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# Santa Monica College Students and Faculty Protest Governor Schwarzenegger's Commencement Visit
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/protesters-march-to-the-beat-of-another-drum-santa-monica-police-officers-parted-rush-hour-traffic-on-20th-street-and-pico-boulevard-so-15-people-carr/
- Published: 2005-06-15T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T07:15:31.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Education, Pico, #archive-import

They were followed by at least 1,000 students, teachers and community members carrying hundreds of signs, all gathering at SMC’s northeast parking lot. They arrived to the rallying point to the sound of several supportive car horns and giant speakers blasting old school hits such as “I Love LA” and “Respect.”

A retinue of SMC faculty, organizers and unions officials spoke to the tune of how Gov. Schwarzenegger, although willing to give a commencement address, was not willing to put money where his mouth is.

“Governor, skip the rhetoric and stop trying to balance the budget with those who can least afford it, the students,” said SMC faculty member Kenneth Mason. “These are not the people who possess the wealth of this great state.

> “Governor, skip the rhetoric and stop trying to balance the budget with those who can least afford it, the students. These are not the people who possess the wealth of this great state.” — KENNETH MASON SMC faculty member

“What kind of math class did you take?”

Mason said Gov. Schwarzenegger would be doing much more for the future of California if he supported public education, which would provide skilled jobs for people who could pay taxes and help support the state and economy.

As the graduation ceremony began at 6 p.m., hundreds of the protesters headed for Corsair Field.

Walking along Pico Boulevard, they met a group of 30 supporters of Gov. Schwarzenegger — many of whom were older politically-active Republicans wearing red, white and blue. A medley of political discussions flared up but no serious altercations occurred.

Dick McDonald said he came out to support Gov. Schwarzenegger because he is doing what he said he would when he took office.

“He’s getting back to fiscal discipline,” McDonald said. “He’s gotten rid of Davis, who was spending money like a drunken sailor.”

McDonald said the educational budget woes have to do with statewide overpaid administrators and educators.

“We can cut the education budget immensely if we get rid of the stupid administrators,” McDonald said.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 15, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/061505.pdf?ref=smdp.com)