Community colleges in San Diego will be hauntingly quiet this summer. As a result of the governor’s budget passed in January and revised in May, the San Diego Community College District, consisting of City, Mesa and Miramar colleges, will not be offering summer courses. The state reduced funding to community colleges, downsizing an equivalent of 3,000 fulltime students. “In a discussion between. . . [administrators], faculty and students, we asked, ‘Where in the fiscal year are you going to take those [funds] out?’” said Rich Dittbenner, director of public information and government relations for the San Diego Community College District. “The consensus was the summer, which would have the least negative impact on student programs.” Because summer classes are canceled, Dittbenner said, fall and spring classes have a higher chance of being offered more frequently. Many students depend on summer classes to graduate early or maintain financial aid. Leo Oblima, a Navy veteran, is in such a circumstance. “In order for me to get my check, I have to be in school, so no school, no check,” said Oblima, who is studying philosophy at Mesa and City colleges. Another drawback, Oblima said, is paying more for gas. Now he must transfer to another school, further from where he lives. Dittbenner said the district has offered alternatives for some students, maintaining about 8 percent of summer classes for specific situations. For instance, the district met with about 500 summer graduates individually to help them finish their programs. Other specific situations include year-round programs and specialized contracts. Marlisha Slaughter is one of those fortunate students taking summer classes. She is enrolled in an information technology program funded by a grant from California’s Employment Development Department. Still, she feels the anxiety among the student body. “It’s not like the students are being passive about it,” said Slaughter. “They’re saying, ‘No, we’re not going to take this.’” In March, City College students marched to protest the cutbacks. Although the summer classes remain canceled, Slaughter and Oblima are participating in a letter-writing campaign to the California Senate to prevent further cutbacks in the fall. Dittbenner said this is what concerned students must do. “If people want to see a change, they need to communicate with their legislators, particularly Republicans, because [Republicans] have not endorsed the government budget, which attempts to stabilize funding [for community colleges],” Dittbenner said.