By snoadmin
RIVERSIDE – A lower-level quad at Riverside Community College was filled with music and about 30 student protesters Monday to speak out against the California 2008-09 education budget cut proposals.
Surrounded by administration buildings and shaded by trees, student government organizers and volunteers chose the Aguilar Patio at RCC for its high-wall enclosure to “make some noise,” according to Associated Students Vice President Anthony Muniz.
Organizers hoped the site would draw students from colleges across the Inland Empire, including San Bernardino Valley, Victorville Valley and Mt. San Jacinto colleges.
However, in total, the rally only drew an estimated 30 to 40 students throughout the day.
“Together, we represent the nearly three million students that attend the community college, the CSU and UC systems,” Muniz said to the crowd of protestors. “Each of us believes that education is vital to California’s economy and should be an affordable right to everyone.”
Muniz said that the cuts would deny admission to 50,000 combined qualified applicants to the California public education system. Muniz added that he’s hoping to transfer to UC Davis, and has a year left of school himself at RCC.
“I don’t want to be part of that 50,000,” Muniz said. “I hope my brother’s not part of that 50,000. I hope my sister’s not part of that 50,000 – I hope you’re not part of that 50,000.”
Muniz and protest organizers expected the event to draw about 50 students, with most students coming in between the college’s peak class hours. The rally began in the morning and continued until about 3 p.m. It featured musical performances by RCC student bands The Flying Brains and Decura, rally calls from Muniz and open-mic testimonials from students.
“Education is key, and the government is trying to take it away from us,” junior RCC fire science major Antonio Valverde said at the mic. “I say we have freedom of speech. Let’s use it.”
Juan Pablo, a band member of The Flying Brains and sophomore music major at RCC, explained how it’s affecting everybody.
“We’re here to support the cause and support education for everyone,” Pablo said.
Muniz and RCC Associated Students President Jessica Bigueur were keynote speakers for the event, and said they are planning to organize a campuswide survey on budget cuts and tuition increases next week. The next step, they say, is to regroup with Students for California’s Future and possibly arrange a follow-up protest.
The rally at RCC was part of a synchronized statewide rally by Students for California’s Future, with additional rally locations in San Diego, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Arcata.
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