Fees should not be foisted on students
In their editorial “Student fees should not be the UC’s crutch” (Nov. 16), the Daily Bruin editorial board sheds light on a pressing issue for UC students: the continuous increase of student fees.
Over the past six years, undergraduate student fees at the UC have increased by 79 percent. According to a report released by the College Board, the increase in education costs for California public universities has been higher than the average national increase in tuition and student fees. This is simply unacceptable.
Many low-income and minority students are already struggling with the high cost of attending the UC, and further increases will only impede access to future generations of this demographic.
Fee increases also put a squeeze on middle-class families who are finding it increasingly difficult to send their children to college. A recent survey from the Public Policy Institute of California shows over two-thirds of the state believe that the cost of college prevents qualified, motivated students from pursuing higher education.
At the regents’ meeting on Wednesday, over two dozen passionate students gathered at UCLA to voice their concerns over the proposed fee increase. Some students discussed missing several quarters of their undergraduate careers due to lack of funding.
Other students shared concerns that their siblings would not be able to attend the UC should costs continue to increase, and of the disgrace that falls upon a system that would make a family choose which one of their children can attend college.
We continue to fight to ensure the accessibility, affordability, and quality of a UC education. The UC Regents need to use their influence to put pressure on California legislators to secure funding for the UC.
We are aware that California is entering yet another bad budget year, but money spent on higher education produces more returns on investment for every dollar spent.
Students should continue to fight against fee increases to ensure that higher education is a right.
Jesse Melgar
University of California Student Association
UCLA USAC – Legislative Liaison
Eunice Kim
University of California Student Association
UCLA GSA – Legislative Liaison