2008 Woodie Awards
Community Colleges protest in Sacramento
Cruz Fernandez
Issue date: 4/2/03 Section: College News
On March 17 nearly 10,000 community college students, faculty and staff from across the state of California took to the streets of Sacramento to protest Governor Davis' proposed cuts and fee increases to community colleges. Approximately 150 Yuba College students, faculty and staff joined the cause in what Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante called, "the largest, most historic gathering on the steps of the Capitol."
Starting from Raley field, the protesters crossed Sacramento's historic Tower Bridge, marched one mile down Capitol Mall and converged on the steps of the Capitol to take their fight to Governor Gray Davis' front door.
Carrying signs with slogans such as "Dump Davis, Not Students," "Stop the war on community colleges" and " I need an EDUKASHUN," the massive line of students surged forward. The rally even brought protesters of a different species: dog owners brought their pets sporting t-shirts with slogans such as "Community Colleges first."
The air was charged with energy, with students chanting, singing and united in their quest to save their education.
Yuba College students arrived by car or bus. College transportation from the Marysville and Woodland campuses was funded by many student, faculty and staff organizations that donated money into a special account created by the Yuba College Foundation. The Black Student Union and Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan, a Mexican-American awareness student club, donated $100 each. The Residence Hall Club also donated $100. The Yuba College Faculty Association and Adjunct Faculty of Yuba College each donated $500, with the Yuba College Faculty Association offering to offset any additional needs. Snacks and water bottles were provided to Marysville students by the California School Employees Association as the buses were loading.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. community college students, faculty and members of state government spoke out against the proposed cuts to education. Early speakers spoke about the ramifications of major cuts to education, one student asking, "How can we be productive members of society if we are uneducated?"
Starting from Raley field, the protesters crossed Sacramento's historic Tower Bridge, marched one mile down Capitol Mall and converged on the steps of the Capitol to take their fight to Governor Gray Davis' front door.
Carrying signs with slogans such as "Dump Davis, Not Students," "Stop the war on community colleges" and " I need an EDUKASHUN," the massive line of students surged forward. The rally even brought protesters of a different species: dog owners brought their pets sporting t-shirts with slogans such as "Community Colleges first."
The air was charged with energy, with students chanting, singing and united in their quest to save their education.
Yuba College students arrived by car or bus. College transportation from the Marysville and Woodland campuses was funded by many student, faculty and staff organizations that donated money into a special account created by the Yuba College Foundation. The Black Student Union and Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan, a Mexican-American awareness student club, donated $100 each. The Residence Hall Club also donated $100. The Yuba College Faculty Association and Adjunct Faculty of Yuba College each donated $500, with the Yuba College Faculty Association offering to offset any additional needs. Snacks and water bottles were provided to Marysville students by the California School Employees Association as the buses were loading.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. community college students, faculty and members of state government spoke out against the proposed cuts to education. Early speakers spoke about the ramifications of major cuts to education, one student asking, "How can we be productive members of society if we are uneducated?"
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