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Today we need to pay attention. And not only because of the inauguration of the 55th U.S. president. All college students should take note because George W. Bush has made some big promises to us.

Last Sunday, for instance, when Bush addressed students at Florida Community College in Jacksonville, he explained that as a nation, “We have a duty to continue to make sure every child is educated in this country,” and promised he would “work with Congress to get some positive initiatives passed.” It sounds good, but will Bush deliver?

Judging from what we’ve seen so far, it’s highly doubtful. Currently, Bush says that during his second term he would like to increase the maximum Pell Grant award by $100 every year for a total of five years. This move would raise the maximum award to $4,550 by 2010. He also plans to allocate $33 billion for “enhanced Pell Grants.”

And Bush wants to reform the Workforce Investment Act, meant to offer job training and preparation systems in accordance with business standards, to include twice its current level of 200,000 people.

It sounds great, in theory. The president is clearly taking bolder steps than those of his first term in office – when college students were practically ignored and No Child Left Behind lagged steadily toward failure.

Still, these lame efforts aren’t enough. Besides, Bush’s supposed solutions are too risky, careless and, overall, far from what students deserve. First of all, college students have been promised something – and they haven’t gotten it.

In 2000, Bush said that he would add over $1,000 to general Pell Grant awards. I’m still waiting. Now we’re getting $500, at best, which is less than half what he originally promised. Worse, tuition costs have gone way up in the past couple years – and Pell Grants haven’t matched them. In fact, since Bush’s first inauguration in 2001, college tuition has gone up 35 percent. In 2003 alone, college tuition has increased in 49 out of 50 states.

Depressing to say, that’s not all. Our president also managed to weaken financial aid by decreasing general eligibility and maximum years available for the Pell Grant. The end result looks pretty bleak.

While at one point Pell Grants “covered almost all the cost of education,” Daniel Kaufman, a spokesman for the National Education Association told the Daily Bruin, they have not “kept pace” with the recent tuition explosions.

Secondly, there’s a major issue with money – namely that there isn’t any. Similar to the fiasco surrounding No Child Left Behind a few years ago, Bush’s WIA and Pell Grant programs seem overblown at the same time as they look under-funded. “My first instinct is to say ‘show me the money,’” said Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) in regard to Bush’s education agenda, as reported by The Seattle Times.

Similarly, I have some questions of my own. I’m wondering how Bush plans to boost job training under WIA without any additional funds. Moreover, how will an extra $500 for maximum Pell Grant awards adequately aid low-income students next year? But I suppose the biggest question remains: How can we know that these next four years will be better for students across America?

We don’t know. And that’s the problem.

While certainly not a reason to rejoice, this column also isn’t meant to anger or dishearten. There’s always the more optimistic perspective to bear in mind and perhaps, in such a case, we can make small (but important) changes.

Money is always a major issue. The president claims that he wants to “work with Congress to get some positive initiatives passed.” But how will these initiatives pan out in the long-term? And how will they be funded and supported? We don’t want another No Child Left Behind, so we must not lapse into apathy.

Students can (and should) voice their concerns about lack of funding and resources. Get involved in an advocacy group, on or off campus. And make sure your representatives know that we’re not receiving all we deserve.

Secondly, I urge you to support schoolwide efforts. True, we’re not receiving the aid we need, and that really needs to change. But realistically, it’s a lot easier said than done. That’s why the UCLA campus is a good jumping-off point. We must begin by building up our campus community and mobilizing ourselves for small improvements – whether that means lowering the cost of textbooks or supporting vital resources such as the Academic Advancement Program and Covel Commons Tutoring.

Ultimately, we have to wonder what to expect for the next four years. It’s difficult to guess. But, at our current rate, I’m worried – and, judging from the remarks of Congressman Miller, I know I’m not alone.

Therefore, I do hope my fellow students voice their individual and collective concerns. This isn’t just about today. And it’s not just about tomorrow. It’s about the many, many years ahead of us.

Fried is a second-year history student. E-mail her at ifried@media.ucla.edu. Send general comments to viewpoint@media.ucla.edu.