SFSU Students Take Over Building in Protest

[christiangirl]

This is going on right now: http://www.kcbs.com/pages/5854198.ph...tentId=5195873

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- A protest was held on the San Francisco State campus over budget cuts and fee increases Wednesday, with student organizers taking over the school’s business building.

It’s the week before finals at SFSU, and protestors say they didn’t want to let the semester go by without making some kind of statement on the recent fee increases brought on by California’s budget problems.

The 20 or so protestors inside the building donned masks and blocked the entrances to the building with desks and chairs, while another 30 protestors gathered outside.

Students tell KCBS that paying $2,300 to $2,400 in tuition next semester prices many working-class students out of a college education.

I was going to because EVERY school has tuition increases and nothing can be done about inflation. However, according to the school website, tuition right now is between $1167-$2013 (depending on how many credits you have). If they really are hiking tuition from $1167 to $2300 then, yes, that's unreasonable.

[Kevin]

That's not unreasonable at all. California has always had ridiculous subsidies for higher ed. Californians can now take out student loans like the rest of the country.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Not unreasonable? They are doubling tuition from one semester to another.

[christiangirl]

^^^You just said it--the state is broke. Not just the government, but the residents as well. Sure, everyone's tuition goes up but doubled? That may very well drive DOWN the number of enrolled students and then were will the school be?

And we take out plenty of loans, thanks. Sallie Mae hounds Californians just like the rest of the country.

Nothing on the news has been updated (at least not what I'm looking at) so I guess they're still in there. A couple hours ago, the police said they would just let them stay in there for awhile and not get confrontational.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by dakish

The state is broke. They should do away with the subsidies and raise the tuition to about 10k.

anybody else get a MMITY moment?

[christiangirl]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

anybody else get a MMITY moment?

Something was fishy and I couldn't put my finger on it, but now you mention it...

[Psi U MC Vito]

And I just realized the name. Kish?

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

Not unreasonable? They are doubling tuition from one semester to another.

In most other places, tuition is MUCH higher than this. It's either force kids to take out loans so they can get higher paying jobs or take food or cut other vital infrastructure, primary/secondary ed or health and human services programs when those programs have been cut to the bone.

Or California could simply start denying benefits to illegals...

[Psi U MC Vito]

Oh I understand that other states are much higher. But I don't see the logic in forcing somebody to shell out twice as much mid year. If they were going to jump that much they should have at least waited until the next academic year at least IMO.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by Kevin

In most other places, tuition is MUCH higher than this.

For reals! When I was in school in CA, it cost around $3000 for the whole YEAR (and I was in school right across the bay from SFSU) and that was if you took 6+ credits. So it didn't matter if it was 12, 14, 16, etc units it was all $3000.

At my school in TX, it's around $3000 each SEMESTER (for a minimal amount of credits) and then it's like almost $200 more for each additional credit. So 12, 14, 16 credits are all varying amounts.

So when I hear about a bunch of these protests or even people from my old school (in CA) complaining, I just just cause I paid double in 1 year what they pay,

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

Oh I understand that other states are much higher. But I don't see the logic in forcing somebody to shell out twice as much mid year. If they were going to jump that much they should have at least waited until the next academic year at least IMO.

Then what other program would you cut? Or would you stop giving entitlements to illegals?

The state budget has a finite supply of cash. When you're subsidizing higher ed at a significantly higher rate than other states, it's not a hard decision as to where the cut needs to be made -- especially when federally subsidized loans are available to pay for these things.

Really, the other 49 states are looking at these California students and thinking that they area bunch of spoiled douches. A whole $3000 per semester?? That'd be a bargain anywhere these days.

[Kappamd]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Then what other program would you cut? Or would you stop giving entitlements to illegals?

The state budget has a finite supply of cash. When you're subsidizing higher ed at a significantly higher rate than other states, it's not a hard decision as to where the cut needs to be made -- especially when federally subsidized loans are available to pay for these things.

Really, the other 49 states are looking at these California students and thinking that they area bunch of spoiled douches. A whole $3000 per semester?? That'd be a bargain anywhere these days.

Pretty much.

[christiangirl]

I don't think it particularly matters what the other states think because this isn't happening to other states. (Or rather other SCHOOLS, not every CA university has tuition that low). Other schools are used to tuition being $4,000/$5,000/$6,000 a semester. SFSU students have grown accustomed to this price and that is what they set their budgets around, that is what they have become capable of. To hike tuition by THAT much forces them so far beyond their many if not most cannot possibly cope. On average, college tuition goes up 8% a year and people have a hard time with that--I'm not saying one school's tuition should or should not stay lower than the national average, but a sharp 100% increase would throw anybody into a tailspin.

[Kappamd]

California students can take out loans just like everyone else. Sorry, but I have zero sympathy for them.

Also, their situation isn't unique. Schools all over the country, many with MUCH higher tuition, are implementing increases. Sure, they may not be as obviously drastic, but when you combine it with a twofold increase in fees, increases in room and board, etc., it adds up.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Can anybody name another school anywhere where the cost will go up 100% in one academic semester?