Sacramento State students found their voice at the Library Quad on March 11 when over 300 students attended a rally against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget cutbacks for the California State University system.

The two-hour event was sponsored by the Students for Access to Education and supported by Sac State President Alexander Gonzalez, who requested that professors “be flexible” in their scheduling that day to allow students to attend. At this point, some of Schwarzenegger’s proposed cuts specifically target outreach programs, and will also affect tuition.

Students, faculty and Gonzalez spoke not only of the short-term issues such as losing important programs, but also the long term set backs that will effect future generations.

“Be involved civically,” Gonzalez said. “It’s important to this university and the state of California.”

John Kincaid, a speaker and rally organizer, said that what sparked such an interest within the campus for the event was that it is rare for a governor to target outreach programs so specifically.

“I think it was the targeting of these groups that really upset a lot of people,” Kincaid said. “Part of the reason the CSU system and Sac State are so diverse is because of these outreach programs that go into the high schools and encourage minorities and (would be) first generation college students to go to the universities.”

The Educational Opportunity Program, a statewide program, is one of the targeted groups on campus. This program enables lower income families, minorities and first generation college students to attend universities.

The proposed budget calls for $11 million in cuts at Sac State, and a 5 percent decrease in student enrollment.

“Cutting these programs is an easy way to (balance the budget) but not the right way,” Kincaid said.

The budget cut is also said to increase tuition for a third time in the last 18 months, as well as lower the amount of financial aid students will receive.

Students were encouraged by a parade of speakers to speak up and vote against the governors new budget proposal.

Iza Moreno, a junior at Sac State and ethnic studies major, said the idea of increased tuition and the cut back of programs angered her and had an even bigger effect on her being an out of state student from Hawaii.

“I’m mad because it effects me, well all of us, but I’m out of state, and it upsets me because I know how hard it is to get into college,” Moreno said. “I’m an ethnic studies major because I care about my people and future generations.”

Moreno said the effects the cuts would have on graduate students are appalling.

“I’m planning to go to (graduate) school and an increase of 40 percent is ridiculous,” she said.

On one side of the platform, tables were set up and students were encouraged throughout the rally to write a letter to the governor, their congressman and their representatives to stop the cuts.

Kincaid said by the end of the day over 300 letters were written.

“I think it was extremely successful, if nothing else, it woke people up or at least let them know there was an issue to begin with,” Kincaid said.

One student, Greg Dossie, took the microphone and asked the audience to get out their cell phones. He then proceeded to yell out telephone numbers of politicians to the crowd.

When a student got one of these offices on the line the student was then invited up to the microphone and the audience roared their disapproval for the proposed cutbacks.

“That translates to don’t cut our budget — let us keep our education and our programs,” Dossie said before hanging up the phone.

Students filtered in and out of the quad between classes, but many stayed for the entire event, some holding signs to illustrate their point to the governor.

“I Kant afford too go two skool,” read one sign.

Joleen Linasan, an undeclared freshman, said that although she did have a paper to turn in, her professor was attending the rally and gave the students the opportunity to attend, as well. Linasan said she didn’t show up until the very end because it was not something she really cared about.

“If I was paying it would probably matter more to me — if it was me instead of my parents paying,” Linasan said. “I should care, but I don’t.”