Christopher Kiefer joined the crowd – some 2,000 Arizona college students protesting proposed budget cuts to state universities.

He carried a sign that stated "no more cuts." It showed Lilliputian-size lawmakers sawing off cactus arms named after the state's three universities. The buildings housing the real lawmakers at the Capitol stood on either side of him.

He had a message for them. He did not use a cactus metaphor.

"Cutting the university funding so severely is like cutting down an old growth forest to make toothpicks," said Kiefer, a 28-year-old graduate student in landscape architecture.

The Jan. 28 rally drew students from all three state universities. Many came in on buses from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, University of Arizona in Tucson and Arizona State University campuses around the Valley.

Before the noon rally and a march, all three university presidents faced the media to press their case for more moderate budget cuts. They cited a worst-case-scenario reduction of $243 million. The universities could not take that kind of cut and remain a "research-grade university," said ASU President Michael Crow.

Crow said he understood universities need to "hunker down" to address a $1.6 billion state deficit for the current year. The universities have proposed cuts of $100 million.

But some of the Legislature's proposed cuts, he said, would be "taking 20 years of investments and eliminating all of them."

Crow said the Legislature is looking at only one option in balancing the budget – making cuts. But he added new taxes and using federal stimulus money should be considered.

"Why is it that stimulus is off the table, revenue sources are off the table?" Crow asked. "The only option is cut, cut, cut. You know you cannot cut your way out of this."

Board of Regent President Fred Boice announced the formation of an independent task force to come up workable options. It be would known as FACT, for fiscal alternative choices. It would be headed by Ted Ferris, former director of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.

As for the rally, students gathered at noon in the circle at Wesley Bolin Plaza. They listened to speeches by lawmakers – mostly Democrats – and rock music, including the Beatles "Revolution."

One Republican spoke. House Education Committee Chairman Rich Crandall said the House has moved toward considering $130 million in cuts to universities. He got a smattering of boos, as the figure is $30 million higher than that proposed by universities, but he fared better after saying: "Education has to be the last thing to give at this time. Otherwise, there is no future."

The future was a theme touched on by Jessica Young, a 20-year-old marketing junior from NAU. She was in the crowd.

"These budget cuts are going to hurt every student," she said. "Every student should come out and do what they can to protect their future."

Among the more severe cuts were those offered by Senate appropriations Chairman Russell Pearce, a Republican from Mesa. He could not be reached for comment.