“There’s not been an appointee with more qualifications to serve community colleges at the statewide level than Kay Albiani, and the fact that this litmus test is being applied to a board that unanimously voted for a position on legislation is just beyond belief,” Lay says. He points out that many other segments of higher education leadership support granting financial aid to undocumented students, including the University of California Regents, The California State University Board of Trustees and “virtually every higher education organization including our national association.”
For GOP senators opposed to illegal immigration, Lay says the Community College Board of Governors is an easier target than the UC Regents board, as its chairman is Richard Blum, who is married to U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
“They’re not going to go after Dianne Feinstein’s husband, who supported the Dream Act. Community colleges are not big campaign donors,” and since they are politically weaker, Lay says GOP senators have used their votes against Community College Board of Governors members to “make a statement.”
--David Pluviose
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