California Students Protest Spending Cuts

This past Monday, approximately 2000 students protested across the state of California against Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s call for a 10% across-the-board reduction in state spending, an effort he says is to balance the state’s budget. With a projected deficit of $14 billion in 2009, the governor’s initiative would require that the University of California, California State University, and the California Community College system reduce their spending while increasing student fees.

The rallies were held in Sacramento at the state capitol building, in Los Angeles at Pershing Square, and in San Francisco, San Diego, and Humboldt County. With about 1500 protesters in attendance, the Sacramento rally was by far the largest, and the loudest.

Fees have nearly doubled in the past six years for students in the UC and CSU systems, with additional increases expected to cover costs. Californians have long been accustomed to paying some of the lowest rates for higher education in the country, but the state’s ability to keep increases in check have been hampered by the financial deficit. Revenue (taxes) in the state continue to fall short of projections.

Monday’s demonstrators are planning to resume their protesting on May 14 when the UC Board of Regents meets in Los Angeles to consider raising tuition. In addition, demonstrators are also planning to return to the Capitol in Sacramento on May 19th to hold a “study-in” protest.

Tuition and fees at many of California’s state-backed institutions have tripled since 1990.

(Source: SFGate.com)

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