Maureen Kirk

Chico mayor:

"Chico just would not be Chico without Chico State. We would be like Yuba City."

Paul J. Zingg

Chico State University president:

Locally, Chico State brings about $500 million annually to the Chico economy. Statewide, the retreat from the state "Master Plan" for higher education, replaces hope with despair.

Carmen Rodriguez Ramirez

a 1997 civil engineering graduate of Chico State:

A university education was a dream of her parents for all seven of their children. She was the oldest and the first to earn her degree, and by the end of the academic year all of her siblings will have degrees.

Rick Rees

Member of the CUSD board:

Budgets are slamming all levels of education and all groups must work together to make things better.

Scott McNall

Chico State provost and vice president for academic affairs:

Each person who graduates with a university degree adds $10,000 to the state's tax base and this year 10,000 qualified people were denied admissions to CSU schools.