[migrawatch-public] CSU students walkout over fee increases

NEW: Hundreds rally at SF State against university fee
increases
University system officials point out CSU fees among
lowest in nation
By David DeBolt CORRESPONDENT
Inside Bay Area
Article Launched:04/26/2007 06:19:56 PM PDT

SAN FRANCISCO - Noel Estes traded his philosophy textbook
for a bullhorn Wednesday morning, as he joined hundreds of
students protesting a 10 percent increase to tuition at
California state universities for the 2007-08 year during
a walkout at San Francisco State.

"If you're broke put your hands in the air," Estes said
into the bullhorn.

The junior, who transferred from Laney College, said
paying for school was "tough as it is."

"How can you do good (in school) when you are stressing
about the $7 in your pocket?" the Richmond native asked.

The CSU Board of Trustees approved the 10 percent hike in
March increasing undergraduate fees by $252 and graduate
fees $312 per year. The 15-1 vote, which brought
undergraduate fees to $2,772 a year, marked the fifth time
in the last six years the California State University
system has raised its fees.

San Francisco State University President Robert Corrigan
could not be reached for comment but Clara Potes-Fellow,
spokesperson for the CSU system and the CSU chancellor,
said students who attend schools in the system are
privileged because they pay among the lowest tuition in
the nation. She added roughly 222,000 students � or more
than half statewide -- receive financial aid.

The increase will generate $97.7 million and about
one-third of it, $38 million, is to be set aside for
student financial aid, according to a press release the
CSU released in March. A $7 million cut to Outreach
Programs has also been proposed.

Estes skipped his philosophy of art class to join the SF
State students in Malcolm X Plaza at 10 a.m. where a brief
rally was held.

From there the protest moved from building to building as
students filled hallways and chanted for students to leave
the classes they were currently sitting in.

Environmental studies major Andrea Bruce said she attended
the protest because student fees are becoming
"ridiculous."

"Thirty years ago school was almost free," she said.
"Education should be available to everyone."

The walkout was the third by a CSU campus this week with
Tuesday's protest at Cal State East Bay and another at San
Jose State on Wednesday.

Future walkouts are planned at both CSU Monterey Bay and
Sacramento State, with a larger rally planned in
Sacramento May 9.

The state assembly and senate will vote on the final
approval of the proposed budget, which includes the fee
hike, on June 15 at the earliest.

The walkouts have been coordinated by student interns
working for the California Faculty Association and leaders
from different student groups on campus.

At Cal State East Bay, the walkout drew an estimated
500-700 students, said Chantel Johnson, a member of the
Associated Students Inc. Johnson said several students
told her they are writing letters to local legislators and
she hopes their messages will be heard.

"Students were excited to stand up against the fee
increases," Johnson said. Johnson said the majority of
students at East Bay work and many have children or loved
ones they take care of while attending college.

"The traditional college student is the minority here,"
she said.