Students Prepare to Protest at State Capitol on Wednesday

More than 2,000 students are expected to protest at the Arizona State Capitol this Wednesday in opposition to cuts to university budgets proposed by legislative leaders.

More than 2,000 students from The University of Arizona, Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University are expected to protest at the Arizona State Capitol this Wednesday in opposition to cuts to university budgets proposed by legislative leaders.

The protest, which begins Wednesday, Jan. 28 at noon at Wesley Bolin Plaza in Phoenix, is being coordinated by the Arizona Students' Association in partnership with student organizations from all three state universities.

Tommy Bruce, president of the Associated Students of the UA, expects about 1,500 UA students to attend Wednesday's protest.

According to Bruce, the proposed cuts have galvanized students throughout the state because of their potential impact on their academic and professional careers.

"Students are hearing and know what this can mean for their education today and their education in the future, and it is not something they are willing to stand for," Bruce said.

Wednesday's protest comes off the heels of two major demonstrations on the UA campus.

On Jan. 20, approximately 1,000 students participated in a demonstration on the campus mall and on Jan. 22, the largest crowd ever to attend an Arizona Board of Regents meeting convened to listen to dozens of speakers voice opposition to the proposed cuts.

The Arizona Students' Association is working with student organizations statewide to arrange travel for students to the Capitol. At the UA alone, Bruce expects 25 buses to be used to take students to the demonstration.

More than 1,000 students have already registered to attend via the event's Facebook page.