Tombstones sit on the campus, marking the remains of knowledge.
The Funeral for Education, a protest of proposed state budget cuts, was held on Wednesday in the Free Speech area at Bakersfield College.
On each tombstone, there was the name of a program or circumstance that would be affected by reductions.
There were tombstones for EOP&S, growing economy, child care assistance, hope and prosperity, among others.
The organizer of the event, Bethany Johnson, ASBC public relations senator, gave the first speech.
“As we mourn our losses today we must not forget that if we stay silent, the loss we see here today will become a disease that will completely overtake America with violence and poverty. As a mother, American and community college student, I plead with you today to come and stand behind me. Help keep our educational doors open,” said Johnson.
Although only a few stopped to watch the event, Johnson was not upset about the turnout.
“I know how my school feels, because I am very in tune with the
students. I am always interviewing and speaking to the students about how they feel about things,” Johnson said. “This is for Davis. This is for Sacramento. This is for my community that isn’t aware of how it’s going to affect us. That’s who it’s for.”
One of the few students at the event, Hawkeye Bejarano, a forestry major, said budget cuts could be made in areas other than education.
One BC student passing by didn’t know what the event was at first.
“From a distance, I thought it was something for abortion. But a cemetery about budget cuts? I don’t think it is as extreme as life and death,” said Antonio Ruvalcaba, 19.
For some, it may be that extreme.
Twenty-nine faculty members districtwide received notices by March 15 that their jobs will be reduced or eliminated, according to Michele Bresso, BC director of marketing and public relations.
“We know that that job is going to change. Is that person going to go away? Not necessarily,” Bresso said. “If we don’t send that notice, then we can’t change their job even if we didn’t get any funds for them.”
This figure does not include all BC administrators, such as classified administrators, who also received notices.
It also does not include classified staff. The decision regarding classified employees is expected to be made at a May 8 meeting of the Board of Trustees.
According to Bresso, community colleges receive less funding from the state – $3,800 per student – than the UC system, which receives $17,200 per student; the CSU system, which receives $10,100 per student; and K-12, which receives $7,200 per student.