Pix: Occupy the Capitol march and rally

Sacramento, March 5, 2012

What #M5 Democracy Looks Like

This is what democracy looks like! RT: @sanginaem twitter.com/#!/sanginaem/s…—
Aaron Bady (@zunguzungu) March 06, 2012

there was easily 10K there today. RT @BenDoernberg: @salmonsoir ok cool, @OakFoSho estimated 10k+ but that seemed very high—
Spencer: For Hire (@OakFoSho) March 06, 2012

David Solnit gives nonviolent direct action training #occupyeducation #occupysf #m5 #occupythecapital flic.kr/p/bAPVsB—
Steve Rhodes (@tigerbeat) March 06, 2012

Harvard now cheaper than UC system for middle income students. Gutting of great state university systems/ mercurynews.com/breaking-news/…—
Katrina vandenHeuvel (@KatrinaNation) March 06, 2012

photos + video of March on the Capitol coming soon . . .

Student Actions: UCSD reclaimed, UC Davis re-occupied

UCSD Chancellor’s Conference Room reclaimed by students.  A list of demands has been delivered.  Check out the footage of the student-reclaimed CLICS library, which now functions as an artspace.  More info.  Go Tritons!

UC Davis encampment is back.  Go Aggies!

MT @salmonsoir UC Davis, reoccupied. In preparation for the March 5 day of action: twitpic.com/8rnl2v #occupyca #m5—
reclaim UC (@reclaimuc) March 04, 2012

@salmonsoir UC Davis, reoccupied. In preparation for the March 5 day of action: twitpic.com/8rnl2v #occupyca #m5

Sign-up Now for free bus ride!

 

UC Regents Meeting shut down at UCSF, UC Davis, UCLA, UC Merced

SF Chronicle: “Students shut down UC regents meeting“

Hundreds of students and faculty members temporarily shut down a University of California Board of Regents meeting being held simultaneously today at campuses in San Francisco, Davis, Merced and Los Angeles by standing in the conference rooms and chanting slogans so loudly the regents could no longer conduct business. . .

Why We Fight: “How the UC Regents Spin Public Funds into Private Profit”

UC Regent Richard Blum and the University of California itself are heavily invested in private for-profit colleges which benefit from cutbacks in public education.

In case you are wondering why, amidst all the fee hikes, cutbacks, layoffs and furloughs, construction never seems to stop at University of California campuses, you’ll appreciate the following investigation.

From Spot.Us, community-funded reporting:

“The Investors’ Club: How the University of California Regents Spin Public Money into Private Profit,” an 8-part investigation by Peter Byrne

Experts identify multiple conflicts of interest among an elite group that oversees investments for the University of California.

Last fall, amid an unprecedented state budget crisis, the University of California Board of Regents took extraordinary measures to cut costs and generate revenue. Lecturers were laid off, classes eliminated. The board reduced admissions for in-state students, while increasing the admission of out-of-state students, who pay higher fees than state residents. And to the consternation of tens of thousands of students, undergraduate tuition was raised by 32 percent, with more hikes to come.

It now costs about $30,000 per year to attend the University of California (UC) as an undergraduate, including tuition and expenses. Even with student aid, it’s a sum beyond the means of many students and their families.

While education took a beating, the regents authorized $3 million in bonuses to a handful of top administrators, and reduced the salaries of janitorial staff. The regents approved new construction projects, including a sports stadium. They assured Wall Street bond underwriters that periodic tuition increases would help pay off hundreds of millions of dollars in new construction loans.

Why We Fight: Rising Costs of Public Higher Ed in CA

From the Sacramento Bee “Interactive: The rising cost of a UC, CSU education” (via Katehiville News)

Since 1966, fees at both systems have increased about six times faster than inflation.

At the same time, students are taking on much more debt. The chart below shows federal student loans disbursed to UC and CSU students over the last decade.

Source: California Postsecondary Education Commission ; U.S. Department of Education.

On top of this, the UC Regents are considering multi-year tuition increases of up to 16% annually, cumulatively adding up to 81% over the next four years, which would bring UC tuition to more than $22,000/year in 2016.

Nov. 28 Occupy UC Regents “Meeting”

Nov. 28 Occupy UC Regents “Meeting”

From ReFund California Coalition:

ReFund California has joined local Occupy general assemblies in calling for student and faculty walkouts on November 28^th and actions to open up the Regents’ sham teleconference at the 4 UC campuses where Regents will call-in.  All should be able to join the discussion with the 1% on the Board as equals to talk about how to make banks pay for public education.

We will announce campus-by-campus pick-up points for caravans and carpools on this page soon.  In the meantime, please plan your own carpools to get to the nearest convergence to “Open the Regents Up to the 99%.”

Call 510.987.9220 or email anne.shaw@ucop.edu and cc refundca@calorganize.org to signup for public comment so you are let into the teleconference room.

Video: #OccupySF occupies BofA with tent, on Nov. 16

A short video of what we were able to capture of the direct action at the bank:

So much has happened since then that it’s hard to believe it was only on Wednesday of last week when Occupy Cal demonstrators from UC Berkeley joined Occupy SF to march on the businesses of the 1% UC Regents and the banks in the financial district, stopping to occupy a downtown branch of the Bank of America on the way to a rally the State Building.