Graduate students within the California State University system are being unfairly targeted as a result of budget cuts. Over the past year, students working toward advanced degrees have already experienced a 12% fee increase and the discontinuation of the federal subsidized loan program. Now our State University Grants (SUG), awarded on the basis of financial need, are under attack as well. Without SUGs, graduate students throughout California will lose the necessary support they need to complete their educations. These SUGs can play a determining role in attracting the most talented students to graduate research and professional degrees. These students go on to become California's nurses, teachers, engineers, and businesspeople. Financially accessible advanced degrees are vital to the health of California's economic future.

Stand up to tell Chancellor Reed and the Board of Trustees that advanced degrees are not luxury goods, and that the CSU system cannot and should not sacrifice graduate students.