Hundreds of City College students walked out of their classes on March 31, again. The students marched around campus and part of downtown protesting budget cuts to education, again.

Another semester, another walk-out – but have the students really gotten what they have wanted out of it? Has walking out, essentially ditching class, shown how badly these students want their higher education?

It seems like the students continue to go down the same path ending in the same place – back in class, right where they started. These walkouts happen more than enough; classes are ditched more than enough. So, are these students taking the right approach?

Why walk out of a class you would hate to see gone next school year? Maybe instead of leaving, students should do the opposite and stay in class. Refuse to leave what you may not be able to even attend tomorrow.

Stop interrupting everyone else’s education today and take advantage of what students still have, before even more is taken away from us tomorrow.

Students could show their passion towards their education by staying and learning instead of missing another day of class. Chain yourselves to the desks or prevent other students from walking out.

Also, students could organize a massive study session sit-in at the Learning Resource Center. Let’s say numerous students refuse to leave the LRC and continue their studies – instead of walking out and disrupting class for everyone else.

If students prove that their education is important by continuing to learn in an uninterrupted manner, it could be a stronger approach.

Students should also support all education events on campus. It came to our attention that the recent cover letter workshop sponsored by the Career Center had no student attendance. The school provides these events, but if no one takes advantage of them, why should we still deserve them?

Show state legislators, the people with power to allocate the funds to education, that your education comes first.

The majority of students get Cal Grants and other forms of government aid, right? These funds are paying for you to attend and stay in class, not skip. Do the right thing.

We understand that these budget cuts will highly affect us.
We suggest fighting for our right to an affordable and attainable education in a way that won’t risk being seen as careless.