An estimated 5,000 students, professors and other employees packed UC Berkeley’s Sproul Plaza on Thursday to protest budget cuts and fee hikes they said are decimating the university system. The two-hour rally — believed to be the largest Berkeley demonstration since the 1960s — coincided with a faculty walkout that moved many classes off campus for the day… "What’s really important is this is just the beginning," said senior NhuNhu Nguyen, a student government senator. "We should use our mobilization to hit the roots of the problem, which is legislative." Chancellor Robert Birgeneau, who did not attend the rally, said he understood the anger, but said that Sacramento and California residents — not the university — are to blame. "I don’t blame the students and staff for being angry," he said. "They have to direct their anger somewhere."

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by Matt Krupnick and Doug Oakley, The San Jose Mercury News.

Posted: September 25th, 2009, by: admin. Categories: . Awaiting Comments.