Money Matters, Simplified.
California students to hold protests against fee hike, racism
by Samia Sehgal - March 4, 2010 - comments
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has sided with the students in their effort to raise awareness on the crisis in public education.
Students of California will be out on the streets on Thursday, protesting against fee hike and campus racism. The students will be joined by parents and teachers across the nation, to exhibit their disapproval for what they call an assault on public education.
“This is unprecedented, unparalleled, you know. This is ridiculous,” said Jesse Cheng, a student nonvoting member of the university governing board.
“For the students at the (University of California) now, this is our political moment... We can stand up and improve our system and get our state out of these incredibly difficult times.”
Protests everywhere
Rallies and demonstrations are expected in various cities including the protest hub of 1960s—Berkley, Sacramento and on most campuses of the University of California, along with California State University's 23 campuses.
Students are also expected to stage protests at many of the 112 community colleges in the state that may or may not fall under the University of California system.
In downtown Los Angeles, protestors are expected to rally in Pershing Square and walk up to the governor's office in the Ronald Reagan State Building.
Fee hikes of more than 30 percent to over $10,000 per year are unacceptable for the students as they will make the university costlier than those in other states. Cuts in education funding and the cancelation of classes by public colleges and universities have made it worse for the students.
Support for protesting students
Students, parents, and alumni have received support from faculty unions and some top administrators. The university “supports the efforts of our students, faculty and staff to bring awareness about the importance of higher education in California,” said the Cal State Chancellor Charles B. Reed.
“It is critical that legislators in Sacramento hear from businesses and the community about the importance of CSU.”
Meanwhile, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has also sided with the students in their action. He says he is glad to see students have their say in the issue, but he hopes in doing so they will not overlook the law.
On the eve of the protest, Gov. Schwarzenegger held a meeting with administrators and students from the University of California, California State University and community colleges.
“I think I have enough faith in our students ... that they are going to rally and let their voices be heard and do it within the law,” he said after the meeting.
Mar. 4 is being labeled as a day to defend public education in the interest of students and faculty.
Though some people insist carrying out a rally is no solution to the issue, the students argue that they only want to raise awareness on the crisis in public education.
"We hope people will focus on the issues of higher education, and the link between higher education and economic success in the state,” said a spokeswoman for UC President Mark Yudof.