HAYWARD -- One of the fiercest storms of the winter failed to rain out a rare rally at Cal State Hayward, where students moved indoors Wednesday to protest the state's proposed cuts to higher education.

Cal State Hayward administrators and students joined their counterparts from San Jose State and San Francisco State to protest the state's cuts to the CSU budget and student-support programs, along with imposing higher fees.

"Fees are going up and financial aid is going down," declared David Abella, a San Francisco State political science major. "They're trying to decrease the number of students in California state universities.

"We're here to say, 'Hell no, we're not going to take it.'"

The protest is one of many being organized by students throughout the 23-campus California State University system, which is being hit hard by the state's budget crisis.

The three Bay Area campuses have formed a coalition to fight Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposal to reduce financial aid, eliminate the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and impose a 10 percent fee increase for undergraduate students and a 40 percent fee increase for graduate students.

"We want to educate students on what's going on in the state," said Elizabeth Sandbothe, chair of Cal State Hayward's Associated Students.

"We're coming out in force and saying, 'Look at the people who will be affected by these cuts.' "

The rally is a prelude to more demonstrations. College students statewide plan to converge on the state Capitol on March 15 to protest budget cuts and fee hikes that many contend will make higher education an endeavor for the elite.

"We're in a very difficult time," Cal State Hayward President Norma Rees told dozens of students gathered inside Union Square. "The CSU budget has been cut three times in the last 3-1/2 years. This year, students will be turned away from CSU in large numbers because of the cuts.

"This is a terrible thing not only for students and their families but also the state, because the state is turning its back on the promise to higher education in California."

The rally was reminiscent of the movements of the '60s and '70s, a time when students mobilized to express their disapproval of the Vietnam War and when African-American collegians fought for civil rights.

During the hour-long rally, students signed letters of protest that will be sent to local government representatives, and they donned black T-shirts with "Endangered" emblazoned in bold red letters on the front.

As speakers addressed the crowd, students waved placards that read "Money for Schools, Not Jail" and "Freeze Mr. Freeze, Not Financial Aid" -- a reference to the character Schwarzenegger played in one of the Batman movies.

Students angrily decried the governor's plan to eliminate EOP, a program that historically has been a launching pad into colleges for an untold number of minorities and economically disadvantaged students.

Schwarzenegger has proposed a $52 million general fund reduction for the CSU system's outreach programs. The plan would eliminate the $37 million used by 22 of the 23 campuses in the CSU system to fund EOP.

"The fact the Educational Opportunity Program will be eliminated represents an attack on affirmative action programs that help students of color get a chance at a higher education," said Sherita Cobb, a Cal State Hayward junior majoring in English and ethnic studies. "If EOP is cut, thousands of students of color behind me will not only be shut out of institutions for higher education, they will miss out on a chance at achieving and living successfully."