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# SMC students protest at state capitol By Daily Press staff
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/smc-students-protest-at-state-capitol-by-daily-press-staff/
- Published: 2003-03-18T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T01:50:11.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Education, Santa Monica, #archive-import

Hundreds of protesters, including students from Santa Monica, marched at the Capitol in Sacramento Monday morning to show their displeasure with state lawmakers on pending cuts in higher education.

Statewide and locally, school districts and community colleges are reeling from current and pending cuts in state funding. Students, faculty and administrators from Santa Monica College took four buses on Sunday to Sacramento to join in a massive protest with their counterparts and community college supporters from across the state.

Participants marched for a mile to the Capitol where there were speakers, activities and visits with legislators. They returned to SMC, arriving at about 3 a.m. this morning.

In anticipation of Gov. Gray Davis’proposed budget cuts of $530 million for community colleges next year, the SMC Board of Trustees has reluctantly eliminated 10 academic programs. About 1,900 students are currently enrolled in these programs: Architecture Fashion design and merchandising Geographic information systems Interior design Office information systems Public safety Recreation Respiratory therapy Tourism/hospitality Transportation technology/auto tech Thirteen academic administration positions have also been cut. Davis’ budget for this year proposes to cut $288 million from community colleges, which translates to $5 million for SMC. To respond to the cuts in the current school year, SMC has cut 7.5 percent of course offerings for spring semester. That has resulted in the elimination of 250 classes, 16 part-time counselors being laid off, and nearly all temporary employees, including registration clerks. SMC also has imposed 10 percent cuts across the board in every program on campus. Meanwhile, in Sacramento, the Legislature has sent a bill (SB18X) to Davis that would reduce the proposed $288 million cut to $161 million.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 18, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/031803.pdf?ref=smdp.com)