"three times the cost only a decade ago"
I'm wondering if some people want an educated America at all. When it comes to education, it should remain affordable. Not all students have wealthy parents; not all students qualify for grants. To throw out such a large increase at once should be illegal. I understand that schools are facing financial difficulties, but there has to be a better alternative than to do something like this....and with such short notice. Do these law makers really 'think' about the long term effects of their decisions?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091119/ap_on_re_us/us_california_university_fees
LOS ANGELES – University of California students will get a much larger tuition bill next year.
The Board of Regents on Thursday approved a 32 percent increase in undergraduate student fees, despite protests by hundreds of demonstrators outside the regents' meeting at UCLA.
By next fall, undergraduate fees will be boosted by $2,500, sending the average annual education cost at a UC campus to more than $10,000.Regents say they had to raise fees because the cash-strapped state government can't meet the university's funding needs.
The decision came as hundreds of students chanted and marched outside the meeting hall to protest the measure. Some students also took over another UCLA building and chained the doors shut.
Police in riot gear kept an eye on the protesters.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Officers armed with beanbag guns stood by as hundreds of protesters chanted, marched and even took over a building Thursday on the UCLA campus, where University of California regents were scheduled to vote on a 32 percent student fee increase.
The UC Board of Regents is considering boosting undergraduate fees — the equivalent of tuition — by $2,500 next year. The average annual fee for a full-time undergraduate would jump to about $10,300 — three times the cost only a decade ago.
For a second day, the proposal drew demonstrators to the University of California, Los Angeles. Some came from other UC campuses and stayed overnight in a tent city.
The demonstrators outside UCLA's Covel Commons building chanted, beat drums and waved signs urging "No fee hikes" and "Wanted: Leadership."
One student was arrested for obstructing an officer. She was cited and released, said UCLA spokesman Phil Hampton.
Campus police in helmets with face shields stood guard outside the conference building. The campus was also being monitored by police from several UC campuses and more than a dozen California Highway Patrol officers armed with beanbag-tossing shotguns.
Laura Zavala, 20, a third-year UCLA student, said she may have to get a second job to afford the increase.
"My family can't support me. I have to pay myself," she said. "It's not fair to students, when they are already pinched."
Ayanna Moody, a second-year pre-law student, said she might have to return to community college next year.
"I worked so hard to be at one of the most prestigious universities. To have to go back, it's very depressing," she said.
"I think it's outrageous," she said of the fee increase. "They've already cut out a lot of our majors and programs. I'd rather they cut some of their (administrator) salaries."
About 30 to 50 protesters staged a takeover of Campbell Hall, a building across campus that houses ethnic studies, Hampton said.
They chained the doors shut but were peaceful and there were no immediate plans to remove them, Hampton said.
No arrests had been made, although 14 demonstrators were arrested on Wednesday and cited for failure to disperse or disturbing the peace.
Demonstrations also were held at other UC campuses.
UC President Mark Yudof told reporters Wednesday he couldn't rule out raising student fees again if the state is unable to meet his request for an additional $913 million next year for the 10-campus system.
"I can't make any ... promises," he said.
After a series of deep cuts in state aid, and with state government facing a nearly $21 billion budget gap over the next year and a half, Board of Regents members said there was no option to higher fees.
"When you have no choice, you have no choice," Yudof said after a Regents' committee endorsed the fee plan Wednesday. "I'm sorry."
The Los Angeles meeting was repeatedly interrupted by outbursts from students and union members, who accused the board of turning its back on the next generation.
"We are bailing out the banks, we are bailing out Wall Street. Where is the bailout for public education?" asked UCLA graduate student Sonja Diaz.
University of California, Irvine, economics student Sarah Bana told the board,
"You are jeopardizing California's future."
___
Associated Press Writer Marcus Wohlsen in Berkeley, Calif., contributed to this report
I'm wondering if some people want an educated America at all. When it comes to education, it should remain affordable. Not all students have wealthy parents; not all students qualify for grants. To throw out such a large increase at once should be illegal. I understand that schools are facing financial difficulties, but there has to be a better alternative than to do something like this....and with such short notice. Do these law makers really 'think' about the long term effects of their decisions?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091119/ap_on_re_us/us_california_university_fees
LOS ANGELES – University of California students will get a much larger tuition bill next year.
The Board of Regents on Thursday approved a 32 percent increase in undergraduate student fees, despite protests by hundreds of demonstrators outside the regents' meeting at UCLA.
By next fall, undergraduate fees will be boosted by $2,500, sending the average annual education cost at a UC campus to more than $10,000.Regents say they had to raise fees because the cash-strapped state government can't meet the university's funding needs.
The decision came as hundreds of students chanted and marched outside the meeting hall to protest the measure. Some students also took over another UCLA building and chained the doors shut.
Police in riot gear kept an eye on the protesters.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Officers armed with beanbag guns stood by as hundreds of protesters chanted, marched and even took over a building Thursday on the UCLA campus, where University of California regents were scheduled to vote on a 32 percent student fee increase.
The UC Board of Regents is considering boosting undergraduate fees — the equivalent of tuition — by $2,500 next year. The average annual fee for a full-time undergraduate would jump to about $10,300 — three times the cost only a decade ago.
For a second day, the proposal drew demonstrators to the University of California, Los Angeles. Some came from other UC campuses and stayed overnight in a tent city.
The demonstrators outside UCLA's Covel Commons building chanted, beat drums and waved signs urging "No fee hikes" and "Wanted: Leadership."
One student was arrested for obstructing an officer. She was cited and released, said UCLA spokesman Phil Hampton.
Campus police in helmets with face shields stood guard outside the conference building. The campus was also being monitored by police from several UC campuses and more than a dozen California Highway Patrol officers armed with beanbag-tossing shotguns.
Laura Zavala, 20, a third-year UCLA student, said she may have to get a second job to afford the increase.
"My family can't support me. I have to pay myself," she said. "It's not fair to students, when they are already pinched."
Ayanna Moody, a second-year pre-law student, said she might have to return to community college next year.
"I worked so hard to be at one of the most prestigious universities. To have to go back, it's very depressing," she said.
"I think it's outrageous," she said of the fee increase. "They've already cut out a lot of our majors and programs. I'd rather they cut some of their (administrator) salaries."
About 30 to 50 protesters staged a takeover of Campbell Hall, a building across campus that houses ethnic studies, Hampton said.
They chained the doors shut but were peaceful and there were no immediate plans to remove them, Hampton said.
No arrests had been made, although 14 demonstrators were arrested on Wednesday and cited for failure to disperse or disturbing the peace.
Demonstrations also were held at other UC campuses.
UC President Mark Yudof told reporters Wednesday he couldn't rule out raising student fees again if the state is unable to meet his request for an additional $913 million next year for the 10-campus system.
"I can't make any ... promises," he said.
After a series of deep cuts in state aid, and with state government facing a nearly $21 billion budget gap over the next year and a half, Board of Regents members said there was no option to higher fees.
"When you have no choice, you have no choice," Yudof said after a Regents' committee endorsed the fee plan Wednesday. "I'm sorry."
The Los Angeles meeting was repeatedly interrupted by outbursts from students and union members, who accused the board of turning its back on the next generation.
"We are bailing out the banks, we are bailing out Wall Street. Where is the bailout for public education?" asked UCLA graduate student Sonja Diaz.
University of California, Irvine, economics student Sarah Bana told the board,
"You are jeopardizing California's future."
___
Associated Press Writer Marcus Wohlsen in Berkeley, Calif., contributed to this report
I remember when I went for a minute in Ohio, you paid 25% down to register, 25% down within 2 weeks and it had to be paid in full before day 1. 
