When the grassroots reaction to legislative overspending reached the boiling point, the people of the State of Washington opted to cap spending. Initiative 601, which became law, stated that spending increases should match state growth. As a student at North Seattle Community College, what concerns me is the use of 601 as the scapegoat to limit state spending even further, instead of allowing it to meet the challenges of our growing state.

Students in community colleges cannot take this hit. In a frightening and spiraling trend that started in the 1980s, state spending on higher education continues to erode. To get to the point, community colleges need every penny available. When legislators put an artificial and significantly lower limit on the spending that 601 allows, we aren't getting all of our pennies. It's the students who suffer. Our labs need maintenance, upgrading and equipment, community college structures need repairs, part-time teachers deserve pay equity, and the full-time teachers and staff deserve pay raises.

We are beginning to notice that 601 is taking on a new life - that of a scapegoat. The question is WHY? The economy is good, the state revenue projections are positive. Why are the legislators putting a cap on the 601 cap? Ask your state representative or senator to allocate the full spending limit allowed by 601.

- NAFISA NAPIER, student

North Seattle Community College