About 200 students demonstrated in UCSC yesterday to protest proposed budget cuts that would drain the state’s universities of $1.4 billion. The administration, charged with making the cuts, expressed understanding for the student demonstration, with UCSC Spokesman Jim Burns saying, “The concern that students have about the impact that reduced state support is having on the depth and breadth of our academic offerings is completely understandable. We’re concerned, too, especially since we now must figure out how to make another $19 million in cuts.”
About 200 students demonstrated in UCSC yesterday to protest proposed budget cuts that would drain the state’s universities of $1.4 billion. The administration, charged with making the cuts, expressed understanding for the student demonstration, with UCSC Spokesman Jim Burns saying, “The concern that students have about the impact that reduced state support is having on the depth and breadth of our academic offerings is completely understandable. We’re concerned, too, especially since we now must figure out how to make another $19 million in cuts.”
According to the protesters, courses in the Humanities and Social Sciences are especially hard hit, with two interdisciplinary programs, Community Studies and American Studies, being suspended recently. Humanities and Social Sciences have seen their budgets cut by $4.8 million, while Engineering and the Sciences have had their budgets cut by $4.5 million.
Also participating in the demonstration were low-paid university staffers, who have seen their salaries cut even though tuition will have increased by 40 percent between 2009 and 2011. They and the students placed at least part of the blame on the administration, and called for more transparency in the budget process. Read more at Santa Cruz Sentinel.
