Students storm UCLA building to protest expected UC system fee increase [Updated]

About 30 students stormed UCLA’s Campbell Hall and barricaded the doors with chains and bike locks early this morning to protest a student fee increase that is expected to be endorsed by the University of California’s Board of Regents today.

[Updated at 8:39 a.m.: The UC Regents have started to meet, and hundreds of students have surrounded the building, protesting the proposed fee hike.]

Students who spent the night were sprawled outside Campbell Hall in sleeping bags. They carried posters and signs that read, “Don’t take our education away” and “Don’t privatize, democratize.” Many wore bandannas over their faces.

Dozens of other students spent the night camped out in tents on top of Parking Structure 4. Hundreds of other students are expected to join the protesters and demonstrate at the UC Regents meeting that will take place later today.

The proposed two-step student fee increase would raise UC undergraduate education costs more than $2,500, or 32%.The annual cost of a UC education, not including campus-based fees would rise to $10,302.

Kyle Tramberly, a junior at UC San Diego, said he did not sleep since arriving at UCLA late Wednesday night.

“I’m here in solidarity with people across the state of California that are being subjugated to these outrageous fee increases,” he said. “I can’t afford the fee increases, personally. I have to take out private loans in order to cover this. It’s completely unjust to put the burden on students.”

A key committee of the UC Regents backed the two-step hike Wednesday, despite appeals from students who urged the board to at least postpone a vote. About 500 student and labor-union activists demonstrated outside the meeting. Fourteen were arrested.

-- My-Thuan Tran

Photo: Students march in front of Covel Commons at UCLA, where regents will be voting on a fee increase later in the day. Credit: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

Audio: Statement from demonstrators

More photos  >>

Comments

[UCFaculty]

All UC faculty and staff *have* taken a pay cut, as of Sept 1: anywhere from 4% to 10%, depending on salary range. Don't you read the news?? But that's not nearly enough to cover the amount of money the state has taken away this fiscal year. Only about 1/4, actually.

[Jeff]

Typical "Take care of ME" attitude by the younger generations. Do what we did, work through school and stop expecting handouts. Us taxpayers are tired of funding your education.

[Matt]

get a second job? i go to wayne state university in detroit, my school plans on raising tuition 11% a year over the next 5 years, and i happen to live in a city with a 30% unemployment rate, 22% if you look at the whole metro detroit area. in michigan your lucky if you have one job... try getting a second job?

[frk98]

Education is a privilege, not a right??? Are you kidding me?
You mean it's the privilege of the wealthy who have parents that can pay for college tuition without blinking an eye.
For your information, I am a California educator and about 90% of my students work part or full time, take out loans and go to school. No one is looking for a handout. Students are just trying to keep education affordable for ALL, not just the privileged. As for Campbell Hall, it houses the Academic Advancement Program, put in place to assist ALL traditionally underrepresented students in higher education.
It is really upsetting and disheartening that so many of these posts express such anger over students trying to protect their right to education, why does it really bother you?

[Dan McGuire]

I think JKeyes struck a raw nerve among leftists struggling to realize the consequence of their actions. Left wing Californians have consistently voted for massively expensive public works projects, tax increases, pay raises and lavish pensions for government workers, etc., whenever such irresponsible programs come before them in referenda. And now the same fools wonder why businesses are leaving the state in droves and the only immigrants who come here are illegals looking to scheme the welfare system, which is one of the country's most generous. Something has to give and it looks like this state is beginning to unravel because government continues to increase in size and scope despite the largest recession since 1929 and the private sector just isn't there to support such largesse. So good luck with your protest, students. I for one do not support you.

[UCLA STUDENT]

As a UCLA student, in the thick of things, getting a student job, student loans and summer jobs are not enough. The student jobs that everyone suggests we get are not available, there are fewer of them, and they are limiting the amount of hours we can work each week. Many of these jobs are also at minimum wage. Furthermore, do you not think we already have student loans and summer jobs? We are already struggling to make ends meet, and for many, these fee increases are going to break our backs.

The protests, however, are not just about the fee increases, it is also the devaluing of our degrees. In an effort to save money, they have fired all the "lecturers" at UCLA. They are also trying to decrease the number of classes we need to get our degrees. This means we are putting out less qualified less informed students. At this rate, not only will we be paying more, we'll be paying more for less.

Before you ask us to stop whining, consider the reality of our situation.

[William LeGro]

It's about time these students take some action. Too bad only 30 of them did it – maybe it’ll lead to something bigger. The UCLA football coach makes $1,276,000 (plus up to $500,000 in bonuses), though he generously agreed to take a voluntary 10% pay cut this year. Wow! The UC Berkeley football coach gets $2.8 million. The UCLA basketball coach makes more than $2 million. Berkeley is spending $480 million to upgrade their stadium, and UCLA is spending $185 million on Pauley Pavilion. And contrary to conventional wisdom, the athletic programs operate at a loss that the university subsidizes (though football alone might make money – I don’t know), while the school raises tuition and fees and cuts enrollment and classes. I really cannot understand public universities making millionaires of their athletics coaches.

[Jason]

Learn about how a university is run: While everyone in the private sector has seen pay cuts or losses in benefits, university employees have been immune from this. Plus, most university employees are overpaid to start with. Add on top of that, the generous salaries that educational staff gets, in comparison to their very light teaching loads.

The truth of the matter is that high fees paid by undergraduates for their crowded classes subsidize a lot of bloated paychecks that could and should be cut before any fee increases are implemented.

[nv]

I think the argument is that we have raise the student fees to pay for the education cost increases. I agree with that argument, inflationary cost raises are a part of life.
But then get this, I open the The Daily Bruin and find the TRUE purpose of these fee increase.
We are gona' get ourselves a new stadium, paid out of the student fees.
Yes that's right !
Projected cost $185 million, mostly from student fees.
Is anybodies guess what the true cost will be in the end, but if the new UCLA hospital is any indication, it's more likely to be 5 times as much.
No to new professors - we need more athletes !
Pay cuts for the staff and professors - more bonuses for the genius football coach !
No to classroom and laboratory space - Yes to shiny new stadium !

[GG]

These kids need to grow up and realize the REAL cause is Sacramento's ineptitude- NOT the board of regents! They are coming off like whiny brats, when in fact the board of Regents is just trying to balance Sacramento's bad judgement and STILL have schools open for these kids to go to!

[Dave]

Kyle Tramberly states, "It’s completely unjust to put the burden on students." Who should be responsible for paying for for their education if not students?

[Winston]

it is completely unjust to ask students to pay for their education?

how is that a rational statement?

perhaps a logic course should be offered (or made mandatory) for no cost.

having said that, where is the gvt when they could be offering student loans for the same rate of interest that they are loaning money to banks at i.e. less than 1%?

this is a program that benefits education and keeps educators/support staff etc in jobs and keeps the economy running.

Jesse Jackson the One Percent Solution.

where did that go?

[pril]

Marcus, at 40, you probably ARE a child of baby boomers.

[Stan Barry]

Let's see now. We're in an economic recession, unemployment is over 10% and layoff are rampant. Services are being cut or reduced and these students feel they should not suffer along with the rest of us?
Yes, while it is a big increase for the students, they must understand they must also bear the burden.
Who says it's a right for a college education? It's a privilege and like people did in the past, if you cannot afford it then you can't attend. We would all like to have things we can't afford but we must be realistic.
Perhaps these students, some of whom will probably be uncovered as hooligans and professional radicals, would like us all to have our taxes increased another 20% so they can attend school.
Unless and until these kids finally enter the real world and understand economics they will continue to gripe and try to convince us they are more important than anyone else.
Get a life or more appropriately get a job!

[Huggymontes]

Go UC students!!!
Fee hikes are a direct contributor to the vast and growing inequality in this country! It is a student's right to be able to access superior education based on their talent, not on the wealth of their parents or their acceptance to shoulder a horrendous debt burden that will keep them in peonage for years to come!
Moreover, the fee hikes are part of a plan to finance UC officials generous salary increases that they voted each other in times of strife. Meanwhile, the police are acting more like a militia, persecuting and preying on the weak and protecting the rich. This is disgusting!

[MLD]

On one level, I am glad to see that these kids are finally getting upset about something; nevertheless, the state does not owe the students an education. Moreover, when protesting...show your faces! Do not waste your energy locking doors/ get up to Sacramento and let the lame brains in the Assembly and Senate know you feelings! I agree that education should be our first priority. But, if a student wants an education, he/she will find a way to obtain it. I finished my education at a private university while working full time and raising two childern. My husband and I educated our son out of state at Arizona State, and our daughter at Cal State University Fullerton. We both worked very hard to help them obtain their educations, and we expected them to work part time while in school.There were no cars or trips to Hawaii..just hard work toward educating our kids, and we did so w/o loans. Yes, it was difficult, and we went without many extras. Our son graduated from college and worked full time for three years to save enough for law school/ which he did and got through w/grants and a smaller loan than any of his law school friends. He is now an Assistant United States Attorney! Our daughter has her teaching credential. The point is...there is no free ride.Look into grants/scholarships, etc. I am now in a position to help students by contributing to a family endowment for deserving college students. Believe me, there is private money out there.Perhaps these kids will have to work or God forbid, live w/ their parents to make ends meet. If one wants an education, one will find a way!

[Andy in Pasadena]

In the article, student Kyle Tramberly said he'd have to take out loans to cover the increases. Yeah, so what!! Like so many others, I had to work full time AND take out loans AND work summers. It's not that hard. I echo the sentiments of other posters: The ENTITLEMENT attitude that is growing across many segments of our country has got to stop. Grab some sack, stand on your own two feet, and get it done. The state does not need to hold your hand, and the state does not OWE YOU ANYTHING!

[Stephen]

"I can’t afford the fee increases, personally. I have to take out private loans in order to cover this. It’s completely unjust to put the burden on students.”

Wrong. It is completely just to require those that receive something that cost money, to pay for it. It may be an unjust price increase. And from the looks of it, a 33% increase may appear that way on the surface. I am not an expert in the UC college budget by any means. But the idea that students should not be held financially responsible for paying for their own education is ludicrous.

Stop the entitlement mindset. You are entitled to pay for your education. Just as I was, and generations before me and you.

Here's a surprise, if you can't afford it, then you can't afford it. Maybe you are learning that the hard way now. And it's better to learn that at a young age. In fact, parents should be teaching this. It is depressing that it might take a college degree for the current group of teenagers to learn this concept.

[John H]

Here's the future, a bunch of whiners who voted for Obama, now thinking that everything's free. Wait til they get their first job, and they see the reality of who and what they voted for when they look at their first pay check.

There's no free lunch, contrary to what the Democrat Party tells you. Wake up!!

[nothanks]

These are the same students who wanted to increase pay for UCLA's janitors, chefs, and housekeepers, without even considering how it would be paid for. Now, they'd rather that the janitors, chefs, and housekeepers lose their jobs than pay for a fee increase.

Hypocritical much?

[Landon Bales]

Oh no, they might not have enough money for their fraternity and sorority keg orgies. Poor babies.

[UCLA staff member]

Jason at 10:06:

Perhaps you should learn how THIS university is run. Virtually all staff members--and I am one of them--have been subject to pay cuts and furlough days. And while I can't speak for everyone here, I certainly made more in the private sector than I do working for the state.

[Holly Star]

I'd say an easy ten to twenty programs could be cut, starting with Chicana and Chicano Studies and the Lesbian, Bay, and Transgender programs.

African Studies
Afro-American Studies
American Indian Studies
Anesthesiology
Anthropology
Applied Linguistics
Archaeology
Architecture and Urban Design
Art
Art History
Arts and Architecture
Asian American Studies
Asian Languages and Cultures
Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
Bioengineering
Bioinformatics
Biological Chemistry
Biomathematics
Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical Physics
Biomedical Research
Biostatistics
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Chemistry/Materials Science
Chicana and Chicano Studies
Civic Engagement
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Classics
Communication Studies
Community Health Sciences
Comparative Literature
Computational and Systems Biology
Computer Science
Conservation of Archaeological and Ethnographic Materials
Dentistry
Design | Media Arts
Disability Studies
Earth and Space Sciences
East Asian Studies
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Economics
Education
Electrical Engineering
Engineering Schoolwide Programs
English
English Composition (Writing Programs)
Environmental Health Sciences
Environmental Science and Engineering
Epidemiology
Ethnomusicology
European Studies
Family Medicine
Film, Television, and Digital Media
Foreign Literature in Translation
French and Francophone Studies
Freshman General Education Clusters
Geography
Germanic Languages
Gerontology
Global Studies
Health Services
History
History/Art History
Honors Collegium
Human Complex Systems
Human Genetics
Indo-European Studies
Information Studies
Institute of the Environment
International Development Studies
Italian
Labor and Workplace Studies
Latin American Studies
Law
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies
Life Sciences

Linguistics
Management
Materials Science and Engineering
Mathematics
Mathematics/Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
Mathematics/Economics
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Medicine
Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics
Middle Eastern and North African Studies
Molecular and Medical Pharmacology
Molecular Biology
Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology
Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology
Molecular Toxicology
Moving Image Archive Studies
Music
Musicology
Near Eastern Languages and Cultures
Neurobiology
Neurology
Neuroscience (Undergraduate)
Neuroscience (Graduate)
Neurosurgery
Nursing
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Ophthalmology
Oral Biology
Orthopaedic Surgery
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Pediatrics
Philosophy
Physics and Astronomy
Physiological Science
Physiology
Political Science
Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences
Psychology
Public Affairs
Public Health
Public Health Schoolwide Programs
Public Policy
Radiation Oncology
Radiological Sciences
Religion, Study of
ROTC Program
Aerospace Studies
Military Science
Naval Science
Scandinavian Section
Slavic Languages and Literatures
Social Thought
Social Welfare
Society and Genetics
Sociology
South Asian Studies
Southeast Asian Studies
Spanish and Portuguese
Statistics
Surgery
Theater
Urban Planning
Urology
Women’s Studies
World Arts and Cultures

[vochoa0371]

That is a bit too much... I wonder what their reason are for this increase... I feel bad for the UCLA students... Hey, I need a UCLA student to come over and clean my house...

[crooks and liars]

this is just the begining californa is 21 billion in the hole and i belive is larger this crook politicians are not saying the true .
california poltiticians have spend taxpayers money for there owne interest and gains not the interest of us the taxpayers
now that there is no more money this crooks politicians are posting them selfs to become lobbys for there special interest again not the taxpayers and voters
the money coming from washinton dc is use for there the same thing special interest, butt is coming to the end.
so get redy california taxpayers they are goin to try and increse taxes on us if we let them?