Sac State Students Hunger Strike for Change

Three Sacramento State students have put their lives at-risk to have a bigger hand in shaping the future of the California State University system.

James Damiani, a hunger striker and sociology major, said, "The hunger strike is very symbolic of how education is important in helping people with certain resources they may need in the future to be economically successful."

Damiani along with fellow Sacramento State hunger strikers Yeimi Lopez, ethnic studies major, and Mildred Garcia Gomez, social work major, belong to Students for a Quality Education (SQE), an organization of students in the California State University (CSU) system who organize for educational rights in public higher education. They work closely with the California Faculty Association to stop budget cuts and student fee increases.

CSU Chancellor Charles Reed has agreed to meet with the hunger strikers today May, 4 at 1:00 p.m.

Student demands include a five-year moratorium on student fee increases, the elimination of all 23 campus president's housing and car allowances, reverse administrative and executive salaries to 1999 levels and expand the freedom of speech area to the entire campus.

To learn more about the hunger strikers and their demands, click on video below.