Massive Rally for Higher Education held at State Capital

Students from California State University, Stanislaus joined many others for the "March in March" rally at the state capital this past Monday, in hopes of restoring badly needed funding by apply political pressure on state legislators to take action."It's up to us to rescue higher education," Reid Milburn, a student at Sacramento City College and current President of the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, said at the rally.

Although estimates could not be verified by press time, the head count numbered in the thousands and left many amazed by the show of force displayed at the capital building.

Associated Students, Incorporated President and event attendee Diana Heredia noted that the event had been planned for almost a year and called it "exciting" as it turned out droves of students from all walks of life.

"This looks like the 1960's," Jean Morris, a 67 years old student from San Francisco City College, said at the rally. Morris, who returned to school so that he can become better acquainted with 21st century technology, saw it as an "act of involvement of people who want to see a change."

The central point of the event was the north side steps of the capital building, where many prominent speakers came out and spoke in support of students.

"It is time to invest in our best resources: you," California State Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico said at the rally as students cheered him on. Torrico is sponsoring AB656, a bill that would tax oil companies 12.5% in our state for oil and natural gas extracted from the state, which would yield billions of dollars for higher education in the state while preventing those same companies from passing on the cost to taxpayers.

Torrico made special note of how Texas and Alaska, two very conservative states, already do tax oil companies in a similar manner.

The massive rally began early in the morning as students descended onto Raley Field--about 1 mile from the capital building--and began their shoulder to shoulder march across the Capital Mall bridge. This shut down two lanes of traffic as protesters called for reform by displaying various signs and symbols--including some dressed as Superman and another as a giant Grim Reaper--as they chanted now familiar slogans while moving to the beats of makeshift drums made from household buckets.

"I just felt it was important to let our legislators know how serious this issue has become," CSU Stanislaus student and Warrior Street Team member Rosa Zermemo said about the rally.

The CSU and community colleges have seen their budgets slashed by the hundreds of millions, resulting in active steps to reduce enrollment numbers while cutting essential teachers, classes and programs.

"They take from us now, what about the future," Joseph Lopez, San Jose City College student noted at the rally.

The tightly packed crowd covered the entire north side of the capital building, also wrapping around to the west side as students mingled, sat under trees, played music, danced and delivered speeches outside of the booming crowds gathered around the main speaker's events.

"I have no words for it," Joanna Davis, a student at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria said of all the festivities. Davis was persuaded to come by her father, who was part of the 1960's anti-war protest, as he believed she would gain new insight into the process of democracy. "I'm in awe," noted Davis.