Children is a program that has residential clients as well as outside clients, so I choose to leave the exact location out of my article. The center has a residential capacity of forty beds and they are nearly full. The residential teens will be utilizing the program frequently. I do not have an exact number on outside clients that will be utilizing the program. The specific programs offered through the center are art, fashion, music, and sports. They also offer computer programs that focus on reading, literacy, and finance. The probation office is directly involved with River Oak Center providing counseling, one on one support, and rehabilitation for teens that have been involved in the criminal court. As a new journalist, I appreciate your questions. Kimberly Keyes 2009-08-20T01:55:21Z Bill Albertson comment-12314 2009-08-19T19:47:28Z 2009-08-19T19:47:28Z So, where is this center? How big is it? Is there an address, phone number? How many youth from what neighborhoods are they expected to serve in a year? What programs are offered specifically? What does the probation office have to do with it? Do they run it? Bill Albertson 2009-08-19T19:47:28Z Scott Holbrook comment-8108 2009-05-22T13:45:40Z 2009-05-22T13:45:40Z This was fun - thanx, I always loved slamson, regardless of what ever else happened during a Kings game, Slamson never let me down! Long live the King! Scott Holbrook 2009-05-22T13:45:40Z