Why Are We Destroying Public Education? University of California Students and Staff Prepare for System-Wide Strike to Protest

by via Democracy Now

Tue, Nov 17, 2009 7:48AM

Tuesday, November 17, 2009 :The governing body of the University of California system, the Board of Regents, is preparing to vote on a major tuition hike for both undergraduate and graduate students. Undergraduate tuition would rise an average 32 percent, while some graduate schools would begin charging thousands of dollars for programs that are currently tuition-free. The Regents are meeting Thursday at UCLA, where students from across the state are converging for what organizers have dubbed a "Crisis Fest," including mass protests, civil disobedience and teach-ins.

Laura Nader, professor of social cultural anthropology at UC Berkeley, where she has taught for nearly fifty years. Earlier this year she co-authored a measure approved by the UC Berkeley Academic Senate calling on the school’s athletics program to become self-sufficient and stop receiving subsidies from student fees.

Ananya Roy, Professor in the Department of City & Regional Planning at UC Berkeley. She is canceling her classes to take part in this week’s strike.

Blanca Misse, UC Berkeley graduate student and organizer with the Student Worker Action Team.

Michael Cohen, lecturer in American studies at UC Berkeley and co-chair of the Solidarity Alliance, which issued the call for this week’s strike.