Editor’s note: This is part two in a series entitled “Budget Breakdown.” Each article will profile a different part of campus, and how it is being affected by the California budget crisis.

City College’s P.E. department has been hit by the California budget crisis, resulting in the canceling of a number of P.E. sections.

California is pushing the college to cut some classes that revolve around P.E., even though 32% of City College students are enrolled in a P.E. class. So far, there have been 10 sections cut, and more could be cut before January, when the spring semester begins.

“It’s always something about Physical Education where we’re promoting health, preventing disease and doing all these things,” said Kathy O’Connor, Department Chair of P.E.

“But there’s always an issue between what we’re doing and what the final outcome is, because everybody is always looking at the financial status,” she said.

Many different sections were cut in order to accommodate the budget cuts. Classes like Outrigger Canoeing, Beginning Tennis, Pilates, and Beginning Modern Dance have all had sections cut.

“No matter what the reality is, there’s going to be budget cuts and we’re going to have to take a hit,” said O’Connor.

The way O’Connor sees it, the P.E. department could be in a much bigger hole than it is now.

“There are a lot of programs across the state that are suffering a lot more then we are,” she said.

Fortunately for the P.E. department, the sports equipment is up to date and fresh. It won’t be hard to maintain the equipment; it’s just the idea of classes getting cut.

O’Connor is concerned with the idea of losing some faculty and diversity in the program, which might make it hard to build the department back up to what it was before the budget cuts took place.

“In order to have a class pay for itself, it has to have about 30 students enrolled in it,” said O’Connor.

The college offers a wide range of physical education classes, ranging from Surfing and Kayaking to Weight Training and Pilates. In order for the college to keep some of these classes, there must be a balance between the core types of P.E. classes and the more diverse ones. “Instead of eliminating one whole discipline, we are spreading out the pain a little bit,” O’Connor said.

Around 2,500 City College students attend the Life Fitness Center frequently, meaning that the equipment could possibly need an improvement.

“The equipment is heavily used over there,” said O’Connor.

The center will most likely get new equipment if needed, because the college’s supply budget is doing well and the center is so often used.

O’Connor added that by Oct. 15, next year’s equipment budget must be completed.

Some classes introduced in the past few years have been cancelled, such as Sports Nutrition and Competition/Motivation. Other newer classes are sticking around, such as Hiking and Water Polo.

“The oxymoron to all of this is that even though there are budget cuts, we have Measure V money for upgrades,” said O’Connor.

Measure V was passed by Santa Barbara voters in June 2008, and it provided money for improvements around the campus.

“Thank God for Measure V or else we’d be in a lot of trouble,” she said.

The sports pavilion hasn’t been upgraded since 1971. With money from Measure V coming in, the building will undergo some renovations. Look forward to a fresh coat of paint and better bathrooms ahead.