Over 150 students representing the CSU system’s 23 universities rallied together in the rain on the west steps of the Capitol Monday to protest increasing student fees.

The California State Student Association held a conference at the Holiday Inn in Sacramento over the weekend with different workshops on the budget, lobbying techniques and the importance of higher education, which culminated with a rally at the Capitol followed by a day of lobbying.

“Let’s make Gray Davis hear us today,” said CSSA Executive Committee Chair Artemio Pimentel. Pimentel is the Sac State representative to CSSA and organized the protest.

Associated Students, Inc. President Eric Guerra said the protest was not a one-time effort. He said there needs to be a commitment to lower fees because education is vital to California.

“We are paying more and getting less,” said Guerra. “There is a $142 million reduction in Davis’s component of the budget.”Services are being cut and students are paying more money for staff, he said. Overall, there is a total of $267 million being cut out of the CSU base budget.

Fees have already been raised 10 percent and Davis wants to increase fees by another 25 percent, Guerra said. This is approximately a 37 percent increase in one year, if it is approved.

“It’s setting a precedent,” Guerra said. “Students have been taken advantage of.”

Assembly members spoke at the protest and there was a unifying theme in everyone’s speech. They urged students to stay organized and not let the fight against increasing fees stop with this protest.

“This isn’t just a one-day rally,” said Assemblyman Darrell Steinberg. “Not just today, but year round let’s not balance the budget on the backs of students.”

State Assemblyman Richard Alarcon said that it was great to see a group of young activists and felt that the students were truly representative of the views of students in the CSU system.

“I wish that I could stand here and promise you the sky,” Alarcon said. “But unfortunately I won’t even be able to promise you the moon.”

Alarcon added that it was important to realize that while the battle against increasing fees would be hard, it was also important to see that students’ speaking out does make a difference.

“Everyone is in agreement about our message,” said Legislative Affairs Chair Bruce Wolfe from San Francisco State. “Education is a right, not a privilege.”

Wolfe said that the conference was successful and that the rally would make students’ voices be heard. College gives people security with their careers and it is necessary to have a degree to get a job, he said.

“Every time you raise fees, you prevent students from the quality of life they deserve,” Pimentel said. “You invest in education — you invest in the future of California.”

Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg said that students’ power is in their right to vote. She urged students to vote and encourage others to do the same.

“It’s going to be a tough, tough year,” said ASI Vice President of Finance Peter Ucovich.

Ucovich referred to the state budget deficit and said avoiding increased student fees would be a challenge.

Assemblyman Jerome Horton said it was important for students to stay organized.

“Continue to stand and continue to speak out,” Horton said. “Because if you don’t, then you’ll never be seen and you’ll never be heard.”

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