Image Source: Anna Hiatt, Daily Cal

… but what about the rest of the world watching via the Internet? Here are some highlights:

Wednesday, Nov. 18

6:51 p.m.

“As hundreds of students rushed the building today where UC Regents were meeting – throwing wet red bandannas meant to look like blood – the regents’ finance committee voted to recommend a 32 percent student fee increase, setting off planned protests at several UC campuses.” [SFGate]

“The two-day meeting is being held at UCLA, where today’s session has been marked by raucous protests with at least 14 arrests. … A presentation on the budget and fee increase proposal by UC President Mark Yudof was interrupted. Police cleared the public from the hall but a group of protesters refused to leave, standing and singing ‘We Shall Overcome.’” [LA Times]

“‘We seem to be fighting each other rather than working together,’ said Regent Sherry Lansing, a former Paramount Pictures CEO, after several student outbursts had delayed the meeting. ‘This choice is not our choice. This is something that has been put on us by the Legislature and the federal government.’” [MercuryNews]

“Hundreds of students, staff and faculty massed on Sproul Plaza Wednesday for a rally denouncing student fee hikes, program cuts, layoffs and other cutbacks across the UC system. The rally, smaller than a similar protest in September, was part of a three-day strike that resulted in some class cancellations or relocations and scattered office closures.” [NewsCenter]

“English professor Bob Hass, a former U.S. poet laureate, called for higher taxes so that more money can be spent on education. Hass said California spent more money per student on education than all but one or two states before Proposition 13, which limits property tax increases, was passed in 1978. California now ranks nearly last on spending per student, he said.” [CBS5]

“I think it’s necessary to have a large number of students down there to show that it’s not just the unions, it’s the students being affected. In about eight years my daughter will be applying to school so I have to do this, you know?” [NYTimes] via Bay Area Blogs

And where oh where is Bearcardo?

“I see students really, really, really stressed out,” said Ricardo Gomez of the group Berkeley Students Against Cuts. “Not knowing whether or not they’re going to be here next semester.” [FoxReno]

Thursday, Nov. 19

10:07 a.m.

“About 30 students stormed UCLA’s Campbell Hall and barricaded the doors with chains and bike locks early this morning to protest a student fee increase that is expected to be endorsed by the University of California’s Board of Regents today.” [LA Times]

12:40 p.m.

“Dozens of students lined up early for seats inside the regents meeting, hoping for a chance at the microphone during the public comment time before today’s vote. Campus police with riot gear lined up between the loud but peaceful protesters and the entrance.” [CNN]

“Upon hearing the news about the vote to hike fees, an estimated 500 students at UCSC — some in costumes and face paint, some carrying picket signs — marched to the base of campus at Bay Drive and High Street and the west entrance on Empire Grade. They stood or sat in the middle of the road, blocking vehicles trying to enter UCSC. Police diverted traffic at several points leading to campus.” [Santa Cruz Sentinel]

2:11 p.m.

“Crossed the picket lines. In order to get my fucking education.” [Twitter]

4:06 p.m.

“Outside the meeting at UCLA where regents of the University of California raised student tuition today by 32 percent, about 1,000 students lay on the ground to symbolize what they called the death of affordable higher education, particularly for students from low-income families.” [SFGate]

“Only one member of the board, student regent Jesse Bernal, voted against the plan that UC officials said was necessary due to a recent plunge in financial aid from the state. The Los Angeles Times said the vote came with little discussion among the members and amid loud protests that could be heard in the campus meeting room.” [UPI.com]

“Some University of California regents who approved a student fee increase are trapped inside a UCLA building as protesters block the exits. The demonstrators are being confronted Thursday by lines of baton-wielding campus police, California Highway Patrol officers and metal barriers. … One person inside the building says the regents have been held there for two hours. [AP] via Google

4:29 p.m.

“UC President escorted out w police w tazers and rubber guns as students chant Shame on you.” [Twitter]

4:42 p.m.

6:43 p.m.

” … UC students should explore other means available to pay for their education: They can always go to community college like the rest of us. Screw those spoiled brat UCLA students. Hit up your rich mommies and daddies for the difference. Cry me a river. What a bunch of useless losers.” [LA Times]

Friday, Nov. 20

12:30 a.m.

“Police arrested 52 people at UC Davis after hundreds protested a 32 percent increase in undergraduate student fees on Thursday.” [KCRA]

9:04 a.m.

“UC Berkeley students took over a campus building in protest this morning, a day after the University of California regents voted to raise tuition by 32 percent. An undetermined number of protesters barricaded themselves at about 6 a.m. inside Wheeler Hall, which houses the English department.” [SF Gate]

“The campus police are working to resolve a protest action that is occurring in Wheeler Hall.  Staff, faculty and students who would normally be working in Wheeler Hall  are asked to remain out of the building until further notice.  Employees who can contact their supervisors should talk to them if possible to determine whether telecommuting or relocation to another work area is an option.  Those in the building right now are advised to leave until the situation has been resolved.
Employees who remain on campus may check in at Dwinelle Plaza at 10am. for further information.
Thank you to all of the members of the campus community for your patience in this matter.” -UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau via e-mail

10:49 a.m.

Campus police continue to work to resolve the protest action at Wheeler Hall.  Campus police are striving to end the occupation of Wheeler Hall with the safety of our campus community, including all those involved in this action, as an uppermost priority.
Wheeler Hall will remain closed until further notice.  Instructors who teach in Wheeler Hall will be contacted shortly by e-mail.” -Bobby B., again, via e-mail

12:41 P.M.

From the Daily Cal and the Daily Clog’s Twitter accounts:

“UC officers taser at least two student protesters at UCLA http://bit.ly/5CYv8u”
“Photo of police barricade in front of Wheeler Hall #ucstrike #ucregents http://www.dailycal.org/image.php?id=15855″
“One of our field reporters says that the crowd in front of Wheeler Hall is talking about storming the building. #ucstrike #ucregents”
“Fire alarms at Dwinelle, Barrows, MLK, Moffitt and VLSB have gone off in the last hour; hundreds of students evacuated. #ucstrike #ucregents”
“According to one of the organizers, Breslauer has agreed to begin negotiations with them.”

11:56 p.m.

Due to a massive amount of traffic, the Clog was temporarily down for much of the day. To read our coverage of Friday’s occupation of Wheeler, go to twitter.com/thedailyclog

Expect continual updates throughout the course of the strike.

Image Source (lower): Valerie Woolard
32% Inflation in UCLA Tuition Causes Near Riots (14 Arrested, 1 Tasered) [YouTube]

Luckily, the UC Board of Regents, beacon of fairness and fiscal responsibility, has been here to see us through this tough time. And in their meeting last month, the board approved an additional $500,000 to supplement exective pay at various campuses and also chose to create two new executive spots at UCSF.

Wait—what!?

The move was made in effort to retain executives who would be entitled to fat-cat salaries elsewhere at a time when they are being required to take on more duties. But then—we’re paying more money to attend fewer, larger classes, so what gives?

Shockingly, not all in the university community seem to be on board with the decision, notably union workers who say they’ve also had to take on extra work without an increase in pay.

We’re interested to see how this one plays out.

Image Source: cindylu under Creative Commons
UC Regents Approve Furlough Plan [Daily Cal]
Faculty Warn Salary Cuts May Damage UC System [Daily Cal]
Regents Approve Increases in Executive Pay and Benefits [Daily Cal]

Oh, harsh realities of budget cuts! First you went for our classes, then our student fees and now, our time-honored final season all-night Anoncon … er, we mean study sessions.

You heard right, the UC Regents voted Chancellor Birgeneau announced last week at the UC Regents meeting to that the 24-hour study halls in university campus libraries during finals will end due to budget cuts. This in addition to the usual, cutting student jobs, GSIs and, now, instating furloughs for UC employees.

So, consider this your fair warning—so you can spend the next semester trying to scout out a suitable location for late night studying during the next set of finals. That is, assuming that your dorm, apartment or other residence location has already been deemed inappropriate for such pursuits.

Also, if you put off checking out books until 4 a.m. the day before that paper is due again … the Main Stacks can no longer save you. (Note: post edited for accuracy)

Image Source: Eddie Rosenbaum, Daily Cal
UC Regents vote on furloughs to close budget gap [Mercury News]

State legislators, including Leland Yee and Roy Ashburn, have officially called shenanigans on the UC system’s freewheeling ways. Five legislators authored a bill to remove the UC system’s autonomy and allow the state to meddle in setting UC policy. According to Yee’s chief of staff, the UC Regents have been acting “above the law,” citing executive pay raises coupled with student fee hikes as a particular offense.

Not that we wouldn’t be amused by a showdown between the UC Regents and the state government, but isn’t this the same state government that is proposing the elimination of the Cal Grant program and already cuts tens of millions of dollars from the UC system?

Wait, how is this going to help again?

Image Source: Joe Gratz under Creative Commons
UC’s autonomy may be removed [Daily Cal]
State may discontinue Cal Grant program [Daily Cal]

While the number of students eligible to apply to the UC system goes up, the number guaranteed admission goes down. A recipe for heartbreak? [Daily Cal]

A $3.1 million plan was passed to help low-income students pay their university fees—like, all of them. [Daily Cal]

The UC Retirement Plan is exhumed in an unholy ritual of employee contributions. Nineteen years of being six feet under can’t be good for its appearance. [Daily Cal]

The UC and CSU systems will collaborate with each other and listen to students who want a transfer to a four-year college. Campuses sharing more students with each other? Kinky. [Daily Cal]

Earlier: Since You’ve Been Gone, Unmusical Edition

Ideas are flying left and right for how to get our UC system out of its current financial rut. Our chancellor has a couple of his own up his sleeve: raise and lower student fees according to the financial need of each respective campus.

The University of California Board of Regents traditionally imposes equal tuition for undergrads across all nine UC campuses (currently $6,571 per year). If Chancellor Birgeneau’s idea were to be set into motion, each campus would be allowed to raise or lower said asking price by 25 percent.

He writes in his proposal (titled “Access and Excellence”) several upshots to his propositions. Among these: provide incentive for students to attend UC campuses aren’t exactly first in preference for students (as these campuses would lower their student tuition) and provide sufficient funding for the schools to which students flock like madmen (i.e., UC Berkeley. Represent!). Additionally, Chancellor Birgeneau predicts that any gap between top tier UC campuses and leading private schools will be made smaller once our campuses are better funded.

Well, duh.

His idea might look nice on paper–too bad such an idea reeks of elitism. To what end is our world approaching when the chancellor of a highly ranked public university proposes an idea to commercialize and capitalize on its public services to students able enough to afford such a “commodity”? Three cheers for furthering an education gap in our state.

California students want a university that is competitive in their resources, not their resourcing. It’s time for the state to start doin’ what it does best (no, not eliminating same-sex marriages): putting California tax dollars to work.

Image Source: April Isabel Angeles
Chancellor suggests UC campuses set own tuition [SFGate]

Well, who didn’t see this one coming?

Everyone knows that pictures of faces are blank canvas for mustache amendments and unibrow bridges. Duh.

And the banners? We’ve seen the bulletin boards choked with flyers for various extracurriculars and calls-to-arms. Where else would such a banner be hung … in a tree? Scoff.

Image Source: Will Kane, Daily Cal
Protest Banners Displayed on Campaign for Berkeley Portrait Wall [Daily Cal]
Earlier: The Campaign for Berkeley Public Art Installation Unveils More Posters of Students’ Faces

Dynes announced his resignation Monday and stated that he will stay on as president no later than June 2008. Wyatt Hume, provost of the UC, will take over as chief operating officer during the search for a new president.

Sources speaking to the Chron said that UC Regents Chairman Richard Blum met with Dynes three weeks ago in Emeryville and told him that the Regents were getting restless with Dynes’ ability to run UC.

Of course Blum really isn’t talking.

“I know you have a job to do,” Blum told The Chronicle, “but the answer to everything else is going to be, ‘No comment.’ “

If the Chron is right, then the Regents must have been fed up with all the controversies that occurred under Dynes’ reign as president. And maybe the Regents knew that they were going to ask for Dynes’ resignation last May, and maybe that’s why they just gave Dynes a slap on the wrist. Obviously, this is all speculation.

And then, of course, this may also end this whole scientists-leading-the-largest-university-in-the-world thing.

One state official familiar with the meeting said several regents had concluded that after nearly four years on the job, Dynes, a former physicist and UC San Diego chancellor, was in over his head at the top of the 10-campus system.

“But then, what do you expect?” said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Spending 17 years in laboratories doesn’t exactly set you up for running what is, in effect, a multibillion-dollar corporation.”

Word.

Earlier: Breaking: Dynes Steps Down as UC President”

Matier and Ross: UC president didn’t bail, he was pushed out, sources say [SF Gate]

Dynes said that he will step down by June 2008 or until someone else is appointed to take his place. Provost Wyatt Hume will take over as chief operating officer while the search for a new president takes place.

Of course, this puts an end to a somewhat dubious tenure for Dynes as the head of the UC system. Not only were all those student fee increases very unpopular, but the Regents also found that Dynes committed 22 compensation violations.

“As you all know, the University’s methods and policies by which it determined and disclosed compensation of senior management over a period of many years became heavily scrutinized and criticized,” he wrote. “I continue to emphasize that these practices were intended for the good of the institution; the intention was to enable the University to remain competitive in the marketplace for intellectual and administrative talent. Only in a few instances were there insignificant incidences of inappropriate action.”

Dynes said in his letter to the Regents that he was resigning because of changes in his personal life. We wonder how much of this had to with all the trouble he got into in the last couple of years.

UC President Announces Resignation [Daily Cal]
UC President Robert Dynes to resign [SF Gate]

But this week, since the UC Regents met at UC Santa Barbara, we decided to take a look at what the Regents are doing—since it only affects the entire system and since they control most of the money.

*First Off…Chancellors’ Spouses Able to Use Purse*
For a long, long time, the spouses of the various chancellors of the UC system have conducted special “hostess” type events. They’ve gone around to fundraisers, they make appearances, but didn’t really get much compensation for it.

Not anymore. The Regents approved to expand the benefits of the most active of chancellors’ spouses.

Under the new policy, the top leaders’ spouses who are significantly involved in promoting the university will be reimbursed on all university-related travel and entertainment and costs associated with cell phones and other portable electronic devices. They will also be able to use a university laptop, and receive business cards, a UC parking permit, travel insurance and workers compensation coverage. They will not receive a salary.

Aw shucks. No salary? At least they get a card with the nice UC seal on it.

*No Vote on Tobacco*
The Regents postponed a vote that may have banned professors from accepting money from tobacco companies.

Instead the Regents through out the ‘C’ word—compromise.

One option would have faculty committees evaluate grant proposals for tobacco industry funding and monitor whether the research is used responsibly.

Another would let departments and other school divisions decide not to take tobacco money.

The question that UC administrators and UC faculty bring up is whether or not a ban on receiving funding from Big Tobacco is an infringement on academic freedom.

What about the public’s right to know that research done by UC isn’t being skewed by tobacco companies?

*Yaay! More Fees!*
UC professional sent a proposal to the Regents last week, asking them to change the structure of the graduate school fee policy. This would mean that there could be a substantial fee increase for UC’s graduate schools.

Under this new policy, fee levels would be set by each individual campus.

Haas and Boalt are asking for a huge fee increase.

UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and the Boalt Hall School of Law have requested the largest increases, asking for fees to be raised to $44,154 for the graduate business program in 2010-11 and $43,932 for Boalt Hall graduate students in the same year.

We, as undergraduates, always bitch and whine about fee increases, but what about the grad students? Don’t they deserve some help too? Where can they bitch?

*Regents Complain About Budget Cuts*
So, the California state legislature and not the state’s governator is looking like the bad guys when it comes to UC’s budget.

Governor Terminator promised UC a four percent increase in its budget for the upcoming fiscal year. However, the state legislature is looking to cut the budget by $2 billion. That would mean only a three percent increase in the budget, instead of the promised four percent, and a loss of about $30 million.

And if UC loses $30 million, it might mean an increase in student fees.

Regent John Moores said the proposed $30 million decrease could potentially result in a fee increase.

“Once again, the university may have to consider raising fees, as distasteful as it is,” he said.

Great. Who would have thought that we would want the Governator to win a battle against the state legislature?

But of course, the Regents have their hands tied. That letter they sent to Sacramento is the only thing they can do to stop this. Kind of sucks, huh?

UC Professional Schools Recommend Higher Fees [Daily Cal]
Regents: Proposed Budget Cuts Would Violate Compact [Daily Cal]
Traditional roles shift for college leaders’ spouses [SignOnSanDiego]
UC professional programs face steep fee hikes [SignOnSanDiego]
Compromise sought on taking tobacco money [SF Gate]