More Students To Sit In On Protest At Cal State Fullerton

FULLERTON (CBS) — More students are headed for Cal State Fullerton to participate in a sit-in, protesting system-wide budget cuts.

Students from Cal State Sacramento are expected to join those from Fullerton, Northridge, Los Angeles and Pomona in Fullerton's Langsdorf Hall. The sit-in began Monday night with 20 Fullerton students after a meeting with university President Milton Gordon, who was asked to sign the "Declaration to Defend Education" or write a joint statement in solidarity with students and faculty against budget cuts.

Instead, Gordon wrote his own statement supporting education.

Students remained on the second floor of the building after the meeting because Gordon "was unwilling to work with them on a joint statement they all could support," a release from the students said.

Students from Cal State Dominguez Hills, who were part of the sit-in for two days, left Tuesday in order to attend classes.

Protestor Cameron Mahdad, a Fullerton business student, said maintaining civility was a top priority.

"No one has been arrested and we don't plan on being arrested," Mahdad said. "We don't plan on being arrested because this is a peaceful demonstration."

Another student organizer, Chirag Bhakta, who attends classes at Fullerton to get a teaching credential, said protesters were not expecting arrests because "we're following all the rules."

Bhakta said if police have complaints, they are ready to accommodate those.

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