When Ashley Andreoni found out that she was pregnant last spring, she had a difficult decision to make: finish school or drop out to get a full-time job. Andreoni, junior English major, decided to stay in school, but she is worried that budget cuts and fee increases will make it difficult for her to graduate.

“I don’t have the luxury of waiting a semester to take classes that I need to graduate,” she said.

Andreoni was one of several speakers that addressed Sacramento State students, administration, faculty and staff at a rally to protest Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget cuts to the California State University system and student fee increases at Sac State today.

The rally was organized by Associated Students Inc. to get students involved in the fight against the cuts, which include a 10 percent student fee increase for the CSU system.

More than 50 Sac State students and faculty members marched in a circle carrying picket signs protesting the budget cuts and fee increases. “What do we want? Free education! When do we want it? Now!” the protestors chanted.

Robert Torres, ASI secretary of state affairs, told the crowd, “It is time for students to stand up and tell the governor and legislature that education is a right.”

Sac State President Alexander Gonzalez said the CSU needs to stop the proposed cuts or there will be a fee increase. The state needs to roll back fees to make sure students get the affordable education they deserve.

“If the legislature doesn’t invest in you, they are turning their backs on California’s future,” Gonzalez told the crowd.

Miguel Cervantes, California State Student Association legislative affairs chair and ASI executive vice president, and Curtis Grima, CSU board of trustees student member and ASI vice president of academic affairs, encouraged students to attend the California State Student Association rally at the State Capitol to protest the proposed cuts and fee increases on Monday.

Sac State students, administration, faculty and staff need to continue to work together to advocate solutions to the state’s budget crisis to the legislature, Grima said.

“We deserve a budget that prioritizes higher education,” Grima said.

Andreoni believes that rather than raise student fees, the state should impose a 2 percent tax on the profits of the 104 Fortune 500 companies located in California, which include Chevron, Disney and Intel.

Andreoni said she is looking for a long term solution to California’s budget crisis.

“I want higher education to be available for my daughter 17 years from now,’ Andreoni said. “That won’t happen if we don’t fight.”

Todd Wilson can be reached at [email protected].