2008 Woodie Awards
"March in March" Rocks Sacramento
More than 15,000 students from community colleges throughout the state bring anger over fee increases to Sacramento.
Krista Carlson
Issue date: 3/17/04 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
More than 15,000 California community college students marched to the steps of the capitol building in Sacramento to protest the new state budget's fee increases from $18 to $26.
"People don't realize that politics and legislation directly affect them," said Igor Kagan, political affairs commissioner for Valley College's Associated Student Union. "When people start realizing the effects, they'll get involved."
Representatives from 109 California community colleges attended the event, carrying signs and painted mannequins. All nine schools in the Los Angeles district were represented. Government representatives such as Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante also attended.
"Our students are pretty informed," said James Franco, president of the Associated Student Organization at Los Angeles City College. "We don't want education to become an elitist institution."
Every community college has at least one senator and one assemblyman within its district, making those representatives accountable to the students.
"We need to hold them accountable," said Valley's ASU president James Brevard. "We have a lot to lose."
"Your struggle is really California's struggle," said Bustamante. He said he would be meeting with Gov. Schwarzenegger to discuss alternative budget solutions Thursday.
 Media Credit: Jorge Gallegos KEEP MARCHING - A demonstrator from "Books Not Bombs" exhorts participants to continue on to the Capitol building Monday in Sacramento. Approximately 15,000 students from 109 community colleges throughout California took part in the "March in March." |
Representatives from 109 California community colleges attended the event, carrying signs and painted mannequins. All nine schools in the Los Angeles district were represented. Government representatives such as Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante also attended.
"Our students are pretty informed," said James Franco, president of the Associated Student Organization at Los Angeles City College. "We don't want education to become an elitist institution."
Every community college has at least one senator and one assemblyman within its district, making those representatives accountable to the students.
"We need to hold them accountable," said Valley's ASU president James Brevard. "We have a lot to lose."
"Your struggle is really California's struggle," said Bustamante. He said he would be meeting with Gov. Schwarzenegger to discuss alternative budget solutions Thursday.
