By Veronica Widman / Staff Writer

By Veronica Widman / Staff Writer

One student’s empty desk is another’s student’s disappointment.

It is no secret that California is undergoing drastic fiscal changes and higher education is being hit where it hurts.

Administrators are exhausting all options in order to salvage what funds are left, but there is only so much that can be done at the administrative level.

It is time that the students step up and do what they can to keep higher education from completely going under.

According to the California Community College Chancellor’s Office, enrollment demand is so high that in 2011-12, it is estimated that as many as 670,000 students seeking a community college education will not be served.

Every student at Riverside City College should realize how fortunate they are to be receiving an education while so many prospective students are turned away.

It goes without saying that every seat each student occupies in each of their classes at RCC should be valued in the highest respect, and if a student does not realize the value of his seat, he should allow another student the opportunity to learn what he does not care to learn.

Community colleges are not able to offer as many courses and sections as is needed for the high demand of students and the entirety of the student body must, therefore, do what it can to make sure that every seat counts.

The easiest way students can achieve this is by dropping a class they do not want as soon as possible so that another student who will truly take something good away from that class can occupy their seat.

Indecisive students are disabling other students from getting an education and are wasting both the instructor’s time as well as their own.

Students who choose to stay in their classes should make sure they are dedicated to succeeding in the course; a grade of “F” is just as useless as a “W,” especially when another student, if given the chance, would have worked hard for a grade of “A.”

The failed or withdrawn grade also reflects negatively on the college and allows the government to feel justly about cutting the funding.

It is the students’ responsibility to show the government that they are making a mistake and that they deserve to receive a quality education.

However, low pass and transfer rates do not provide a convincing argument when arguing over the budget cuts.

Why should the government waste money on higher education if the students do not even attend or pass their classes?

Some students simply stop going to class without ever officially dropping it and some even get stuck with a “W” because they did not drop before the deadline.

That seat is now wasted and is doing nothing more in the class room than taking up space.

California students no longer have the luxury of abundant class selections so students should no longer have the luxury of taking up space for any other reason than the desire to learn and do well.

The price per credit unit is now at $36, but it is expected to rise to $46 per unit, effective summer 2012.

So now is the time for students to take advantage of education while it is still being provided at a fairly low cost.

Everybody needs to do their part to ensure the preservation of higher education.

The idea to hold off of a class another semester is a thought from the past.