Students Protest State Budget Cuts
Student protestors took to the streets on and around the UCLA campus Wednesday in protest of tuition hikes and budget cuts
"I think most people are feelign confused and angry," said Caroline Luce, a member of the UCLA Graduate Student Union. "Most people can see that something is wrong when the University of California proposed this fee increase that would make it cost $22,000 a year. It's tough to consider that real affordable pubilc education."
Since the UC school system announced in September a tuition increase from 8 to 16 percent annually, students have reacted harshly.
Hundreds of people gathered with protest signs such as "Chop From Top", "Executives Pay Increase" and "Make Banks Pay" to express their concern. They walked along with tambourines and megaphones chanting "Reversing tuition increases, layoffs cuts to public education" and "Refund education make banks pay."
"We're going to do whatever we can to insert ourselves in this decision making process and try to express our voices as students and employees," said Luce.
Banks and corporations are involved in this new segment of budget cuts. With more state-funding, a possible increase in course sections, professors, and enrollement could occur in the UC System.
"The state has been failing to provide in mandate for the citizens of California," Luce said. "Students bear of about 17 percent of course education and the state is only earning 10 percent."
Education officials at UCLA say that accepting more out-of-state and international students could prevent future budget cuts.
"We as citizens of California need to consider what kind of state they want to see, what kind of state they want to live in, and we will do whatever we can to make that happen," Luce said. "If that means marching then march. If that means voting then vote. If that means loybbing then lobby. Any direction we need to see this surge of change."
For now, officials are saying all they can do currently is to find more solutions to stop any future budget cuts.
[...] Students Protest State Budget Cuts [...]