To protest fee hikes and express student and faculty discontent, around 120 students assembled in Royce Quad at 11:45 a.m. as part of the March 4 National Day of Action to Defend Education.
A group of about 30 students, professors and members of unions and activist groups gathered in Bruin Plaza at 11 a.m. Students began marching from Bruin Walk to Dickson Plaza, assembling at Royce Quad at 11:45.
Around 100 students, bearing banners and signs, marched in a circle at Bruin Plaza at 12 p.m., chanting,”Bring the money to us!” and “Who’s university? Our university!”
Protests began at 8 a.m. at Ackerman Turnaround and moved to the Plaza later that morning, said Michael Wartenee, member of the United Workers of America, which represents over 800 unions throughout the country.
“We want to raise awareness about fee hikes and budget cuts,” he said. “We might not be able to change everything, and the fee hikes may not come down, but we just want the regents to notice that there is a large majority of people who are going to stand up to face these issues.”
Representatives of graduate students, student workers and workers from UCLA campus services attended the demonstrations, along with students from Bruin Lobby Corps and the California Democracy Act Coalition.
“We are in a financial crisis and the bosses are trying to make the students work to pay the price,” said Christian Haesemeyer, a UCLA mathematics professor. “We shouldn’t take it lying down.”
A group of about 60 students assembled to protest at Janss steps at 12 p.m. while about 200 continued to rally in Bruin Plaza as of 12:30 p.m.
Compiled by Shoshee Jau and Andra Lim, Bruin contributors