A rally is part cheerleading squad and part frustrated mob. It’s usually a hodgepodge of facts and outrage that drowns out the relevant issues. The walkout and rally yesterday is no different. However, underneath the incendiary cries of “UC Regent, I see Racist” and “Chop from the Top,” there are several key issues that affect all UCLA students, regardless of creed, color and socioeconomic status.
First, tuition is going up. This year, the tuition increased by 9.3 percent, as stated in the University of California Students Association’s resolution. But library services, tutoring services, writing and arts labs, working hours, and other services for students have been reduced or scrapped. We are obviously paying more for less. With two possible 15 percent student-fee increases on the horizon for undergraduates and graduates this coming year, I’m pinning my hopes on winning the lottery.
Second, by laying off lecturers, teaching assistants, and the like, there are fewer classes, with more people. Crowded classes choke academic discourse. Imagine 20 to 25 students crushed into one of those A-level rooms in Humanities ““ hot and stuffy does not promote critical thought. Fewer classes also create congested majors. I dub it the bottleneck phenomena in larger majors with extensive prerequisites and required classes. Smaller majors such as international developmental studies don’t have to worry about it since they’re headed to the scrapper anyway.
Third, the walkout and rally were in solidarity with faculty, the University of California Students Association, university staff unions, and other organizations. Despite their varied backgrounds and interests, they all feel that the current decisions threaten the academic integrity of UCLA, and undermine the promise of affordability and access and shared governance pledged by the charter of the University of California and President Mark Yudof respectively. There are more that affect the quality of life and education at UCLA, but these issues pertain directly to students.
Mier’s casual dismissal of these issues and the actions taken to combat them, in her column (“We should direct ire over cuts at Sacramento,” Sept. 24) astounds me. I’d like to clarify some misunderstandings.
First, the students comprehend just fine ““ UCSA has a full-time legislative director and organizers, as well as contacts at Sacramento and the UC Office of the President, as stated on their Web site.
Second, the rally was not “just to complain about President Yudof.” You can do that more comfortably and with less work, over chips and drinks. The rally’s purpose was to mobilize students, and provide a show of strength to gain the attention of Chancellor Gene Block and President Yudof. We, as students, have only the one student regent to represent the interests of thousands of UC students. That’s ridiculous.
The only other way to make ourselves heard is to make enough noise for the administration to take notice. Having a large group of faculty, students and workers rallying outside ensures that our designated representatives to Chancellor Block’s office aren’t turned away with some polite “hmm”-ing, and an “I’ll let the chancellor know.” That’s called a brush-off, dressed up nicely in a diplomatic evasion.
Third, the organizers have a definitive plan of action. They don’t want more money. They want full disclosure of the budget and a reprioritization of the budget. They demand that the university administration confer with faculty and students in a democratic process when making decisions that affect the access, affordability and quality of education at the UCs. At UCLA specifically, they demanded a meeting with Block. The meeting is scheduled for second week. I’d term that a success.
Most protesters are the ones who can’t afford the hike in tuition or cutbacks on working hours. I don’t have the money to pay the two probable increases in tuition ““ that’s more than $3,000 a quarter.
Most importantly, why should I pay more, when student services, programs, and small majors are being cut? Why am I, a student, being penalized to cover the deficits of the government? Why are the burdens of the economic crisis being shoved onto students?
There are other issues besides the monetary concerns and the decrease in student services and classes.
However, these resonate most immediately with students, with the closure of Night Powell, tutoring services and the threat of scrapping majors like international development studies.
We should be highly critical of the UC Regents’ decisions when they no longer benefit the UC students and the residents of California. If it’s a matter of inadequate representation, I’ll sign any number of petitions and resolutions. And if a rally is the best way to get their attention, I will attend ““ whenever I can. Frankly, I had a hard time deciding whether or not to walk out. I’d rather not have to do it again.
Fowzia Sharmeen
Fourth-year, English
Al-Talib staff