Student Fee Hike Fuels Mass UCLA Protest

(AP)  Updated 8:44 p.m. EST

Protesters at UCLA breifly prevented people from leaving a building where University of California regents approved a hefty student fee increase.

University spokesman Phil Hampton said chains of demonstrators had linked arms to block the exits on Thursday afternoon, with some regents spending up to two hours inside. The crowd dispersed Thursday evening.

Demonstrators were confronted by lines of baton-wielding campus police, California Highway Patrol officers and metal barriers.

Hampton said he couldn't confirm any injuries, but television footage showed at least one person being treated after being sprayed by an unknown substance.

Hundreds of students demonstrated as University of California leaders voted to approve a 32 percent hike in undergraduate fees, arguing the increase is crucial because of the state's budget crisis.

The UC Board of Regents, meeting at UCLA, approved a two-phase increase that will boost the average undergraduate fee $2,500 by next fall. That would bring the average annual cost to about $10,300 - a threefold increase in a decade.

After a series of deep cuts in state aid, and with state government facing a nearly $21 billion budget gap over the next year and a half, regents said there was no option to higher fees.

Outside the meeting hall, demonstrators chanted, beat drums and hoisted signs opposing the fee increase while UC campus police in face shields and California Highway Patrol officers with beanbag-shooting guns stood watch.

The protest, which briefly spilled onto busy streets off campus, was noisy but peaceful. One person was arrested. She was cited for obstructing and officer and released, University of California, Los Angeles, said spokesman Phil Hampton.

There were 14 arrests on Wednesday.

Other protesters on Thursday took over an ethnic studies classroom building at the other end of campus, chaining the doors shut and forcing cancellation of classes. However, they were peaceful and were allowed to remain, Hampton said.

Many students from other campuses flocked to UCLA to join the protests, staying overnight in a campus tent city.

Laura Zavala, 20, a third-year UCLA student, said she may have to get a second job to afford the increase.

"My family can't support me. I have to pay myself," she said. "It's not fair to students, when they are already pinched."

Ayanna Moody, a second-year prelaw student, said she might have to return to community college next year.

"I worked so hard to be at one of the most prestigious universities. To have to go back, it's very depressing," she said.

"I think it's outrageous," Moody said of the fee increase. "They've already cut out a lot of our majors and programs. I'd rather they cut some of their (administrator) salaries."

Demonstrations also were held at other UC campuses.

UC President Mark Yudof said Wednesday he couldn't rule out raising student fees again if the state is unable to meet his request for an additional $913 million next year for the 10-campus system.

"I can't make any ... promises," he said.

[Sloughfoot]

Somebody has to pay the outlandish salaries of the tenured professors and administrators as well as the bloated athletic programs. California, you all thumbed your noses at the other 49 States and made many a wanta be envious of your stature as they strived to mimic you. Your entire system is at meltdown, fix it and shutup.

[irreverent1-2009]

A large share of the courses offered through these institutions are not of much use. They should reduce the amount of credits needed to obtain a college "degree". Also some of these college sports programs should be rolling money back into the general curriculum. Without the students paying to see the games, buying the sportswear they wouldn't be so profitable. All learning institutions should do away with taxpayer funded sports programs. Other countries have sports clubs that you can join if you want to.

[unshrub]

It the tea party and other conservative groups get their way, this will happen to all public colleges througout the country. We can only cut taxes so far until our schools, roads, courts, etc start to fall down. This is happening all over the country already.

[ianlou]

picklepants7.
Does your idea about less taxes for schools puts more money in everyones pocket to pay for education means you support the idea of elliminating all taxes for public schools and placing the entire cost on the heads of the student's parents? I have no kids, thus I would make out big with your idea, and even I think you are short sighted.

[Mortarman-29]

You ever notice that the locality that spends more money per student has some of the worst outcomes in the country. Washington DC spends more money per student by far and their graduation rates, test scores, college bound student rates, etc are abysmal.

And all of these folks keep coming back saying "the problem is we need more money."

More money isnt the problem. We are spending too much money on social-welfare programs. And it is beginning to cause cracks in our governments, our businesses and individuals.

The Founders didnt even want us to have public education...to have the government control the content of what we learn. They knew better than we do...and we are beginning to pay the price for our collective, willful ignorance.

We will either wake up soon, or wake up after it is too late!

[Xamkr]

You don't really need a degree in the foreseeable future because there aren't going to be any good jobs for a while. But I guess if you have a degree in philosophy the phrase "do you want fries with this" has depth that most of us can't comprehend.

[ubrew12]

Anyone with a degree in philosophy would know the proper phrase, for these times, is 'do you want egg-noodles with that?'

[venividivicibj]

I do not agree with this protest, not because of what they stood for, but because I believe that they are blaming the wrong people. There are problems in how the Regents have acted during their terms, there is no doubt about that. Getting pay raises, and then complaining of no money? Canceling required classes? Shutting down libraries? they are not the base of the problem.

I hope that the Regents are doing their best with what they can, and while they seem to have many faults, you can't do much without money to begin with.The root of the problem lies with the Governor. He is the one who massively cut funding. These cuts have not started recently.

Government funding per-student has dropped by 64% over the past 8 years, all the while student fees have risen.By Spring Quarter, the student fees will have risen 200% in the last 6 years alone, which coincidentally is when our Governor was inaugurated. Education is an investment in infrastructure, and investment in our children, and those who will replace and replenish our society. Education is the key to the future, it ensures that the US, and California, the 7th largest economy in the world, will stay that way, and not lose its edge, not fall, and not collapse.

[bajajohn1]

In the movie 2012, California ended at the bottom of the Pacific. Couple of years is all you have to wait, according to the movie. In real life the beat goes on; no body will support a tax increase so the regents raise fees to keep the universities solvent. But there is no employment, you say--blame Bush. He is the yokel who slept while the countries financial markets smoldered until they burst into flames. Now, the same Republicans who allowed this diasaster to happen are standing at the door trying to stop any iniative from the President to get this country back on its feet.

[jimmyc1955]

I love posts like this. Bush caused the great chicago fire, he made eve take the apple in the garden, he is the source of all evil.

So blame bush - that permits you to ignore the 800lbs gorilla in the living room - namely California's inability to stop spending recklessly. Spending on social programs you can't afford and waiting for the the rest of us, the other slightly better behaved states to cover your ludicrous self indulgences. Your state taxes are arleady high, with silly and expensive fees piled on top.

But of course, you drag the Bush straw man out - blame all your problems on it and then feel self satisified that you have killed the goat.

But tomorrow California will still be broke, you will still be paying for things you don't need, get no benefit from and enable those who have some unearned sense of entitlements - just like 5 years from now and the 10 after.

California - you have found the cause - it is you.

[dremn1]

$41,200 for a 4 year degree from UCLA - stop the whining. You people make me sick.

[ubrew12]

And while you're getting the degree, you can sleep at 'dremn1''s house.

[aheadace]

Poor NoWay Jose9999 he just does not get it WHAT A JOKE!!!!!!!!!

[IrishWench01]

What college classes would those be?

[IrishWench01]

I asked you a simple question. Instead of merely answering, you chose to not only be a rude jackass, but ignorant as well. I would also bet money that you're a stinkin liar. Perhaps you should be disinfecting yourself to keep your nasty disease from the rest of us.

[KHLady7]

California is falling apart. Time to tax Marijuana. GET IT DONE ALREADY and save millions!!

[jumkey]

Good for them.

The retard Reagan gave tax cuts to the rich and screwed the middle-class, the people who actually pay the bills.

Higher education should be FREE, paid for by taxes on the rich.

[jimmyc1955]

You are clueless. There aren't enough rich to foot that bill, you couldn't get them to stay if you tried to tax them that heavy, including leaving the country as France and England discovered over 40 years ago.

why should education be free? It should be earned, not given. It should go to those willing to use it well, understand it's benefits and reward society with productive, benefical contributors. They need skin in the game for that. Give it away and you devalue the very thing you think so precious.

Frankly - your EXACTLY why California is in the shape its in. Ignorant to real economics with a irrational belief in their personal entitlement to others money simply because they worked harder, took chances and succeeded.

[IrishWench01]

Jimmyc1955- I believe there is a difference between fees and tuition. I don't think anyone is saying their education should be free. Very often fees go toward things that have very little relevance to actual education and students have little to no control over these issues.

"It should be earned, not given. It should go to those willing to use it well, understand it's benefits and reward society with productive, benefical contributors" If it is earned and paid for, the rest is their choice to do wit it as they choose. No student who has paid their tuition is obligated to do anything with their education other than what they want. They owe no reward to society. Who is to decide what using it well involves. It is an eduation, a learning and growing experience.... not a preamble to being a cog in the wheel. It carries its own value independent from what society and the workforce want and expect. There are people who learn and expand their horizons for the very sake of doing so. They don't owe you or anyone else a thing.