Cal Poly Pomona Provost Wants to Ax Fine Arts

1. 
   
   
   In an article posted at Furlough Fridays on the meeting between the Provost and students and faculty protesting his proposal to eliminate the Fine Arts option at Cal Poly Pomona, the intrepid Furlough Friday reporter states:
   "Once again during the lunch-time forum, support for AB 656, a proposed oil extraction tax bill was mentioned by students as a possible solution, but [Martin] den Boer came out strongly against the bill saying funding from the bill would not lead to a net increase in Higher Education, but would just lead to 'a reallocation of funding.'” 
   This is the comment that I left on the article:
   "Provost denBoer’s assertion that passage of AB 656 would only result in the legislature’s reallocation of funds away from higher education echoes the talking points that originate from Chancellor Reed’s office. President Ortiz made the same ridiculous claim in his exchange with me last month during the Brown Bags with the President.
   "If AB 656 passed the state assembly then why would the same body that just passed the bill turn around and take money away from what they just gave money to? And if AB 656 passes and the governor tried to reallocate money away from higher education, then what kind of reaction do you think the governor would have to deal with from the assembly and from the public?
   "It is dishonest and disgraceful for Reed, Ortiz, denBoer and the rest of the high administrators to be opposing AB 656 and slashing programs such as Fine Arts, slashing faculty and cutting classes and students. Students organized by SQE were going to hold a 10-day hunger strike this week demanding restoration of the $305 million that was cut from the budget this year. When word leaked out about this strike before it started, the governor’s office quickly issued word that they would restore the $305 million. The point is, that political action makes a difference and is the only thing that will do any good."
   --
   I am reminded of the role played by the infamous BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) when considering the role played by our ostensible CSU administrative leaders. Like the BIA, they are supposed to see to the interests of their charges - in their case American Indians and in our case, the faculty, staff, students and the community that makes up and depends upon the CSU. Like the BIA, they consistently betray the interests of those they supposedly represent. Lying about why they continue to oppose the solution to the budget crisis is shameful behavior. They should resign or be forced from office.