Students at Mission College staged a "die-in" Monday to protest budget cuts to education which, they say, have put their dreams on life support.
Nearly 60 students posed as corpses and displayed tombstones that read statements like "RIP my future" and "RIP my education."
Protesters hoped to draw attention to state budget cuts Gov. Jerry Brown introduced last week that could slash community college funding by nearly $585 million, according to the San Francisco Examiner.
As a result, many institutions could be forced to increase class fees from $26 to as high as $60 per unit. Gov. Brown has already signed a bill that increases fees from $26 per unit to $36 starting in the fall.
Milena Garido, a sophomore majoring in math, said the hikes, when combined with transportation costs, books, and other fees, will make education unaffordable for many low income students. Some will have to delay graduation and others could be forced to drop out.
"I'm working two jobs to pay for my education and I don’t qualify for financial aid," Garido said. "Because of these cuts we can’t get the classes we need."
Zack Knorr, a Professor of Philosophy, said cuts will have even more impact on already crowded classrooms. The availability of basic required classes has already been reduced making it harder for students to graduate on time. The remainder are overcrowded-- ones that used to be capped at 45 students now have 90, he said.
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Monday's protest is one of several die-ins that have taken place across Los Angeles County in the past two weeks. Similar events have already been held at Los Angeles Valley College, Los Angeles City College, and Glendale Community College.
