By Rigoberto Hernandez
The Orange County Register
(MCT)

FULLERTON, CALIF – A group of Cal State University Fullerton and Dominguez Hills students and faculty members conducted a sit-in Monday night at the Fullerton campus’ administration building to protest cuts to the university system’s budget.

The sit-in was started by 20 Fullerton students in Langsdorf Hall after a meeting with university President Milton Gordon, during which he was asked to sign the “Declaration to Defend Education” or write a joint statement.

After moving up from the second floor for a sit-in demonstration, a group of Cal State University Fullerton and Dominguez Hills students settle in on the eighth floor of Langsdorf Hall after they conducted a sit-in Monday night at the Fullerton campus’ administration building to protest cuts to the university system’s budget.

Instead, Gordon wrote his own statement supporting education.

He declined to sign the declaration because he did not accept some of the wording about faculty contracts, said student Chirag Bhakta, 23.

After Gordon wrote his statement, the students decided to stage a sit-in at his ninth-floor office, Bhakta said.

‘”We are going to wait for Gordon to come back to the table and work with us,” Bhakta said. “We are going to stay here as long as it takes.”
The students were asked to leave after office hours. They remained on the second floor.

As of 3 a.m. There were about 35 students on the second floor of the building. Some were studying while others are hanging out, Bhakta said.

The building doors are open and people have come and gone, he added.

A university police official said students could stay in the building as long they don’t cause a disruption or vandalize property.

Police officers check on the students every hour, Bhakta said.

Bhakta said they want to stage their demonstration without disrupting classes or office hours.

‘”We are not planning on breaking the rules,” Bhakta said. ‘”We are not going to stay away from peace and civility.”

Bhakta said the student groups inside the building, We! Alternative Voices for an Alternative Future and Students for Quality Education, went back to Gordon’s office again at 9 a.m. Tuesday.