The action came as thousands of students, teachers and others rallied today at UC Berkeley, San Francisco State University and many other schools across the Bay Area and beyond. They expressed anger and frustration over the decline in funding for California’s beleaguered public education system. The demonstrations were largely peaceful, with protesters carrying signs, chanting, singing and sharing personal stories. However, there were efforts by some to make a more forceful – and at times disruptive or violent – statement.
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by Nanette Asimov, Matthai Kuruvila,Justin Berton, and other Chronicle Staff Writers, The San Francisco Chronicle.
Posted: March 4th, 2010, by: admin. Categories: . Awaiting Comments.
Angered by increases in tuition and cuts in state financing, thousands of students, parents and faculty members protested across California on Thursday at colleges, universities and even elementary schools to plead for help with the state’s education crisis. Called a "strike and day of action to defend public education" by organizers, the demonstrations were boisterous and occasionally confrontational — campus and building entrances were blocked at several schools — but they were largely peaceful.
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by Jesse McKinley, The New York Times.
Posted: March 4th, 2010, by: admin. Categories: . Awaiting Comments.
"We’ve done everything we could, but the bottom line is it’s not enough," he said after Wednesday’s meeting. "We need to put pressure on the Legislature not only this year in a year of crisis, but in the future, how do we guarantee enough funding for education?" Schwarzenegger in January pledged to preserve higher education funding at least at its current level… Since Schwarzenegger took office in 2004, prisons have eaten up an increasing share of the general fund
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by Robin Hindery, The San Jose Mercury News.
Posted: March 3rd, 2010, by: admin. Categories: . Awaiting Comments.
In an intimate meeting with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday afternoon, a handful of University of California students said greater funding of higher education would help pull the state out of its recession and asked him to back away from a proposal to reduce the Cal Grant program that covers university fees for needy students… Schwarzenegger’s January budget proposal is relatively kind to the state’s public universities. While he proposed cuts in every other area of government, he suggested increasing funding to UC and CSU by 12 percent. But the governor’s budget calls for suspending the so-called "competitive" Cal Grant, which would eliminate scholarship funding for up to 22,500 students. And it would freeze remaining Cal Grant payments at the current level, meaning students would have to pay the difference every time fees go up.
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by Laurel Rosenhall
, The Sacramento Bee.
Posted: March 2nd, 2010, by: admin. Categories: . Awaiting Comments.
Five UC students were arrested Monday at the office of Assemblyman Jim Nielsen after refusing to leave unless the Gerber (Tehama County) Republican pledged to preserve funding for higher education and increase student diversity… It was a dramatic moment that stood in contrast to a day when small groups of students in business attire met with lawmakers or their aides to express frustration at Sacramento’s failure to maintain its world-class public university systems. The students urged them to create a dedicated funding stream for higher education, fully fund Cal Grants and roll back fee increases. But they got few firm commitments.
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by Nanette Asimov, The San Francisco Chronicle.
Posted: March 1st, 2010, by: admin. Categories: . Awaiting Comments.
Last year, while student enrollment increased 1.8 percent, total employment decreased and faculty numbers remained flat, the numbers of senior administrators increased 3 percent. If the university wants more money from the state, the regents, system President Mark Yudof, the 10 campus chancellors and 250 top executives must shrink the disproportionate growth of middle management ranks, their subordinates. This isn’t just a matter of cost. It is a matter of priorities
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by The Editors, The Sacramento Bee.
Posted: February 28th, 2010, by: admin. Categories: . Awaiting Comments.
The LAO report drew an immediate protest from the Community College League of California. According to the League’s President and Chief Executive Officer Scott Lay, any significant fee increase could have a devastating impact on enrollment, forcing tens of thousands of students to forgo an education. "It is impossible to believe that the State can raise fees and not expect a drop in enrollment," said Lay. "I understand that the LAO is trying to give the best recommendation possible according to the budget but it has to take student enrollment into account."
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by Shoaib Najmuddin, Student Voice.
Posted: February 26th, 2010, by: admin. Categories: . Awaiting Comments.
The state "is giving more money to prisons, they’re pumping more money into war, they’re giving tax breaks to corporations," Urista said. "If more of the students really knew the nitty-gritty of what’s going on, more of them would feel empowered." As it stands, tens of thousands of students and teachers
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by Matt Krupnick, The San Jose Mercury News.
Posted: February 26th, 2010, by: admin. Categories: . Awaiting Comments.
Seventeen students and university employees were arrested Wednesday at UC Irvine after they staged a sit-in outside the chancellor’s office to protest about several issues involving UCI and other University of California campuses… Edward Abeyta, an advisor to the board of regents, was on campus for another issue when he visited Aldrich Hall to see the demonstrations. "I think this is just the start of an overall movement that prioritizes student issues," Abeyta said. "It’s a microcosm and reflection of what our leadership in Sacramento has to address."
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by Joseph Serna, The Daily Pilot.
Posted: February 25th, 2010, by: admin. Categories: . Awaiting Comments.
In an attempt to draw attention to increasing fees and steep budget cuts, advocates for UC will be holding protests throughout California at the various UC campuses, as well as at the State Capitol in Sacramento. Two separate, non-affiliated rallies will take place Mar. 1 and 4 to address student concerns and bring these concerns to the administration and California’s legislative body.
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by Rebecca Shragge, The California Aggie.
Posted: February 25th, 2010, by: admin. Categories: . Awaiting Comments.
