SACRAMENTO — As the war on terror contiues in Iraq, a war on education is being fought by the students and faculty members of California community colleges.

Thousands of angry college students filled the streets of Sacramento Monday, chanting “No budget cuts!” And while the protesters had every right to be at the door of the state Capitol, their efforts will probably not make much of a difference.

Accompanied by bagpipes and drums, students and faculty members marched to the Capitol building. They were not asking for fewer cuts in education’s budget, but rather demanding no cuts at all.

Because next year students will be paying more money for less education, it is absolutely necessary that students get the attention of state legislators by picketing and shouting at their door. Protesters were practicing their right of freedom of assembly.

Protesters were also fighting for the pursuit of happiness and a future.

As one sign stated, “Education is a right, not a privilege.”

The protesters were right in their anger. Among the crowd were college and high school students who will not receive financial aid, EOPS students whose budgets were getting completely cut, full and part-time faculty members trying to save their jobs and many other students who will have to struggle to pay tuition, as prices increase from $11 to $24.

“Stop treating us like we are unimportant,” one of the speakers said over a loud speaker as students approached the steps of the Capitol. “We are finally showing our power.”

Though the dent made in the minds of many politicians may stay, students will continue to be treated like they are disposable, because the ultimate decision belongs to Gov. Gray Davis.

“As much as we would prefer not to make these cuts, the budget still has to balance at the end of the day,” said Davis spokeswoman Hilary McLean according to a story in the Los Angeles Times.

Other protests are planning in the Spring in hopes of changing the governor’s mind.

Though this march for affordable education was inspiring, and future ones may even be larger, they probably won’t be enough to make a difference. Students need to continue to send letters to legislators and get petitions signed demanding affordable education.

More importantly, they need to sign up to vote, because if millions of students cannot make a difference in the mind of a governor, maybe millions of voters can.