Throughout the state college students participated in walkouts and rallied in protest of state-wide budget cuts and fee increases; but at Ventura, Oxnard and Moorpark colleges, it was just another day at school.
Students at all three campuses seemed unaware of the preplanned event as classrooms remained filled and students went along with their daily business.
According to Oxnard College Academic Senate President Robert Cabral, the lack of participation was due to deficient organizational support.
“There were no groups advertising or organizing the protest,” said Cabral. “Without the endorsement of any campus clubs or organizations, you can’t expect a protest to be successful.”
According to Communities of Color Media Coordinator of Northern California, and former Moorpark College student, Alejandro Lara-Briseño, California was joined by 17 other states to take a stance against the budget cuts and student fee increases.
“Schools around the nation and around the world have basically said we support this action, and we will be doing something of our own to support higher education,” said Lara-Briseño.
The catalyst behind this nationwide movement is due to the efforts of more than 800 students, faculty and staff members from over 100 different schools and organizations throughout the state.
On Oct. 24 of last year, UC Berkeley held a conference, the purpose of which was to search for ways for California to take action. After much discussion, and an eventual vote, they came to the consensus that on March 4 college campuses across the state would unite for the same cause.
Although students throughout the district were not displaying their frustration, they still hold opinions about the rising tuitions and budget cuts.
“The state isn’t keeping the best interest of the students in mind and it’s disastrous,” said Jonathon Simpson, a19-year-old psychology major from Moorpark College. “They need to understand that if they want to fix the economy, it starts with us, the future.”
Instructors had a similar reaction. According to Moorpark College History Professor Michael Simms, public education needs all the support it can get.
“The state is looking at all of this wrong,” said Simms. “Public education needs to be treated as an investment and not an expense.”
