California Universities Will Fight New Fees

Many students at California's public university system are determined to work toward rolling back the governor's budget proposal. This new proposal is expected to raise UC campus fees to 7% and 10% for Cal State undergraduate students.

This proposal, if passed, will go into effect next year. The Legislature and academic governing boards, however, plan to keep community college costs at $20 a unit. This fee dropped last year from $26 a unit. The increased fee for UC and Cal State students will not include housing, books, and other expenses.

One student remarked, "Students are frustrated and angry about a budget that does not prioritize higher education." This UC Santa Barbara student said that students will lobby lawmakers and UC regents about the new fee.

The governor stated that UC and Cal State fees will remain below the average for comparable schools throughout the country. He also said that one-third of the fee increases are expected to go to financial aid.

Andrew LaFlamme, the student representative on the California State University Board of Trustees, said that he and other students will encourage the Legislature to find money to prevent the increase.

The UC regents and Cal State trustees are both expected to review and perhaps vote on the increase in March.

A Cal State spokeswoman said that the trustees were still hoping that fee increases would be avoided. "This is still very early in the process and a lot can happen."

The student activists were also busy on a related financial issue----student loans. The new Democratic majority in Congress, however, plans to introduce legislation that would gradually cut interest rates in half on some federally subsidized student loans over the next five years.

The rate reduction from 6.8% to 3.4% on interest on student loans will make college more accessible and affordable a report said. The measure regarding lowering the interest on student loans is expected to come up for a vote in the House of Representatives soon.