An estimated 600 demonstrators continued rallying today outside of Covel Commons, protesting the 32 percent student fee increases approved by the UC Board of Regents.
After the police-student interactions during protests on Wednesday, demonstrators adjusted the tone of the rally, emphasizing student safety and holding a “flash mob.”
On Wednesday, student protesters broke through the barricades and pushed past university police officers, attempting to get into the regents meetings held in Covel.
Police responded by using nightsticks and Taser guns to move the crowd back.
“We want to keep this a peaceful protest as much as possible,” said Emilio Lacques, national affairs director for the Undergraduate Students Association Council external vice president’s office. “What happened yesterday was a miscommunication.”
This morning, the student protesters organized a flash mob in which all of the participants laid down on the ground silently, intending to remain there for five minutes to symbolize their death, and in turn the death of their education. However, only one or two minutes into the event did students start shouting, “Don’t want to be dead; I’d rather fight instead!”
“(The flash mob) did go well,” said Randi Burley, a third-year philosophy and art student. “(But) a couple of people who disagreed started chanting, so it didn’t last for five minutes.”
Other students stood outside Covel, repeating “No cuts, no fees; education should be free” and other slogans. Students then dispersed to different areas of campus, including various lecture halls and Bruin Plaza.
The students marched at one point down Gayley Avenue, and continued through De Neve Plaza. Protesting also occurred at Campbell Hall earlier this morning.
USAC Academic Affairs Commissioner Layhannara Tep said that with the larger population of protesters today, different groups chose to go where they felt demonstration was needed.
However, students said this separation led to confusion, so they headed back to Covel to focus more on communicating their opinions to the regents.
“We want to send a message that this (fee hike) is not okay,” Tep said.