”Take it personally,” said Sarah Shoenberger, a student intern for the California Faculty Association, as she addressed a packed Kate Buchanan room on campus. “This is a cut on top of a cut on top of a broken promise.”

A part of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed 10 percent cut to the budget statewide, the reduction in funding comes on top of $522 million in cuts systemwide between 2002 and 2005, and will mean the system will have to turn down the applications of 10,000 qualified students, according to an HSU statement handed out at the event.

Shoenberger told students to join the group in protesting in Sacramento on April 21. She was joined at the podium by university and local government representatives.

”We need to hear it from you,” said Connie Stewart, a representative for Assemblywoman Patty Berg. Stewart said her office has received only 33 letters against the budget cuts to higher education, compared to the 333 letters concerning the closure of state parks.

”Nobody looks at holistically, what happens in the state of California, it's 'don't cut my program,'” she said. Stewart encouraged students to talk about the issue with neighbors, friends and their parents, especially ones who live in republican areas.
”We need you to tell them that revenue is also the solution to this program,” Stewart said.

Jerry Saner, President of Chapter 301 of the California State University Employee Union tried to emulate the spirit of Woodstock by leading the crowd in a chant of “Don't cut the CSU.” Saner told the crowd that the governor has mentioned layoffs, which he called unacceptable.

”I can't see any 'acceptable loses,'” Saner said quoting the governor. “I can't accept any losses. One person gone is one person too many.”


On the Web: The Alliance for the CSU Web site is www.allianceforthecsu.org