At yesterday’s UC Board of Regents meeting, roughly 500 student protesters blocked entrances to the venue, stalling the three-day gathering on its last day of discussion at the UCSF Mission Bay campus.
The Regents discussed approval of the 2013-2014 university budget, touching on the implications of Proposition 30’s passage as well as tactics that would more efficiently allocate current UC funds. At around 10 a.m., about 10 student activists delayed the meeting when they stood up and chanted demands for tuition reductions and other measures to increase accessibility to public higher education.
Students interested in learning more about UC budgetary issues have the opportunity to do so at today’s Student Regent Meet and Greet, which will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in UCSB’s Loma Pelona Room 1108.
The event — which is being held by the External Vice President of Statewide Affairs Office — will host presentations by current Student Regent Jonathan Stein and Student Regent Designate Cinthia Flores, who will both participate in a Q&A session discussing prominent issues and concerns regarding the future of the UC system.
At yesterday’s protests, when students did not adhere to requests to stop their actions, chair of the Board of the UC Regents Sherry Lansing brought the meeting to a halt, asking UCSF Police Department officers to assist in emptying the auditorium.
Meanwhile, more than 80 students attempted to reignite the Occupy Cal movement, holding banners while they stood outside the administrative meeting.
The protests come after board meetings earlier this week that discussed budgetary measures and other resolutions for coping with decreased state funding. At Wednesday’s meeting, the board requested increased amounts of funding from state government in an effort to prevent future tuition hikes and other cuts to the UC system. In response, Governor Jerry Brown and Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom declined such requests, stating that such proposals are not aligned with the restrictions of cur- rent state funds.
UC Student Association President Raquel Morales called for the board to increase budgetary efforts assisting the University, adding that they should strive to secure an affordable future for UC students.
“Students and families will be angry and shocked if, after voting for an eight billion revenue increase, they continue to pay more and get less from the UC,” Morales said. “We need your leadership to ensure that further fee increases are not considered as an option. The potential annual six percent fee increase [is] an unacceptable attack on the accessibility and affordability of the UC system, with the continued disinvestment from our education.”
Morales added that state government should consider the financial constraints continually being imposed on UC students.
“Students are out here trying to func- tion, and we need you to have our backs,” Morales said. On Tuesday’s meeting, university officials and regents discussed the UCSB Long Range Development Plan, assessing the 2013-2014 budget for state capital improvements while proposing to build a San Francisco Mission Bay Faculty Office Building.
Second-year economics and political science double major Sydney Bennet, the campus organizing director for the
EVPSA Office, said students should attend tomorrow’s student regent event in order to gain additional knowledge about UC budgetary issues and resolutions.
“Hopefully we can show the Regents that we care about our school and the UC system as a whole,” Bennet said. “We will work to ensure our voice is heard.”
— Staff Report
A version of this article appeared on page 3 of November 16, 2012’s print edition of the Nexus.
This is a pretty biased account. It says nothing of the law breaking activities that went on.
I was there. I live in the neighborhood. The protesters blocked me from driving down the street… they blocked people that needed to go to work or do their job… people that need to feed families. When I got out of my car, I was pushed and shoved by three protesters. I support peaceful protest but breaking the law and depriving others of their rights is a selfish and foolish way to do it.
We let people in who needed to go to the hospital, but even the staff were understanding and supportive of our cause. Picketing does not break the law; if UC staff went on strike, if nurses, doctors, anyone who wants to better the future like students are trying to, we as a collective body would have stood with them. As I recall, the two or three dissenters would being rude and antagonizing the students before action was even taken.
Not to mention calling students “selfish children” because the street to the gym was blocked. There is nothing selfish about not being able to afford 13,000 dollars+ a year for an education.
Right Kelcey It’s the old “end justifies the means” argument. Well if you want to influence people to your position, pissing them off, pushing them around and breaking the law is a poor way to do it. If you were one of those people, you are a thug and nothing more. BTW… from what I gather your fact sheet must have been written by an ex-Romney staff member. 45% of the students get a free ride… paid for by my taxes. The average student pays $4,400 which also must be heavily subsidized. If you are truly paying $13k… you must… Read more »
So, what you’re saying is that protesting, student action, picketing has never accomplished anything? You obviously haven’t seen this year’s student voter numbers, then. Quote comedian Demitri Martin, “When someone refers to themselves as a tax payer, they’re about to be an asshole”.Your taxes don’t pay for student debt, students do. You’re avoiding the fact that you, sir, were out there on the picket line yourself, calling students “selfish”–which makes you no more mature than a bunch of protesters, right?? What I gather from you, is that you’re a baby boomer that doesn’t have to look forward to 30+ years… Read more »
There is a world of difference between peaceful protest and the anarchy that you support. The Wall Street movement originally had broad support but was then hijacked by a radical fringe who advocated anarchy. An important movement, that could have produced important change, became irrelevant because of a few thick headed individuals. I have always supported students and have volunteered my time to many of the local schools over the years. People like me, who historically support student causes, will become your opponents if you continue to act like criminals. The protest last week was lead by an old grey… Read more »
I don’t assume you know enough about me to tell ME about MY political views; standing up for educating is not supporting anarchy–in fact, its the opposite. I’m a large proponent of free education, meaning government-involved. No anarchy here. Check your facts. In fact, you’re saying little else but calling people things: anarchists, thick-headed, etc. Your “people like me” is a generalization, at best. What law did we break? The police were notified about the traffic concerns, the few who pushed you were not breaking the law on behalf of the movement, you incited agitation and they reacted wrongly. You… Read more »
Check your own facts Kelsey. Pushing me around is breaking the law. Obstructing the road is breaking the law. I’m glad the police were there to protect my neighborhood from people like you. I have stood up to gangs and thief’s in my neighborhood. I’m not going to put up with selfish people like you who will tread on my rights in order to advance their own self interest.
Twist the words any way you want. In the end, you are a loser full of lame excuses.
Check your privilege, old man. You can’t even formulate a half-way decent argument without calling someone a name like loser. You want to debate, grow up, first. You still haven’t addressed the fact that if you’re such an advocate of PEACEFUL protest, why you were out on the picket line calling people names, antagonizing the students, getting news interviews. You’re looking to piss people off, get your fifteen minutes. You’re bored with your own life and don’t need to worry about the things we do–and you couldn’t go to the gym; OH NO WE’RE BREAKING THE LAW. You’re obviously getting… Read more »
You reveal yourself more with each message. I see now that you don’t even live here. You are a tourist… an imported trouble maker. No wonder you are so willing to come to my neighborhood and disrespect people. You don’t see it now, but your tactics will not succeed any more than holding your breath or having a temper tantrum. The students that I know are way too intelligent to fall for your selfish, self-serving rhetoric and flaccid logic. I’m bullish on the future and I know that you will be irrelevant to it. Go home, you are not welcome… Read more »
Please stop telling me who I am or all the bullshit you think you know about me. You keep proving yourself to be wrong post after post. I’m not saying, nor have I ever said, that you’re not entitled to an opinion, but I thought you should not that bullying people is not a correct response either. You’re acting like a child on the internet, sir. I’m not the one throwing a tantrum because I couldn’t drive to the gym. Again, you’ve failed to address you’re behavior. If you’re going to use BS debate-rhetoric on me, then I’ll say silence… Read more »
Right… you come to my neighborhood, push me around, break the law and then lecture me on civility. You are full of yourself.