Students push back

   I did not participate in the protests against the rise in tuition fees, but I fully support the students who did.

   There comes a time when enough really is enough and when that time comes, we have to stand up and make a stand against what we believe is wrong. Maybe to some we seem like spoiled brats, but to others, demonstrating is a part of our democracy.

   Most of us are kids who work to put ourselves through school, often relying on grants and scholarship dollars to pay our tuition. I am one of the lucky few with parents who pay my way and even they are feeling the budget crunch.

   Unfortunately, there are always the predictable bad apples who forget the meaning of the phrase "peaceful protest." They cross lines and try to turn the universe on its side because they think it's what they should be doing. How sad for us that misinformed youth have turned the budget protests into such a negative spectacle.

   Let's get one thing straight: these citizens are protesting budget cuts. They're pissed off because fees are going up while class offerings are going down.

   Protesting is a right. We have the right to protest and students are choosing to exercise that right. That's the beauty of America. You may not like it, but you need to get over it. Yes, they can work on getting initiatives on the ballot and speaking to lawmakers, but these walkouts and sit-ins show the world the passion we have flowing through our veins. Have you ever loved something so much that you would go to any lengths to prevent it from being taken away? Have you ever been so caught up in the heat of the moment that you have done something that seemed a little foolish later on? So have we.

   Yes, I know community college is so much more affordable than universities, and we're lucky to pay a relatively small amount, but why do you think we're here in the first place? We can barely afford this tuition. Fee hikes are forcing us to work longer hours and take fewer units.

   Yes, college is a privilege, we are working hard to protect that privilege and we want our voices heard now. What better way to get that attention than screaming at the top of our lungs to defend something we hold dear?

   And what about those tea party protests? They sucked up just as many tax dollars as student protests. While those demonstrators were running around with misspelled signs and Uncle Sam hats covered in glitter, police kept them safe. While mobbing city halls and civic centers, tax dollars were paid to make sure no one got hurt.

   Complain all you want, but people who protest will continue to do so. They're also going to lobby for changes to funding by making phone calls, handing out petitions and getting everyone else informed. Why? Because they are going to exhaust every option rather than twiddle their thumbs and wait for someone else to do the work for them.