Reported By: Rob Hughes (rhughes@kswt.com)

Calexico, CA July 22nd-The future of SDSU's Imperial Valley Campus in Calexico was on on the table Wednesday night.  Officials and dozens of concerned citizens participated in a forum that didn't leave any stones left unturned.

SDSU is in a tight spot; officials say they'll have 3,000 fewer students next year, and have 600 fewer staff positions versus a year ago. SDSU President Dr. Steven Weber was in attendance to shed some light on rumors versus the truth, but not everyone in the audience was buying it.

Many Imperial Valley residents feel San Diego State University is leaving it's Calexico campus in the dark and has not been giving it the resources it needs for years. Rudy Maldonado was one of several who gave university officials their two cents.

"What's taking place is here at the Calexico campus at SDSU in criminal, it's unfortunate," says Maldonado. "Imperial Valley has the highest unemployment rate in California, it also has some of the highest poverty rates in California."

Imperial County Public Administrator Norma Saikhon says Imperial County is one of several victims of a flawed state system.

"The rural counties that do not have the density or the high median income are not being served, this is not just Imperial County, but it's throughout the state," says Saikhon. "I think it's time that California look at the need versus median income."

Brawley businessman Jack Hart helped start an Imperial County Task Force that drafted a resolution with the Imperial County Board Of Supervisors; stating that the county wants to work with San Diego to improve the quality of the programs the Calexico campus offers.

"We want to work with the people from San Diego, they have done a terrific job in the past; they offer programs that are direly needed, and they've been here a long time," says Hart.

San Diego State University President Dr. Steven Weber says while many rumors have been going back and forth between the mountains separating the two campuses, he will do whatever it takes to see the Imperial Valley Campus succeed.

"There is not and has never been any plan or suggestion to withdraw this campus from the valley," says Weber. "We're committed to the valley and we've said that every time we've had the opportunity, and I appreciate the chance to say it again tonight."

San Diego State will have a better idea of what their budget will look like after the state budget is passed soon.  However, the university is already battling a 35 million dollar budget cut for the time being.