On Thursday, November 20, 2014, UCSB Associated Students’ Lobby Corps held a press conference following the Regents’ vote to approve the UC Office of the President’s proposed fee increase. At the press conference, UC Santa Barbara students, staff, and faculty joined statewide actions to protest the proposed increase.
Photo Credit: Steph Naguyaiiin
Undergraduate student, graduate student, and faculty speakers affirmed that accessible, affordable, quality education is a public good, which must be supported by increased state funding for higher education.
Among the speakers at the press conference: UC – AFT President Robert Samuels, UC SBFA President Claudio Fogu, Assemblymember Das Williams, Associated Students Lobby Corps Co-Chairs Mohsin Mirza and Mathew Burciaga, UCSB UAW 2865 Unit Chair Aviva Milner-Brage, UCSB alumnus Daraka Larimore-Hall, UCSB alumna Monte-Angel Richardson.
Following the press conference, attendees marched to Cheadle Hall to deliver students’ demands that the state legislature oppose the fee increase by restoring funding to public higher education in California.
Following the Regents’ vote, organizing across all UC campuses will continue; with the aim of averting a tuition increase by securing state funding for higher education. All UCSB faculty, staff, students, as well as community members and parents are invited to participate in planning and actions.
For more information about ongoing organizing, please join the Free UC Facebook group or join our EducateUC listserv via this form.