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2009–2010 California college tuition hike protests

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2009 California college tuition hike protests
DurationSeptember 24, 2009 - December 2009
LocationCalifornia
Arrestedover 200

The 2009 California university college tuition hike protests were a series of protests held on college campuses in the University of California system and elsewhere in California in September through December 2009. Protests were mostly made up of students, although faculty, school employees, and others joined in the protests as well. They were protesting against a 32% rise in tuition costs which was approved by the University of California Board of Regents.[1] Protesters were also demonstrating against a cut in pay other cutbacks for the university system.

Background

Beginning in 2008, the state of California was dealing with a major budget deficit. This led to major spending cuts for its state institutions.[2] The University of California school system was also dealing with large budget deficits. In an effort to curb its deficits, the University of California Board of Regents decided to pass an tuition hike for all 23 of the colleges and universities in the system, including state community colleges and all of the California State Universities. The Regents and University of California President Mark G. Yudof decided to increase tuition by 32%, which would push the annual costs above $10,000 for the first time ever.[1] Yudof's response to the tuition increase was "When you have no money, you have no money" and said that it was an "unfortunate" consequence of the budget deficit.[1]

A major cause of the university system's budget deficit was due to a lack of state support going to higher education. University officials said the tuition increases were needed as they have already done all they could with spending cuts.[3] In the protests, students would point this out by showing that "California #1 in Prison Spending," yet only "#48 in Education."[1] The tuition hike is a two-step increase with the first hike set to go into effect at the beginning of 2010 and the second for the fall semester of 2010.[4] When the Regents voted to pass the tuition hike on November 18, 2009 many students as well as professors and university faculty broke out in protests.[5] The protests have been compared to similar protests which occurred in the 1960s at California universities.[6]

Protests

Demonstrations were held in September and October of 2009 to protests state cuts and layoffs at university campuses in California. Major protests held on September 24 and October 15 were against staff cuts, layoffs and student tuition and fee hikes.[7][8][9] Students at California Maritime Academy protested by having a bake sale and selling cupcakes at $30,000 each.[10]

Major protests against the tuition hikes broke out on the 18th of November 2009 after the regents' vote and in the following days. Students sit-down strikes, blocking cars from entering the universities. Students also hijacked several university buildings, locking themselves inside.[11] Major protests broke out at UC Berkeley, where 41 students were arrested for trespassing for locking themselves inside Wheeler Hall. At UC Santa Cruz, over 100 students participated in a sit-in at the campus' Kerr Hall.[3] They occupied the building for an entire three days before surrendering to police.[12][13] Professors participated in the protests as well, many boycotted by not teaching in the days following the vote to raise tuition

At UC Davis, 51 students and 1 faculty member were arrested at the main administration building. 60 students were arrested at UC Berkley on December 11, 2009 for occupying a school building.[14]

Students chanted slogans such as "Whose university? Our university!" and "Yes we can take back our university."

After the Board of Regents voted students protested outside and chanted "Shame on you" as the Regents left.[3]

Demonstrators occupied an administration building at San Francisco State University for over 23 hours and led to clashes with police until they were eventually forced out.[15]

Violence

Despite nearly all of the protests being peaceful, violent protests occurred. Between 50 and 70 protesters attacked UC Berkeley chancellor Robert Birgeneau's home and threw torches and broke windows. No injuries were reported and 8 of the protesters were arrested by police.[16]

Police response

Officers from the university police departments, local county sheriff's offices, California Highway patrol and state police were all called out during the protests.[17] Riot police responded to the protests with riot gear.[3]

Over 200 students were arrested for taking part in the protests, while many others were taken into police custody for questioning.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Tuition Hikes: Protests in California and Elsewhere". Time. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
  2. ^ "California 'faces budget crisis'". BBC. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Protests of tuition increase continue on California campuses". CNN. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
  4. ^ "Students storm UCLA building to protest expected UC system fee increase". LA Times. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
  5. ^ "UC Regents OKs Fee Increase, Students Protest Tuition Hikes (with video)". ABC News KFSN-TV. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
  6. ^ "Fee hikes bring student protests back to California universities". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
  7. ^ "Students Protest Tuition Increases". The New York Times. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
  8. ^ "University of California campuses erupt into protest". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
  9. ^ "Potluck becomes protest at UC Santa Cruz; 3 pepper sprayed, 1 arrested". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
  10. ^ "Cal-Maritime students cook up unusual type of tuition protest". Contra Costa Times. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
  11. ^ "University of California students protest 32 percent tuition increase". CNN. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
  12. ^ "Student occupation at UC Santa Cruz ends". CNN. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
  13. ^ "Student protests continue at California universities". Press TV. Retrieved 29 November, 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  14. ^ http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/12/uc-berkeley-protests.html
  15. ^ "Protesters cleared out of San Francisco State building, university says". CNN. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
  16. ^ "8 Arrested in Attack on home of UC Berkeley". LA Times. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
  17. ^ "Police Arrest Occupiers Of Wheeler Hall; 41 Arrested". KTVU. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
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