These individuals are not only denied access to higher
education, they are left vulnerable to exploitation by venture and “philanthrocapitalists” chomping at the
bit to get a piece of the SB 520 online solution.
This circumstance is particularly offensive since the
affected have a right to free higher education, as ratified by the
United States in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights [here after, International
Covenant]. Article 13, sections 2 (c) and (e) read:
(c) Higher
education shall be made equally
accessible to all, on the basis of capacity, by every appropriate means, and in
particular by the progressive
introduction of free education; and (e) The development of a system of
schools at all levels shall be actively pursued, an adequate fellowship system shall be established, and the material conditions of teaching [academic] staff
shall be continuously improved.[Emphasis added]
Because California colleges have missions specifying open
admission, access to higher education is not restricted based on age, race,
sex, scholastic or physical ability; though it is restricted based on economic means and available institutional
resources - what the International Covenant calls the “basis of capacity."
The largest such open mission is held by City College of San Francisco
(CCSF), which this July stands to lose its institutional accreditation. This will significantly further reduce access
to higher education – not to mention its impact on the material conditions, fellowship
system and right to earn a living of academic staff.