A small group of students are occupying a segment of the South Oval to protest nationwide tuition increases and statewide higher education funding cuts.

The group also hung a sign at the highest point of Gaylord Hall that stated "Occupy Everything!," but it was later removed by OU authorities as of 2:30 p.m.

The protesters can be seen handing out fliers and posting messages to a sign on a tree. The demonstration has been nonviolent, and the group of students is playing music and relaxing on the South Oval for the most part, while attempting to educate others about tuition funding cuts.

"We can be here well into the night if we feel like it," said Tate James, fine arts senior and co-founder of the protest.

The demonstration began at 9 a.m. Thursday morning.

The event is part of a national movement occurring in 32 states to show solidarity behind large funding cuts in the state of California that could increase tuition costs to students in that state by thousands of dollars.