Instead of hitting the beach or the movies this past spring break, the Moorpark College Associated Students spent their time in Washington, D.C., lobbying for student rights.

The group joined other UCs, Cal States, and community colleges in a conference and a protest march to make their voice heard on national issues involving educational budget cuts. These cuts threaten the availability of grants and jeopardize prospective students’ chances of attending college.

Even though the group took excursions to the memorials of Lincoln, Roosevelt, Vietnam and Korean memorials and the Smithsonian museum, Public Relations Director Donna Valle said the most memorable experience was the protest, along with 400 other students.

“We all walked by the building of education and we had all the people that make the decisions for our schools watching us from their windows, reading our signs and listening to what we had to say,” Valle said.

“We are here, we have rights, and we demand them.”