Students protest tuition hikes in California
By John Amato Friday Nov 20, 2009 1:00pm
(h/t CSPANjunkie)
It's hitting the fan in California as students protest the grotesque 32% hikes in their college tuition.
Angry students at the Davis, California, branch of the University of California refused to vacate the school's administration building Thursday evening in a show of defiance and protest over a 32-percent undergraduate tuition hike instituted by the California Board of Regents earlier in the day.
About 50 students remained in the building, which was supposed to close by 5 p.m. PT (8 p.m. ET), UC Davis spokeswoman Claudia Morain told CNN. At one point, as many as 150 students were at the building protesting the tuition increase, she said. She said she hopes campus police can resolve the issue without the need to make arrests.
CNN affiliate KCRA captured footage of students outside the building shouting, "Who's university? Our university!"
Nearly 400 miles south and hours earlier, hundreds of students marched and chanted against the increase while outside the UCLA building in Los Angeles where regents met to vote on the hike.
Protesting students and others say the increased tuition will hurt working and middle-class students who benefit from state-funded education. But officials argue that a fee increase and deep cuts in school spending are necessary because of a persistent budget crisis that has forced reductions across California's state government.
California is in bad shape and it's only to get worse.
Hullabloo:
And there's no end in sight:
In what's become a depressingly familiar story over the last 2 years, California faces another big budget deficit:
Less than four months after California leaders stitched together a patchwork budget, a projected deficit of nearly $21 billion already looms, according to a report to be released Wednesday by the state's chief budget analyst.
The new figure -- the nonpartisan analyst's first projection for the coming budget year -- threatens to send Sacramento back into budgetary gridlock and force more across-the-board cuts in state programs.
As the article points out, the deficit for 2009-10 (current fiscal year) is $6.3 billion, and the projected deficit for 2010-11 is $14.4 billion. Arnold is already talking about closing it with cuts...
..California..they got that Prop 13 thing goin' on!
The people of the state pass laws by popular vote, then don't enact taxes to pay for benefits. Prop 8--good thinking, folks!
hey, arnold sure got that gop thing going.
the gop can solve everything, just cut the taxes
and cut all the programs. RIGHT!!!
in other words fuck everyone and walk away, then
blame the dems for the problem.
The trouble with Cali is it's the worst mix of "Socially liberal, fiscally conservative" in America.
Lots of social programs with little taxation.
Gotta choose, Libertarian anarchy or Socialism with the needed taxes.
It is too simple. When an economy is good and a government has money they see this big wad of cash and can't help themselves. Quit spending.
... only this time Cali appears to be leading us to Third World status. A tiny population of the wealthy (where even dolts like George W. Bush can thrive on very limited competition) ruling over the masses for whom opportunity is an illusion - and often a straitjacket.
There's nothing like a severely loaned up graduate: they can't afford to fight the corporate agenda and pay SalliMae at the same time.
Don't know if you live in or have ever been to California, but the notion that it is ruled by a tiny population of the wealthy is absurd. Who controls (and has controlled) the legislature for decades? Democrats from gerrymandered big city districts, and the unions, esp. public employee unions. And these kids are complaining about paying $10,000 A YEAR for a fine education; but few of the poor or minority students pay anything, so I'm puzzled. The tiny pop. of wealthy students (mostly foreign) are the only ones who pay ANYthing. Other kids in state and out of state pay $50,000 - $60,000 a year for an equivalent education. The union-printed posters for the spontaneous "student" demonstration say it all--look at UC employee unions if you want to see where the power and spending are. Oh, "Who's university? Our university!" is just perfect. If that's the level of writing skill, maybe these kids should quit and go to McDonalds to get a job.
Who's the idiot who killed THAT idea?
Was it Reagan? Not sure. But anyway, that's socialism, so it's a good thing they did away with it.
Now if the Professor's would work for free, they could reduce tuition, and give another round of tax cuts to the top 2% and everything would be like - totally awesome!
Or, they could take all the homeless people who have lost their social safety net and sell their organs. More cuts damn it! Literally!
Why? Because every conservative knows spending is the problem. Unless it's for corporate welfare; then it's ok, because that's not socialism.
The gift that keeps on giving, amazing how much that idiot managed to screw up during his time on earth.
So what's the deal? Is, or was, state school tuition free for California residents?
I work about 300 feet away from the site of the Davis arrests. At this moment, there is another round of protests going on at the campus.
The situation has less to do with Prop 13 on residential property, but a great deal to do with the ungovernable nature of the state constitution, and the Prop 13 shenanigans of commercial property.
This is my native state, but unfortunately, it's going downhill fast. My BS was signed by an actor, and now I'm suffering under another one. The students have my complete sympathy.
“Let them eat cake” and let the cake be laced with 32% price increases. Then, we'll gouge your eyeballs out when we get bored of that.
it isn't just that the regents jacked up tuition 35% and that they're taking fewer in-state residents.
As tight as the money is, there always room in the budget for a Big Fat Pay Raise for themselves. No lengthy deliberation on what to do there!!! nosirree.
The solution is to cut taxes for the wealthy and for corporations to 0% -- by the Right's logic, that should instantly result in free education, a 0% unemployment rate and a balanced budget! Let's try it. Oh, wait, we effectively already are!
Paul O'Neill, Bush's first Secy of Treasury? He believed that no corporation should ever pay 1 penny in taxes. The taxes for said corporation and everything else should be paid by U.S. workers.
I'm Spartacus! No! I'm Spartacus!
..and no pot-holes on the highway but nobody wants to pay for it!
The news provided a welcome footnote to a post I just did about some folks' griping about we folks from "the '60s" getting too much attention, in which I said well, then, shut us up by showing us up! Please!
Long live protests and old hippies!
it sista
brutha ;)
here , rooooooooooooooooooooll another one
Let me take care of that!
to leave the country in a worse state than when they got it would be enough to shut up the baby boomers...
Berkeley when I was finally through with my community college work. That's dead now. It's not because I'm 28 now and would be a bit of an untraditional student. No, I am up to that challenge.
It's that I had the bad sense of "choosing" to be born to two former farm laborers who gave me the best education they could.
Not to belabor the point I've made before, but I'm sure Orange County is enjoying their tax breaks!
Can't see why you couldn't transfer as much now as you could have before the increase. If you are indeed the child of farm laborers, then you probably get a free ride anyway. Transferring to Berkeley--one of the premier colleges in the country--from community college is more like a pipe dream. CA community coleges are barely teaching high school level material, because they admit people who haven't even got 12th grade skills. How that would transfer to Berkeley is beyond me. BUT the money part of the equation shouldn't change. If you're "poor," you get a free ride--and if a "minority" (except Asian-American, they're "over-represented") you get a racial preference.
Instead of tear gas, the police should spray marijuana gas on them. That'll calm 'em down.
Then it'd become a "sit in" protest with occasional vending machine looting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVo4tAgMpvM&fe...
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to what he's saying starting at the 1:00 mark. This could be applied to the health care question right now, and to republican politics at any time.
the whole fuckin thing!!!
:)
"And that -- that brings me to the second mode of civil disobedience. There's a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart that you can't take part! You can't even passively take part! And you've got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus -- and you've got to make it stop! And you've got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it -- that unless you're free the machine will be prevented from working at all!!"
Thanks for posting the link, Evet.
The times they are (not) a-changin' ...
Thanks for the link, evet.
How could you possibly fix this problem?
One thing we know for sure. You can never, ever raise taxes on the rich or corporations. That is definitely, not the way to fix this problem.
Heaven forbid they should step up and help us get out of this mess.
Get them scissors out and start cutting!!
This is simply outrageous.
tuition hikes under Arnold, including mine. But this hike for the UC students is ridiculous. They are already paying out the wazoo.
And it's forcing students here in the San Joaquin Valley to stay home and go to local community colleges. The colleges can't keep up with the enrollments and students are being turned away from them...
if you have high blood pressure. A lot of wingers want to characterize the students as a whiny lot who don't want to pay anything. Sure, some of them chant that, but it's just not the case. Most of the students are extremely hardworking...unlike the greedy regents who voted themselves a hefty pay raise during these lean times. They are looking straight in the face of CEO Rage from the common folks.
value education, they sure seem to want people who do to fork over their first-born child in order to get one....
cuz all states have some state taxpayer funded higher education system. Everybody everywhere pays taxes for that because that's a value for the common good. Sheesh. makes me sick to listen to the BS.
And oh, Wolfie, that's why private colleges cost more....like duh!
Please show me what the Regents get paid and where the pay "raise" is? Factually, like, with a citation to something other than the blather that pervades here?
This is sunny California, the land of milk and honey, right? They could save a ton of money by tearing down the buildings and just holding classes on the beach. The students don't need dorms--they can just sleep on the lawn. After all "It Never Rains In Southern California-a-a...) Seriously, though, how's that property tax cap thing workin' for ya?
.
took over Wheeler Hall this a.m.
http://sfist.com/2009/11/20/uc_berkeley_prote...
http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2009...
that a Bachelor's degree is the new high school diploma. It doesn't really matter where you get your BS or BA from. People need to stop going to schools that charge $40K so somone can get piece of paper that lets them teach 1st graders.
school diploma, since getting a college or university education will be the privilege of a chosen few.
People just need to realize that a lot of money does not equal a quality education or at least not a superior education. When I look at resumes, I don't care where the person get their degree as long as it's at an accredited institution. I'm more concerned about their work history and ethic.
necessarily applicable to other industries.
Don't project Tyler, it doesn't suit you. A Bachelors in Engineering from Duke isn't terribly different than one from Northen Illinois. Duke would like to think it is and they'll tell you it is, but it's not.
Besides, no one really cares about Duke, other than Duke themselves.
It depends what sort of engineering you do, a degree and the institution granting the degree makes a whole lot of difference in my field.
The institution for a Bachelors degree makes a difference in your field? Feel free not to mention said field, but I doubt it.
.
Nope.
Laughing Horse Robinson. He's an Art professor at Cal State Bakersfield, and he ran as a Dem during the recall
debaclerace. One his goals was to make the California university systems, and public California college education in general, free to all Californians... :(There were people who thought that was a great idea at the time.
*
why does this tuition raise (see, mugging) seem like yet another assault on public schools (a la new orleans)? is this a backhanded attempt to kill the public universities in cali?
consider some of these regents, and their connections:
Richard C. Blum: Chairman of Blum Capital Partners, L.P.; Co-Chairman of Newbridge Capital, LLC
Russell Gould: Senior Vice President for Wachovia Bank. Mr. Gould is Vice Chairman of The Regents. Mr. Gould is the current Chairman of the Board
Joanne Kozberg: Served as Secretary of the California State and Consumer Services Agency under former Governor Pete Wilson; partner in California Strategies, a public affairs consulting firm.
Hadi Makarechian: Chairman of Makar Properties Board of Directors and Banning Lewis Ranch Management Company Board of Directors
George M. Marcus: Chairman of Marcus & Millichap; Chairman, Essex Property Trust
Norman J. Pattiz: Founder and Chairman of the Board of Westwood One
Bonnie Reiss: Operating Advisor to Pegasus Capital Advisors
Leslie Tang Schilling: Director of Union Square Investments, Inc.
Paul Wachter: President and CEO, Main Street Advisors
If only the voters hadn't fallen for the GOP's fear-mongering and wedge issue politics in 2000 we might would have had a Democrat in office the past 8 years continuing Bill Clinton's legacy of peace and prosperity.
Seems like if anyone could write up a petition to undo some of the prop 13 damage, especially the 2/3 majority legislative hurdle, then there ought to be plenty of highly motivated people to first get the measure on the ballot and then canvass in favor of it.
Way to show those college students who's boss...by making it harder financially to get a degree.
Didn't college in Cali used to be free??
with St Ronnie of Assholes
If only land was cheap I would suggest creating new schools that are run like a non profit.
did I miss the sarcasm tag somewhere?
Would you rather lose your job, your house, get your hours cut, pay a 32% pay hike for tuition or raise a temporary sales tax of 1% during these desperate economic times created by the Republican/Conservative agenda???
Brain dead Republican/Conservative's would rather see their lives destroyed rather than raise taxes while failing to understand by paying taxes you get a U.S. military, schools, roads, fire and police depts., retirement, hospitals, etc. etc. etc.. A lot of bang for your buck!
Why taxes are necessary, especially in these hard economic times, is because it puts money back in the system which it needs to recover, while loosing your job takes money out of the system which hastens the depression.
are about to move in to Dutton Hall and make a bunch of more arrests. Boy, do I feel safe.....
Try and remember what's important here.... to Arnie and friends.
paragraphs with "Hey, at least Orange County is loving their tax breaks!" so much. :)
I support the students cause but this terrorist occupation of buildings causes damage and disrupts co-students and co-workers lives way beyond whats right.
university regents padding their pockets with money while these young people's hopes of a quality education is being dashed, university staff is losing their jobs, and community colleges are filling up so fast because of it that students who could have never had a chance at the UC system are being pushed out of the colleges they've been attending to make room.
Labeling occupation of buildings as "terrorist" when the occupiers consent to peaceful arrest is an egregious misuse of the term, and demeans yourself for using that term. If the students were carrying AK-47s, then you might have a point.
is not terroristic at all. I guess you meant to reply to Lex? :)
First time trying to comment - and hit the wrong reply button. Your first comment on this thread really resonated with me. I was able to attend UC Berkeley in the '60s in spite of the fact that my parents had no money at all.
And an update - the students in Dutton Hall at UC Davis are leaving voluntarily, but the Mondavi Center may now be a target.
leaving Dutton Hall now. They're certainly not the ones in the wrong.
Let me try and un demean myself. The use of the word terrorist was a bit harsh. The 'unfortunate' occupation...
There is a way to protest without involving innocent co-students or co-workers and without causing more damage by destroying property.
University of California Santa Cruz
"Speaking to the Academic Senate today, Chancellor George Blumenthal said he understands why students are angry but said the outrage should be directed toward lawmakers who made historic cuts to education this year. As students held protest signs in the audience, Blumenthal told them that occupying buildings is a waste of resources.
An occupation is an act of civil disobedience, and such actions have consequences," Blumenthal said, noting the loss of employee time as well as property damage repair.
"Basically, the university will incur more costs at a time when we cannot afford to have more costs. I would would like to use the energy used in occupation in Kerr Hall redirected so we can work in partnership with students to direct our energy to Sacramento to make sure the University of California system is adequately funded. I think we have similar interests and I hope we can redirect it."
Kliger told faculty leaders that students will be subject to arrest and campus sanctions if they continue to occupy Kerr Hall, but did not give a time frame."
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/rss/ci_13832...
government, but they shouldn't be held to account for their actions, along with the lawmakers?
As much as they claim to "understand" the students' anger, they are still a part of the students' problem. They are getting pay raises while the students are having every last cent pumped out of them. The Governor says he "understands" too, but the lip-service hasn't amounted to a hill of beans for those who actually have to suffer.
By the students occupying buildings on campus they are making some of their fellow students, staff and faculty, who support them, to suffer. They should be directing their actions and anger, for starters, at Republican/Conservative Schwarzenegger, he's one of the main problems.
Are you kidding me? These kids are not paying as much as I did per year almost 50 years ago. whiny self-entitled brats. Has anyone noticed that there are parents out of work? Crumbling infrastructure? I'd like tosee what the student rebelsa re actually paying each year? Has anyone asked them? Because the overwhelmoing majorit DON'T pay anything. Oh, and occupying buildings just before a week long school holiday is brilliant.
Maybe some strongly worded letters?? A tried and true approach.
snark
Still looking for a reference to what Regents are paid by the UC systeM? a fact, checkable?
Even if that shit was affordable, it's not going to get you a job, anyway. That's what you should be protesting.
Oh, you mean education?
Yeah, who wants to be one of the intellectual elite anyway? You'd just be slowing the dumbing down of America.
If you don't get a few good strong tax incresses and soon your whole state is going to collapse.
York Times' story on this, and someone from Norway was commenting on how tuition in Norway is almost free practically, very very nominal compared to here, and that in Norway they are always looking for great minds to become scientists, engineers, mathematicians, etc, so California's talented students should come on over.
I almost wish I *could* pack up right now and immigrate to Norway. I feel sad even saying that...
Tax increases on whom?
Tell us specifically what tax rates are too low?
The upper and lower middle classes are gone, the few super-"rich" don't care. California is the third world. The third world moved in over the past 30 years, and taxpayers moved out.
just wow.
I know not everyone is fan of France but I think it is due time the students in America take up the model of their French counter parts and protest like mad and stand up
Had a discussion of this which included student and faculty and pointed out the corporatization of University governance.. burgeoning administration.. the University actually loaning money to the State.. the University getting large amounts of stimulus money etc.. the University cutting back on undergraduate resources.. the same people who gave the country its economic mess have been working their magic on the universities..
Remember when the Democrat was governor? Remember the was a water problem? republicans starting at the white house blocked them from getting water that causes the prices to go sky high that people had a hard time paying for electricity. Remember when they finally played a recording showing them laughing about what they were doing. Yet what did CA do? They had a recall and blamed everything on the dem. gov. You all got what you deserved. Sad for the kids who are ripping what their parents voted for.
The people of CA use Prop 13 to vote down any reasonable attempts to correct budget issues because it would cause tax hikes, and they put enough republicans in office to block any reasonable attempts at shifting expenses around in the state budget, say like getting rid of so many private prison companies. Now the state has a $21 billion deficit; what the hell do they expect. The colleges and universities are having to raise fees to cover the shortage from state and federal coffers, and the parents of the college kids, and the college kids themselves have a problem with it. Sort of like America as a whole. Yeah I get it, I don't like taxes either. But, at some point reality has to take hold with the selfish people of America and California. You expect to run a state of the population size and with the services California provides, and yet keep decreasing taxes. Just ain't gonna happen. You need to come out of that rabbit hole, Alice just doesn't exist. Somehow Reagan's legacy in California and America has turned us into a society of economic and financial illeterates. You cannot keep lowering taxes and increasing population and think things are going to be copacetic. Rich people have convinced enough of us illiterates to believe this insanity. Now we have a nation running a $12tril. national debt, and California running a $21bil. deficit. And almost every state in this nation is in deficit. How's that supply side economics working now?!!!! At some point, some brave politician is gonna have to just tell us the damned truth, and that truth is we have to raise taxes, mostly on the rich, but on everyone, on a progrssive scale to get this nation back to fiscal accountability and give our children and grand children a chance at a decent world to live in. I hear conservatives and independents, and some centrist democrats scream and yell about our children's future when it comes to health care reform and social issues like abortion and gay marriage, but in the arena where it really matters, the real danger posed by our generations collective selfishness and greed, well we just don't care that much. When will we wake the hell up!!!!!!!
society of economic and financial illeterates
This is so perfect. Here's hoping none of my CA tax dollars paid for your "education."
Which taxes were decreased? None of mine, I assure you.
And, oh, about population increases? I agree that that is a major issue. What shall we do about that? Enforcing our immigration laws would make sense--our schools would have about 30-40% fewer kids to pay for with close to the same amount in tax revenues devoted to it. Not to mention emergency room costs, law enforcement, etc.
Who doesn't pay taxes? A study claimed that something like 40% of LA area economy is underground, i.e., pays no taxes. That's not me. Somehow the tax man knows where to find me each year.