Fighting Breaks Out and Arrests are Made in London and California Over Tuition Increases

The following summary of events is based upon despatches appearing in the New York Times and the San Francisco Chronicle.

According to the Times article, A coalition of Liberal Democrats and Conservatives have agreed to raise tuition costs. In American dollars the proposed raises means that old cap of $5264 is now being waived; the new costs will range from $9600 to $14, 400.

In the late 1990's there was no charge for tuition.

This follows the Liberal Democrat's promise last year to abolish tuition completely. So, in protest, about 52,000 students gathered near Parliament on November 10th; students fought with police, lit flares, threw projectiles including eggs and bottles and shattered windows of the building housing the Conservative party.

35 students were arrested and 14 were injured.

In California, hundreds of students gathered in front a building in San Francisco where the Regents were meeting to discuss proposed tuition increases. Almost 100 police in riot gear stood outside to fend off any student advances during this second of three days of deliberation.

Students attempted to storm the building and were repelled with pepper spray and batons. A skirmish started in which one officer lost his baton and purportedly drew his weapon when he heard that students planned to disarm him. More students pressed forward and during the scuffle "several officers fell backward down the stairs."

Police arrested 11 protestors.

Last November the regents raised fees 32% which touched off protests. Now the proposal is to raise them again by 8%. This means that the current tuition of $10, 302 will rise to $11, 124 by next fall. In California, about half the students pay no tuition because of financial aid. So, those that do not qualify must pay more to help subsidize that do qualify.

Currently the subsidies are valid where family income is less than $70,000.

Large University systems such as the one in England are in trouble because due to the severe economic times, the government has less tax revenue to support higher education. California's government has a massive deficit of $26 Billion dollars and is looking for ways to cut back on education subsidies.

The Regents is looking to the federal government to increase research grants, is trying to increase number out-of-state enrollments (these students pay more for tuition) and delaying the pay-out of maximum retirement benefits from age 62-65.

It is understandable that students in both countries are frustrated, angry and pushed to the extreme by these massive hikes in fees. Their only outlet appears to be congregating to protest and the protesting has oftenled to violence as we have seen.


Legislators, regents and private individuals and foundations must work together to find solutions to keep universal education open to all.

Tune in to learn more on this continuing saga.

I wish to commend two outstanding journalists for their respective stories : Sarah Lyall of the New York Times and Nanette Asimov of The San Francisco Chronicle (Regents Meeting: Face-
Off Over UC Tuition, November 18, 2010).