ANGIE LEVINE/Daily Bruin Third-year political science
student Andrew Reinicke (left) holds up an
anti-rally sign as others rallied for the passage of AB 540.
By Noah Grand and Kelly
Rayburn
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Demanding the UC Regents lower student fees for undocumented
immigrants and out-of-state students, 200-300 people marched from
Royce Quad to Covel Commons Wednesday.
The board will vote today on Assembly Bill 540 — which allows
out-of-state and immigrant students who spent three years at a
California high school and graduated to pay in-state tuition costs.
For the 2002-03 academic year, non-California resident tuition is
$11,132, compared to $4,229 for in-state students.
Though AB 540 was signed into law by Gov. Gray Davis in October,
the bill will only apply to the UC if approved by the regents,
since the board operates independently of the California
Constitution.
“We are here in peace and solidarity to demand that the UC
Regents implement AB 540 for the University of California,”
Chicano/a Studies and political science student Eric Lopez said
through a bullhorn to the chanting crowd that marched with drums
and signs.
“The lives of many students are in the hands of the
regents,” he added as cheers grew.
Advocates of AB 540 argue the bill helps make education more
accessible for potential students who, though non-residents,
contribute to California’s economy and educational
system.
Others, however, view the bill as a “free pass” to
non-residents who live in the state but don’t pay as much in
taxes as other Californians.
Andrew Reinicke, a third-year political science and history
student, stood behind the rally at Royce with a sign reading
“UC Access for Citizens, No on AB 540,” in what he
called his one-man protest.
“They’re not playing by the rules; they’re not
becoming citizens,” Reinicke said of non-residents. “If
they don’t want to (become legal citizens) that’s fine,
but don’t come … to us looking for a handout.”
But the protesters had a handout of their own, carrying 781
letters and 2,500 signatures in favor of AB 540 when they were
stopped by UCPD, who blocked all entrances to the regents meeting
on the second floor of Covel.
While explaining to police that they wanted to speak before the
regents, alumni Regent Jeff Seymour and Regent-designate Alfredo
Terrazas met the students at the blockade to accept the letters and
petitions.
“You have been very successful in focusing us on this
issue,” Seymour told the participants. “You have every
right to be here.”
Both regents told protesters that they supported AB 540, but
they wanted to make sure any similar UC policy would be upheld in
the case of a lawsuit. They said that even if they must wait until
a future regents meeting to create and approve a strong policy,
they would wait.
Despite having more than 200 protesters next to the dorms, UCPD
Chief of Police Clarence Chapman said disruption from the rally was
held to a minimum. Classes in Covel Commons were held as usual,
though students had to pass both protesters and the police blockade
to reach their classroom.
“Academically, it was business as usual,” Chapman
said.
The protest remained peaceful, and police made no arrests.