Last Thursday, the regents of the University of California met at the UCLA campus to decide on tuition increases in the face of drastic budget cuts. They were not alone. Outside, thousands of students including some from other UC campuses were protesting, marching around Westwood Village and congregating at the building where the meeting was taking place. Smaller protests also took place at other UC campuses. The regents voted on a 32% tuition hike, and things turned a little ugly as some of the little rascals got out of hand. Below is a link to the article on the events by the UC Irvine newspaper New University.
http://www.newuniversiy.org/2009/11/news/regents-approve-32-increase
As I have pointed out before, the students still don't seem to be aware that the UC system has approved a measure to reduce in-state admissions in favor of higher-paying out-of-state and international admissions. But oh well.
My reaction is that first of all, there is no excuse for intimidating the regents and throwing objects at police. Those that did throw objects or refuse the officers' commands to dispurse should have been arrested. They should also be expelled.
Secondly, students do not "own the university" as they are now chanting.
Third, they should direct their anger not at the UC system, but the politicians in Sacramento who have led us into this mess with their out-of-control spending to the point that the state is now basically bankrupt.
Somehow, I think, however, that demonstrating against left-wing Democratic politicians in Sacramento is not part of their agenda. Can't blame them now, can we?
On Tuesday of this week, a demonstration is being planned in front of UC Irvine's administration building. I will be in class for most of it, but I'll try to get out there and catch a few minutes of the hilarity.
9 comments:
As a teacher, I have to be careful about taking pictures of students on campus. There should be one or two in the campus newspaper.
If I can get a shot on my cell phone of an off-campus agitator or speaker, that would be ok.
The fee increase is 32% not 23%. Happy to fact check that for you.
Gary, weren't you supposed to be laid off as part of the secret liberal conspiracy to purify the ranks of the UC extension staff? Guess that never materialized after all.
"I hope you will publish pictures. They really are some very stupid kids."
Gee, how respectful of you. I guess on September 24 there were about 5,000 "very stupid kids" rallying on the UCB campus? Findalis, have you been taking your meds lately? Might want to stay on those.
Bryan,
Thanks for catching my typo-it is 32%.
Well, I didn't get laid off. I guess somewhere, somebody at least respects my freedom of speech.
Imagine that!
I'll let Findalis respond to you.
Bryan,
Refresh my memory. What was the UCB Sept 24 demonstration all about?
The same issues: fee hikes, budget cuts, course cuts, furlough days, staff layoffs, etc.
There were 5,000 at the UCB rally alone, not sure about the other UC campuses, but it was a system-wide action.
First of all Bryan, the University does NOT belong to the students. It belongs to the tax payers. If they don't like the tuition raise they can find a cheaper school or get a job. Wow! What a concept! Pay for their own education. Stop living off of Mommy and Daddy. Make your own way in this world. That would teach the little brats a thing or three.
So they raised the tuition. What do you expect? The State of California is BROKE! They should be grateful that they didn't shut down the schools (that could be coming next).
Perhaps they should be taking courses in economics instead of Rioting 101 or other bs courses.
Bryan,
Findalis makes the point. The university does not belong to the students rather the tax payer. The same Calif tax-payer who supports the uc system and now finds it harder to send his kid to UC because the whole system is now cutting back on in-state admissions in favor of higher-paying out of state and international admissions.
Want my source? I am the source. I work here.
You didn't know that, did you?
"First of all Bryan, the University does NOT belong to the students. It belongs to the tax payers."
The UCs are also funded by tuition paid by the students. Also, many students ARE taxpayers, as they work in addition to going to school. I am a UC alumni and also a California taxpayer, so I'm pretty sure I have more of a say in this than you over there in Illinois or wherever the hell it is you live.
"If they don't like the tuition raise they can find a cheaper school or get a job."
Cheaper school such as? Of course only a simpleton like you could think it would be so easy. And again, many students DO have jobs!
"Wow! What a concept! Pay for their own education. Stop living off of Mommy and Daddy. Make your own way in this world. That would teach the little brats a thing or three."
Wow! Guess what? My parents didn't pay a dime towards my college education! I paid for it all MYSELF. The same is also true for many others. Again, I don't expect a backwards thinking moron such as yourself to know this stuff.
"So they raised the tuition. What do you expect?"
Thanks for asking. What I expect is to chop from the top rather than punishing those of us at the bottom. How about cutting some of the outrageous salaries of the regents and chancellors? That would be a great start. Again, I understand you're a little slow and not so sharp when off your meds, so I won't hold against you that you couldn't think of this yourself.
@Bryan
You were and are the exception to the rule. Most if not all of the protesters (not all the students) live off of their parents. The students doing it on their own are too busy working to be part of the "protest".
BTW both of my kids went to college with scholarships and student aid. They lived at home because they couldn't afford the dorm. We paid for books, car insurance, etc...But they wanted to do it on their own.
I went to college without help from my folks. I didn't waste my time with idiotic protests. And I worked at the same time.
Bryan I used to live in California. My kids are graduates of Cal-Poly Pomona. I paid taxes in California for years, and took the job here in Chicago because it pays better. So we do have a say in a way.
These kids should be grateful. Tuition here is double what they pay.
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