Protests simmer in California
Some student protests on campuses in the University of California system are finally dwindling down following a large tuition increase by the California Board of Regents.
The 32 percent increase in tuition, made on Thursday, will occur in two phases. According to university spokesperson Leslie Sepuka, the first change in tuition, which takes effect in January, will raise undergraduate tuition from a base price of $7,126 to $8,373. The second increase will occur for the fall semester, and raises tuition to $10,302.
The sudden hike has students across the state up in arms and responding in a variety of ways.
At the University of California, Santa Cruz, approximately 70 individuals – mostly students – invaded Kerr Hall in response to the tuition hike early Thursday afternoon. Students camped out throughout the building, barricading the doors with items such as refrigerators.
They peacefully left the building early Sunday morning, following a demand from University of California Police that they vacate the premises or face arrest for unlawful assembly and trespass.
“There were no arrests,” said UCSC Chancellor George Blumenthal. “Students who participated in this incident face possible criminal and/or student judicial sanctions.”
Blumenthal stated that the administrative building, particularly the second floor, was damaged in such a way that it will not be open on Monday for UCSC staff members. The second floor may remain closed for days for damage assessment and cleanup.
A similar response occurred on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley. Angry students barricaded themselves within Wheeler Hall, a classroom building, for most of early Friday. The students invaded the building at dawn, taking over classes on the second floor and locking four exits.
“This is not a slumber party,” said Puck Lo, a graduate journalism student, to the Los Angeles Times. “This strike is really inconvenient. We are looking at finals and an increased workload. But this seems the honorable thing to do for future students.”
At roughly 5 p.m. on Friday, UC Berkeley police, in riot gear, entered the building and cited 40 protestors for trespassing. The protest resulted in a cancellation of classes on the campus.
“I understand that our students are justifiably angry over the fee increases and reductions in staff necessitated by the egregious disinvestment by Sacramento in the University of California,” said UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert J. Birgeneau. “They are not alone in this. Clearly, we cannot allow illegal occupations of our buildings and disruption of academic programs. Let us work together, not in opposition, to move forward in our cause.”
Protests at the University of California, Davis, resulted in more severe reaction by campus administration. Following protests throughout the Davis campus, students occupied the lobby of Mrak Hall – the main administrative building – and they wouldn’t leave.
By 5 p.m., students were told to leave or they would be arrested. A majority of the protestors left.
At 7:30 p.m., campus police began to clear out the lobby, giving protestors the opportunity to leave voluntarily once again. Two protestors left, while 52 students were arrested, jailed and given court dates. They were later released.
Protests were no different at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Late Thursday, students invaded Campbell Hall for a sit-in. They locked doors and only communicated to the public through e-mail.
“We choose to fight back, to resist, where we find ourselves, the place where we live and work, our university,” their statement said.
Leah Johnson, a UCLA undergraduate student, said that the hike would only hurt Californians.
“It’s going to prevent a lot of students from low-income families to be able to afford to come to this university,” Johnson said to the Los Angeles Times. “If there’s a public university, it’s supposed to represent the public.”
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