UCLA Tuition Protest Attracts Police State in Full Riot Gear

The Board of Regents on Thursday approved a 32 percent increase in undergraduate student fees, despite protests by hundreds of demonstrators outside the regents' meeting at UCLA.

By next fall, undergraduate fees will be boosted by $2,500, sending the average annual education cost at a UC campus to more than $10,000.

Regents say they had to raise fees because the cash-strapped state government can't meet the university's funding needs.

The decision came as hundreds of students chanted and marched outside the meeting hall to protest the measure. Some students also took over another UCLA building and chained the doors shut.

Police in riot gear kept an eye on the protesters.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Officers armed with beanbag guns stood by as hundreds of protesters chanted, marched and even took over a building Thursday on the UCLA campus, where University of California regents were scheduled to vote on a 32 percent student fee increase.

The UC Board of Regents is considering boosting undergraduate fees - the equivalent of tuition - by $2,500 next year. The average annual fee for a full-time undergraduate would jump to about $10,300 - three times the cost only a decade ago.

For a second day, the proposal drew demonstrators to the University of California, Los Angeles. Some came from other UC campuses and stayed overnight in a tent city.

The demonstrators outside UCLA's Covel Commons building chanted, beat drums and waved signs urging "No fee hikes" and "Wanted: Leadership."

One student was arrested for obstructing an officer. She was cited and released, said UCLA spokesman Phil Hampton.

Campus police in helmets with face shields stood guard outside the conference building. The campus was also being monitored by police from several UC campuses and more than a dozen California Highway Patrol officers armed with beanbag-tossing shotguns.

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 pre-law 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," she 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."

About 30 to 50 protesters staged a takeover of Campbell Hall, a building across campus that houses ethnic studies, Hampton said.

They chained the doors shut but were peaceful and there were no immediate plans to remove them, Hampton said.

No arrests had been made, although 14 demonstrators were arrested on Wednesday and cited for failure to disperse or disturbing the peace.

Demonstrations also were held at other UC campuses.

UC President Mark Yudof told reporters 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.

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, Board of Regents members said there was no option to higher fees.

"When you have no choice, you have no choice," Yudof said after a Regents' committee endorsed the fee plan Wednesday. "I'm sorry."

The Los Angeles meeting was repeatedly interrupted by outbursts from students and union members, who accused the board of turning its back on the next generation.

"We are bailing out the banks, we are bailing out Wall Street. Where is the bailout for public education?" asked UCLA graduate student Sonja Diaz.

University of California, Irvine, economics student Sarah Bana told the board,

"You are jeopardizing California's future."

---

Associated Press Writer Marcus Wohlsen in Berkeley, Calif., contributed to this report

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[jeffym]

The fee affects any household that makes more than 60 grand a year? Ok, typical Mom and Dad make over 30 grand a year so that makes the 60 grand. Basically this is fucking the typical American family (as usual) and helping once again illgals and deadbeats. Same old shit.

[101111101101]

Hey moron, I go to UCLA and my mommy and daddy isnt paying for shit. My dad is unemployed, and my mom makes shit for money as a teacher. im up to my ears in debt and student loans. and thanks this fee increase, it will be even higher now. most students dont work because we take lots of units to graduate on time. do you even go to college? i doubt it, next time think before you post that bullshit. This is UCLA, a public school not private. we dont play 40k a year like USCwe aren't spoiled brats.

[maricelapat01]

what is this all about? i don't quite understand

[juscurious]

The protestors have to realize that we are in a recession and many people are hurting. There is not an unlimited amount of money that the taxpayers can pay. Too fucking bad. Many are unemployed. I'm not going to pay any more taxes to support overbloated budgets. Some suggestions. Get rid of worthless programs like women's studies, black studies, latino studies and the like. Colleges are some of the most wasteful places around. What about all the waste on campus. Tought shit for you guys.

[nosferotica1]

You apparently forgot the concept of a loan. Going to school itself isn't free, and since we aren't qualified to work anywhere other than walmart or whatever, it's not feasible.

You can't work 2 full time jobs and be able to juggle school. In fact, it's hard enough being able to juggle a full time job AND go to school part time. That's why many of them go to school full time and get the loans that, yes, they do pay back.

An increase in tuition is a debt increase. It's not free.

[LAKompany]

GWB has bankrupted the country, now Arnold is sporting for California. And on top of all this, these government bullies have to beat on public university students. To quote joe flynn, "i just want to cry."

[LAKompany]

Arnold has taken over his role here in California. They wave the flag in one hand, the bible in the ot.her, tell everyone that they too will be super rich someday and loot everything for themselves and their super rich friends. The ignorant, the superstitious, the collaborators, and the greedy believe them.

[LAKompany]

With the 32% increase in public college costs - the totalitarian plans of the super rich to further their domination of this country and turn it into the third world nation continues even without their poster boy GWB.