March 4 Education across the USA

photo: UC Berkeley campus. The students are referencing the decision made by the University of California (UC) Board of Regents to raise UC system student fees (tuition) 32%, beginning with the 2010 - 2011 school year.

100+ protests against public education cuts took place in 30+ states yesterday.

Much of the action took place in the State of California.


photo: UC Davis campus

From this March 3rd CNN article: State funding for the California State University system was reduced by nearly $1 billion for the academic years between 2008 and 2010. Schools have responded by increasing fees, canceling classes, cutting student support programs and furloughing professors.

From 2002 to 2009 fees increased by 182 percent, and annual 10 percent increases are expected.

"The less affordable education becomes, the less likely low-income students will be able to get a college education," said Lillian Taiz, president of the California Faculty Association and professor of history at California State University, Los Angeles.

Alejandro Lara-Briseno -- the first in his family to attend college -- now doubts he will be able to finish. "I remember when I was accepted to the University of California, Berkeley, my mother started crying," he said.

"The university administration is not discussing with students or unions their decisions to cut recruitment and retainment centers that help minority students," he said.



photo: UCLA campus


From this March 4 NYT article: One of the largest demonstrations in California took place here on the north steps of the Capitol, where more than 1,000 people used drums, bullhorns, and scores of young voices to try to get their message across.

“How are we going to save the future if we can’t even get into our classes?” said Reid E. Milburn, the president of the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, referring to tuition increases and reductions in the number of courses.


photo: Los Angeles City College campus

To stay in the loop, keep reading UC Berkeley's student newspaper The Daily Californian. Here's a sample of the paper's reporting. If you get impatient while watching the video then skip to 3:30 minutes and watch through to the end.