Dozens of University of Hawai'i students rallied at the state Capitol yesterday against what they say are disproportionate budget cuts at the university level compared with other areas of government.

The event was organized by the Associated Students of the University of Hawai'i, the school's student senate, to bring attention to the plight of the students during the current economic crisis. About 50 students held signs that asked the public and elected officials not to forget the importance of a strong university system.

As part of statewide cuts, officials slashed about 14 percent from the UH system's budget. As a result, 150 nonunion lecturers were eliminated and about 500 classes were dropped this semester, said Mark Ing, ASUH president.

"That makes it a lot harder for students to get their degrees on time," said Ing, a psychology/political science major. "The classes that were available are overflowing with students sitting on the stairs in lecture halls."

Ing said Gov. Linda Lingle's proposal to use $50 million from the state's rainy-day fund to offset furlough days in the public school system is a good idea. But he said the university also should be considered for special funding.

"We just want our piece of the pie to be the same relative to what it was," Ing said. "We're still taking the full force of the cuts."

Ing said he had hoped for a larger turnout at yesterday's rally. But with final exams next week, he understood why so few showed up.

Elena Moser was one of the students who took time off from her studies to join the rally. The junior zoology major said she knows of many students who have been affected by the budget cuts.

"There are a lot less classes to choose from and there are a lot more people in those classes," Moser said. "Registration is occurring right now and a lot of my friends aren't getting the classes they need to graduate."

With larger classes, Moser said students aren't getting as much individual attention as they once did.

"Some classes are getting bigger," she said. "I've noticed that you don't get as much out of it because I like smaller classes. It seems they're more personal. It's more directed toward you personally."

Ing said the student senate has met with members of the state Senate and House, who seem to support their cause. But he said they've also told the students that they don't know where the money will come from to increase the university's budget.

Ing said ASUH has requested a meeting with the governor, but has yet to receive a response.