The Associated Student Government held a rally in the Free Speech Area today to protest and collect signatures for a petition advocating against Chancellor Deborah Blue’s proposal to eliminate a majority of summer school.

The rally emphasized the petitions, which the Associated Student Government has been circulating since last Thursday in hopes of raising awareness of the proposal, which would eliminate all summer school prior to June 30.

Prior to the rally, ASG representatives had received 2,000 signatures from students, ASG President Cindy Quiralte said. The total as of 2:45 p.m. was unavailable.

According to Student Trustee Christopher Coronado, the outrage over Blue’s proposal has prompted her to possibly change course and alter her original proposal. Coronado wouldn’t say what the alternate plan entailed, only that some of State Center Community College District’s reserve fund would be used to cover the cuts, if passed by the Board of Trustees.
“I don’t have five, six, seven years to spend on school,” student Fernesser Achuo said. “Time is not on my side, and it’s not on yours either.”

The student government’s talking points were very simple: The district has a budget reserve of roughly $40 million and eliminating summer school would provide more roadblocks to students hoping to transfer or graduate.

Quiralte hopes that students will attend the Board of Trustees meeting at the board chambers starting at 4:30 p.m.

“There’s power in our numbers,” Quiralte said. “I hope you guys will come tonight.”