UCLA Students Rally Against Tuition Hikes
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Students at UCLA joined in protests at other university campuses Monday statewide following the announcement by UC officials of potentially hefty tuition increases.
KNX 1070's Jon Baird reports a rally on the steps of the Powell Library Building was just one of dozens of similar rallies taking place after tuition hikes were implemented by the Board of Regents last Thursday.
The protests included sit-ins, occupations, marches and classroom walkouts at all 9 UC campuses, including at UCLA, where students will occupy occupy buildings on different campuses, walk out of classes and hit the sidewalks in protest marches.
UC officials say the tuition increases of up to 5 percent each of the next five years are necessary to cover retirement benefits, higher employee pay, and other costs and to hire more faculty to service up to 5,000 additional undergrad students.
However, university officials have also said the increases could be reduced or even eliminated if UC gets more funding from the state of California.