The Sacramento State Coalition joined other California State University campuses and University of California campuses for the national Day of Action on Thursday.

The coalition held a rally with about 60 students to protest tuition fee increases and raise awareness of the inequalities in public education.

“We held the rally to bring awareness to students. Fee increases are detrimental. We have teachers being laid off, and the administration is getting bonuses-it isn’t right,” Mayra Villarreal, a senior sociology major and volunteer for the coalition, said.

Jenna Jackson, a junior religious studies major, came to the rally as a part of professor Michelle Durden’s sociology class.

“I have never been to a protest before. I loved the students’ enthusiasm and it is an important cause. There is a big problem with all of the tuition fee increases,” Jackson said.

Yeimi Lopez, a senior digital media major, said that the national Day of Action worked out well for California because it was the day when legislators were going to finalize the budget, and students would find out if they voted to put the $365 million back into the CSU system.

The coalition’s efforts to raise awareness will continue through its voter registration drive through Oct. 18 and campaign for Proposition 24, the oil severance tax, and Proposition 25, the end of the two-thirds vote for the state budget.

“We have to make our voice heard. Students can have a say in their education and future,” Hannah Hoffman, a senior theater major, said, “If we don’t step out and speak out, things will go in a direction that we can’t afford.”

Lauren Greenwood can be reached at [email protected].