On last Wednesday afternoon, an estimated 400 student-activists marched on California State University, Fresno’s campus, protesting budget cuts, higher fees and class cuts. The “walkoutâ€Â was an impressive show of solidarity and as The Fresno Bee put it, “succeeded in publicizing complaints about rising costs and reduced benefits.â€Â

And I, like the majority of my peers, did not participate in it.

Not to be a “Debbie Downer,â€Â but 400 students out of the more than 20,000 that are enrolled at Fresno State is not a very inspiring number.

There are many reasons for this. Apathy is one. A lot of us students don̢۪t pay for our college education. Our parents bare the brunt of raised costs. Maybe we didn̢۪t get a class cut (none of mine were), and many of us receive a substantial amount of financial aid. Simply put, some of us weren̢۪t significantly affected by the recent pecuniary hardships for the California State University system.

Some students had to attend class and couldn̢۪t afford missing out on a day̢۪s education. We are trying to make the best of a bad situation, and missing a day of class is counter-productive. We need to get our money̢۪s worth.

(Quick anecdote: sitting in class, I could hear people sprinting frantically through our hallways disruptively drumming away, screaming, “Walk out for your education!â€Â Right, leave class for my education. I guess the student could not see the irony of his rallying cry.)

What will this protest accomplish? It’s hard to imagine any considerable effect. Sure, the administration may make some concessions. But the simple fact is that they must pay for all of the luxuries we enjoy here on campus. It’s not as if Dr. John Welty is President Obama and can run a $1 trillion deficit—he must pay the bills. And, harsh though it may be, they (the administration) did what they had to do.

Yes, this whole situation could have been handled much better. Perhaps cutting classes at the last minute was not the best way to foster a top-notch learning climate. Raising tuition costs twice in the same year may not have been the best way to lure excellent students to our campus. Instituting furlough days probably won̢۪t induce too many cheers from students and faculty. Mistakes were undoubtedly made.

It̢۪s time the university reviewed its enrollment process. Brutal though it may be, all are not college material. Those without the qualifications should not be allowed to fill up classrooms.

Those slacking off on campus should not be given chance after chance to redeem themselves. If it̢۪s proven that a student cannot handle the challenges that college represents, it may be time to cut the cord.

Though I am not normally a proponent of tax increases, Assembly Bill 656, the bill that would create a 9.9 percent oil severance tax to help fund higher education, seems like a decent proposition. Revenues must increase, and a smart way to achieve this is AB 656.

But none of these solutions will be procured by this “walkout.â€Â For all it does is focus on slogans calling education a “rightâ€Â and saying it should be “free.â€Â This doesn’t solve anything.

Our complaints may be publicized, but who̢۪s listening?