Walkout to protest cuts Cal Grant checks delayed

U.C. campuses take a stand against increased fees

Jalima Maldonado / Roundup

Students and faculty from the University of California System walked out Sept. 24, the first day of class.

The walkout was intended to protest against the recent budget cuts and fee increases that have occured this academic school year.

From all over California, students and staff from University of California, Los Angeles, U.C. Berkeley, U.C. Irvine and other U.C. campuses rallied against the U.C. system for recent fees, layoffs, cuts in enrollment and furlough days.

BUDGET CUTS—UPTE union members encourage the students to protest against proposed budget cuts by The Regents as they march their way to Murphy Hall where Chancellor Gene Block's office is located.

Sayed Balkhi / Roundup

At noon, UCLA students rallied outside at the Bruin Plaza. Some classes were canceled because of the protest and some professors used the first day to inform students of the budget cuts.

“We are gathered here to let the public understand that we are getting taken advantage of,” said Maria Ponce, political science major at UCLA. “As students, our right for education is being taken away and we are not going to allow that!”

Students and faculty gathered at the Bruin Walk to hand out fliers informing new students of the budgets cuts.

UCLA faculty has received 4- to 10-percent budget cuts and are forced to have furlough days. Furlough days are academic days faculty members are forced to take off, cutting the class time and curriculum for students.

Budget cuts have added more stress to students all over California.

The cost of of education has risen by the thousands, reaching higher than a 30-percent increase, not including books and utilities for student living. Budget cuts have also made it hard for minority students by limiting helpful resources.

UCLA had approximately more than 500 students and staff attend the event — a small amount compared to the amount of students who attend the University — but students and staff did get their

point across. At U.C. Berkeley, around 5,000 students not only walked but marched for student rights. They boycotted their classes in the biggest rally in years.

U.C. Berkeley undergraduate Aaron Ruvalcaba said “There is no way America is going to get educated if the the fees increase we need to fight back.”