Hundreds of UC San Diego students staged a sit-in Tuesday morning, a day before the UC Board of Regents is set to vote on a tuition hike.
Students dressed in black sat on the sidewalk outside Geisel Library as part of the statewide “Day of Action.” They chanted and held signs reading “Education Is Our Right” and “Freeze Tuition Now.”
But UC President Janet Napolitano says the university system has no choice but to raise tuition, citing pension costs and inadequate funding from the state, among other factors.
Napolitano’s proposal would raise tuition 5 percent a year over the next five years at all UC schools. That means the average tuition would increase from $12,192 to $12,804 next fall and $15,564 in 2019, according to the Associated Press.
Tuition has remained the same the past three years.
UCSD provided the following statement to NBC 7 regarding Tuesday’s protest:
It's appropriate that students vigorously express their opinion on the tuition proposal and the continued funding shortfalls provided by the state. We hope that students understand that the real issue is how the state of California funds the university. The state has reduced funding to the University of California by 25% in last ten years yet enrollment continues to grow.
Local
Still, students say they can’t afford the hike.
“Definitely going to have to apply for more financial aid. If that doesn’t cover it, that means loans for me,” said UCSD student Haley Asturias.
“I’m already worrying about my studies. Now I have to worry about financial issues. It’s just a lot of stress,” she added.
“They look at the prices, and they’re scary,” said Nicolas Monteiro, another UCSD student.
California Gov. Jerry Brown opposes increasing tuition.
The UC Board of Regents is meeting Tuesday through Thursday in San Francisco.
