Matt Weir / The Collegian

Hundreds of students from California State University, Fresno marched Wednesday to protest recent fee increases, class cuts and furloughs handed down from the CSU system.

The near six-hour protest was the culmination of weeks of campaigning by multiple organizations encouraging students to walk out of their classrooms. Students began exiting classrooms around 10 a.m.

Protesters marched for about an hour throughout campus and made their way to Shaw and Cedar avenues, holding picket signs and chanting.

The march around campus at various times exceeded 400 participants, according to university police estimates. The rally crowd in the Peace Garden reached approximately 400 protesters.

Among the many faculty and administrators in attendance were vice president of student affairs Dr. Paul Oliaro, assistant vice president for student affairs and dean of students Carolyn Coon Ph.D., and political science instructor Dr, Michael Becker. Fresno State president Dr. John D. Welty also made an appearance following a staged sit-in on the fourth floor of the Henry Madden Library.

Recent budget cuts to the CSU system resulted in a multi-million dollar funding gap. In response, universities cut class sections for the fall semester, faculty and staff accepted furlough days, fees were hiked 30 percent and spring enrollment was frozen for the first time in Fresno State history.

According to university officials and organizers of the event, a second demonstration is scheduled for Nov.3