Pre-Prison Diaries: November 11, 2009 

"Pre-Prison Diaries" is a series from the Community Rights Campaign in which organizers, students and parents share stories and observations about truancy tickets, police in schools, zero tolerance, and other "pre-prison" conditions and experiences. We welcome your comments below!

If you want to submit your own "pre-prison diary" entry, click here.

Written By: Jackie Hill

The Pre-Prisoning of Black and Brown students doesn't stop when your high school education has ended. The push out and tracking of young Black and Brown students also occurs at the university and college levels. Since students are determined to go to school, and their desire is directly impacted by the lack of financial support from the government, these young people are more than likely to resort to less positive alternatives to pay for college. The overwhelming need for money can ultimately push that young person to drop out of school and give up on the hope of education altogether. 

The recent state budget cuts in higher education and the refusal to reduce prison spending to restore our social services has made my experience as a young Black college student more challenging than needed.

I receive less access to my instructors and certain courses have been closed altogether because university employees have been forced to take unpaid days off to "balance the budget." Tuition fees have increased also because the state has decreased their funding to universities/colleges. 

As a result of the fee increases, for the school year 2009-2010, I pay $4,645. Initially my fees were $3,969, which was an increase of $676. The added fees do not help me in any way. I receive no help from my parent nor do I have a job. I don't come from a rich family that pays my college costs. I didn't win the lottery and I just didn't find money on the side of a street. I have been fortunate enough to receive financial aid and a scholarship but know many other students in my situation do not have the same resources. With being on a scholarship, I must work extra hard in school to keep that money coming so I can continue with my education-there is no room left for error. The stress is on when money is a huge divisor in the division equation.

California State University, Dominguez Hills is the most diverse university within the CSU system. Many of the Black and Brown students come from single parent families and are the first generation to enter college--their chances of not completing college are already high enough, without the additional stress of reduced funding and cut backs.  

Students across California State have held rallies and protests to stop the tuition increases but California State has yet to move. These cuts could prevent me from being the lawyer I want to be, my cousin from being an accountant and thousands of others just like us. It will take more than just college students--but rather whole communities to stop not only the cuts to education but to all of our vital social services that help keep our communities healthy and safe. 

We cannot expect our elected officials to do the right thing but we must continue to pressure them to make the right decision and follow through with those decisions.

Read more Pre-Prison Diaries :

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