Fresno State's student government tried Wednesday to rally its campus constituents into a political force strong enough to fend off further student fee increases and academic trims.

Neil Gibson, Associated Students president, called the meeting, which attracted about 60 people, roughly 0.27% of enrollment, whom he hopes to galvanize.

Gibson, other student representatives and university administrators said at the town hall meeting that the state Legislature, not California State University, Fresno, is responsible for rising fees and larger class sections. If the one-hour session could be reduced to three words, they would be, "Write your legislator."

Students asked about the campus' new multimillion-dollar software system and its advisability during economic hardship. Paul Oliaro, vice president for student affairs and dean of students, said the software system is improving, and it now saves students time in their financial and academic affairs.

After the short session, Gibson said that this was "most definitely" a political exercise. The 45% increase in fees in the past two years at CSU campuses has braced "one of the poorest groups in California," he said. Legislators have students paying the higher fees to help the state out of its $38 billion deficit.

Students asked what share of the university's operating cost their fees represent. They were told 30%, leaving the state and taxpayers' subsidy of their education at 70%.

Gibson conceded that subsidy later, but asked, "What is the purpose of the university? Accessibility. You want students to make more money to improve the state's economy."

Fewer students are politically active today, he said, and "I want to flip that around."

Too few vote, Gibson said:

"I don't know the statistics at Fresno State, but they can't be good."

Coupled with that lack of students' political expression, interim provost Jeri Echeverria pointed to higher education as one of the few areas of major state spending vulnerable to legislative cuts.

During the student session, she answered questions about the university's efforts to be more efficient while fees rise. Every new faculty and administration hire must win cabinet-level approval, she said, citing one example.

Administrators invited students to examine the university budget, and said its adoption is an open process.

"Get involved," Echeverria implored them, mentioning contact with legislators. She told students the coming state election to recall Gov. Davis and to select someone to replace him if the recall succeeds will affect them, too.

University spokesman Mark Aydelotte told session participants that he seldom sees Fresno State students at CSU trustee meetings in Long Beach or in the halls and offices of the Legislature in Sacramento.

"What you say to a legislator equals 10 points," he said. "What I say is 1 point."

On the brighter side, administrators told students that financial aid has increased with their fees. There has been greater use of scholarship money and a greater effort at fund raising.

Administrators reminded students of university president John Welty's announcement in January of a major new fund-raising effort, which will seek to raise hundreds of millions of dollars for all facets of the university.

Aydelotte called it a comprehensive campaign, the first university attempt of such breadth.

"I don't know the total," he said, "but it will be a 7-year effort, moving us toward the university centennial in 2011."