VivirLatino

In the face of huge budget cutbacks that many argue are little more than an effort to privatize public foundations, the students and faculty in the University of California system protested in huge numbers yesterday.

Daniella, a petite second-year Latina undergraduate sitting quietly in the shade echoed what many making the rallying calls were articulating. “My whole life I wanted to come here. If they increase the fees I will have to drop out. We have to fight this.”

via the LA Times

Among those in the crowd was third-year psychology major Vico Melgoza of Santa Ana. He said he was skipping two classes today to be there. “This is more important. That’s my personal belief,” said Melgoza, 21, adding that he was worried about how fee increases will affect not only his future but also future generations of low-income students. The fee hikes and cutbacks, he said, “are beating the people who are already beaten.”

From Time

The demonstrations did not disrupt schoolwork. A spokesman for UC President Mark Yudof said most classes were held and that “most of the action was at the rallies.” But there will be more rallies. Protest organizers at Berkeley said that discussions are under way for a march on Sacramento that would include participants from the UCs, the 23-campus Cal State University system and the states’ junior colleges. “This is just the beginning,” says Miller. “It’s a wake up call to students about what is happening to their education.”

Vivir Latino will keep you updated to future happenings!