2008 Woodie Awards
Putting heat on Arnold
Protest: Students gather in Sacramento to speak out against tuition fee increases
By: Wendalyn Lazarte
Issue date: 3/18/04 Section: News
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Built up anger over increased tuition fees caused students from EC and other community colleges to gather together to protest in Sacramento Monday in what was known as "The March in March."
Tension was filling the already dense air and the heat from the sun was growing hotter by the minute.
It was said on the news early that morning that temperatures would reach up to 85 degrees in Sacramento, but with thousands of community college students preparing to march from Rally Field to the Capitol Building, the heat wasn't what students noticed.
"You say cut back, we say fight back," was shouted over and over by angry community college students while they marched to the Capitol Building.
The students were marching due to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget proposal and the impact it will have on the community college education system.
As of now, community college students pay tuition fees of $18 a unit, but sometime in the next two semesters, students could be paying $26 a unit.
The Californians for Community College, an organization whose efforts are to promote awareness of higher education, organized the protest rally for equity, accessibility and affordability.
During the protest, several assemblymen and women Gloria Romero, Mark Leno, Jackie Goldberg, Robert Pacheco, Paul Koretz showed up to show their support.
"You are a powerful force," Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante said, "in a pursuit of a cause, that is greater than even yourself."
Bustamante, who attended a community college, marched with the protesters to show his support.
"Generations in the past have shown the kind of sacrifice and the kind of grit that is necessary to be successful," Bustamante said.
Bustamante said that the protesters have a right to speak to their government, to have access to affordable education and the right to demand it.
Students are demanding more money be put in community colleges.
"You have the right to tell this administration that they cannot balance the budget on the backs of the students," Bustamante said.
Tension was filling the already dense air and the heat from the sun was growing hotter by the minute.
It was said on the news early that morning that temperatures would reach up to 85 degrees in Sacramento, but with thousands of community college students preparing to march from Rally Field to the Capitol Building, the heat wasn't what students noticed.
"You say cut back, we say fight back," was shouted over and over by angry community college students while they marched to the Capitol Building.
The students were marching due to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget proposal and the impact it will have on the community college education system.
As of now, community college students pay tuition fees of $18 a unit, but sometime in the next two semesters, students could be paying $26 a unit.
The Californians for Community College, an organization whose efforts are to promote awareness of higher education, organized the protest rally for equity, accessibility and affordability.
During the protest, several assemblymen and women Gloria Romero, Mark Leno, Jackie Goldberg, Robert Pacheco, Paul Koretz showed up to show their support.
"You are a powerful force," Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante said, "in a pursuit of a cause, that is greater than even yourself."
Bustamante, who attended a community college, marched with the protesters to show his support.
"Generations in the past have shown the kind of sacrifice and the kind of grit that is necessary to be successful," Bustamante said.
Bustamante said that the protesters have a right to speak to their government, to have access to affordable education and the right to demand it.
Students are demanding more money be put in community colleges.
"You have the right to tell this administration that they cannot balance the budget on the backs of the students," Bustamante said.