Teachers, students and workers protest at Berkeley University (September 19,2010 8:44 p.m.)

On Sept. 24, a protest of 5,000 people took place at Berkeley University. Students, teachers and other faculty members at the University of California all attended the rally. The protest made the public aware of the issues in the state’s lack of assistance of funding for the university. Protestors demanded an end to budget cuts, layoffs and the increase in tuition. The protest seemed to gain a lot of support from student organizations and unions. However, at the rate universities are going when looking at the increase in costs, the big question is; will the protestors’ voices be heard? 

“Education should be free! Education should be free!”  One of many chants the

protestors screamed at the massive rally. The size of the crowd made it hard for some

students and staff, who weren’t participating, to manoeuvre around campus. Some classes

were forced to be postponed or cancelled for the day as the rally was too hectic.

Obviously the protestors were hoping to make a big impact on the people. Their message

was heard not only in California, but many other places as well.

“They definitely got their point across to a lot of people, I mean my friends and I

heard about it and we live hours away,” first year Laurier student Steven Haines

explained. “But I think it will take a lot more for the leaders of the state to change their

minds,”

Indeed, at the rate the government and university leaders are going it will take a

lot to stop them. U.S.A Today has been tracking annual university changes since 2003,

when in-state charges went up 12 per cent from the year before. Since then, the average

increase for in-state tuition and fees is about 38 per cent. In some cases it was much

higher; with the University of Oklahoma-Norman at 95 per cent, the University of

Arizona-Tucson at 85 per cent and the University of California-Berkeley at 80 per cent.

On top of this, Berkeley laid off 34 custodians this year. Although right now the state

doesn’t seem to be listening, many people believe the protest to be “the beginning of a

movement to lower prices” and the more they speak out, the more they will be heard.

Aside from hearing about the battle between the leaders of the state and those who

feel they’re being treated unfairly, how is this affecting students, staff and anyone else in

Canada? “The cost of university is getting very expensive here too. Maybe if schools in

the U.S. changed their minds, schools in Canada would follow,” Wilfrid Laurier’s second

year student Lenard explains.

Like schools in the U.S., Canada’s cost for university is increasing and is now

more expensive then ever here in Ontario. Canadian full-time students in undergrad

programs paid 4 per cent more on average in tuition fees for 2010/2011 compared to last

year. Ontario students are paying the highest fees in Canada at $6,307. International

student fees are also increasing significantly. Their average tuition is $16,768 this year,

which is a 5.2 per cent increase compared to last year. These statistics are proof that

students in Canada should also take action.

In today’s workforce, most jobs require more than just a high school diploma.

Unfortunately, governments aren’t helping out in giving people the opportunity to get an

education. In 1999, students in Manitoba were finding it difficult to afford tuition fees

and went to the government for help. The NDP reduced fees by 10 per cent which

resulted in enrolment increasing by 30 per cent and a major decrease in student debt.

Today, having a post-secondary education is even more crucial, which means

governments need to help make school affordable. “The government should help lower

tuition, the price of books and maybe even help reduce student debt,” Lenard states.

Another way of helping could be to shift the $1.4 billion that is already there for

education-related savings schemes to up front student grants.

As government and leaders of the universities continue to do nothing, it is very

likely that these protests will continue in a more vigorous manner.