Governor Delivers Remarks at SSCCC, CSSA, UCSA Rally at Sacramento City College

MS. MILBURN:

 As you guys heard Chancellor Scott say, it is just so vital to invest in education right now. The things that our three segments of higher education are doing for our students and for the future are absolutely vital to pull California out of this recession right now and the Governor has pledged to invest and protect all segments of higher education, so we're really honored to have him here today.

 Let me introduce to you Steve Dixon, who is the president of CSSA and a good friend of mine. Steve? (Applause)

 MR. DIXON:

 Thank you, Reid. Today is a really good day for California's students. It's been a tough 10 years, where we've seen cut after cut after cut to higher education. And it should be no surprise to anyone that, as a result, we are seeing a decline in our economy. […]

So today I want to thank the Governor for stepping up for higher education with the Presidential Award from CSAA. As the first president, this is the very first time we've ever awarded this, Governor, so you will be the first recipient of the Presidential Award from CSAA for standing up for higher education in its time of need. (Applause)

GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:

Thank you very much.

 MR. DIXON:

Thank you, Governor. And now, ladies and gentlemen, our honored guest of the day, the Honorable Governor of the state of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger. (Applause)

 GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:

Well, thank you very much for the nice introduction. And I want to thank Steve Dixon, the president of the Cal State Student Association and then Reid Milburn, president of the Student Senate for the California Community Colleges. (Applause) And then Victor Sanchez, president of the UC Student Association -- where is he? Oh, right here. (Applause) And also Chancellor Scott, who just left -- I’m sure he talked to you just before he left -- who is a great, great leader for community colleges. And then Kathryn Jeffery, the president of Sacramento City College, let's give her a big hand also. (Applause) And all the other dignitaries and also thank you to all of you students for the great work that all of you are doing.

Now, I happen to be a big fan of community colleges, I tell you. (Applause) I think the reason is because when I first came to this country in 1968 the first college I attended was a community college, it was Santa Monica Community College. (Applause) And this is where I learned English. I remember all the English classes that I've taken, English 23 and English 45 for foreign students, how to learn how to spell and write. And then I started taking community college courses in business and in math and geography and in all different areas.


Read the full transcript at http://www.gov.ca.gov/speech/15299/