I am the proud son of farmworkers, a first-generation college graduate and a living example of what’s possible when California invests in public higher education. Today, I serve as director of organizing for San Diego County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, where I help shape policy to build a more just and equitable future for all San Diegans. That journey, from Breeze Hill Elementary in Vista to public service, was made possible because California once made a bold, unwavering commitment to accessible, affordable higher education.
I’m a California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) graduate, and my path is proof of the CSU system’s promise. It didn’t just open a door; it transformed my life. Today, I work to ensure that the same opportunity exists for the next generation.
As a member of the Vista Unified School Board, I serve a district where over 60% of students come from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, and nearly 30% are English learners. These are students who, like me, often grow up believing college is out of reach. I’ve focused my leadership on bridging that gap by strengthening partnerships between our district and California State University San Marcos, which now enrolls more than 50% first-generation college students. These connections help make college real and attainable, not just for a few, but for thousands of students across North County. That kind of impact isn’t theoretical. It’s personal. Because I was one of them.
But now, that foundation is at risk. The governor recently highlighted California’s status as the fourth-largest economy in the world, a milestone that did not happen by chance. It was built on the backbone of a diverse workforce, much of it nurtured by the CSU system. The proposed 8% cut to CSU funding for 2025-26, totaling $375 million, has now been revised to $143.8 million, or 3%, but any cuts to our public higher education systems still threaten to derail student success, limit access and weaken the institutions that have powered upward mobility for generations.
When I arrived at California State University San Marcos, I found more than a campus. I found mentorship, leadership opportunities, and a community that believed in my potential. From student government to serving on the CSU Board of Trustees, I discovered my voice and purpose. That experience helped shape the leader I am today. And my story is not the exception. California State University San Marcos ranks among the top universities in the nation for social mobility, showing just how far students can go when they’re given the chance.
In addition to the 3% in proposed cuts, the CSU’s ongoing multiyear compact funding ($252 million) remains deferred for two years until fiscal year 2026-27 to help address the state’s budget shortfall. Cuts of this magnitude would result in larger class sizes, reduced course offerings, delayed graduations and fewer student services. These changes would close doors for exactly the kinds of students California has pledged to uplift.
We cannot allow short-term budget decisions to jeopardize California’s long-term future. The CSU system is one of our state’s greatest engines of equity, innovation, and economic vitality. I’m proud to be a product of it, and I know our future depends on protecting it.
I still standing in front of my high school classmates in Vista, giving a graduation speech as the first in my family to go to college. My dad, who spent his life in the fields, watched with joy in his eyes. Years later, my parents saw me be sworn in as a school board member and walk the halls of government as a public servant. That journey started at CSU San Marcos. It was more than a degree — it was the beginning of a life I never thought was possible. And every student like me deserves that same chance.
Will you stand with me in urging our state leaders to reject these harmful cuts and reinvest in the CSU — for the future of our students, our communities, and our economy? Take action today by going to Stop the CSU Budget Cut — calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/government/Advocacy-and-State-Relations/Pages/Budget-Advocacy.aspx — and urging your state legislator to oppose budget cuts to the CSU.
Vargas is director of organizing for San Diego County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer and a member of the Vista school board. He lives in Vista.
