Students Walk Out on the UC

Just to remind listeners and readers...The views and opinions expressed on this blog/my podcast do not necessarily reflect those of KUCI, its management or the UC Regents.

This week's show is sure to be an interesting one. If you haven't heard about it already, tomorrow, Thursday, September 24th, will be the first day of school for UC students. So, in response to the budget cuts to programs and increase in student fees, UC students are walking out - on every single UC campus (that's 10 campuses my friends, 10!). Listen to KUCI Irvine 88.9FM Saturday, September 26th 8-9AM to What Not to Talk About Over Dinner (or the podcast) to hear sound footage from the Walkout and more info on this effort.

In this mass political effort, students want to show their distrust of and anger with the UC system and the California government. Although UC President, Mark Yudof, says, "the students ought to be angry. I'm angry about it too," it has become known that other school systems have dealt with the economic crisis by making small cuts to faculty salaries, rather than raising fees for students. Yes, my bias is obvious as I was recently a UC student myself. However, with the knowledge that the Chancellors and Vice Chancellors of UC schools earn 6-digit incomes, my sympathies to 5% pay cuts to their salaries die hard. As well, Schwarzenegger, the grand-daddy figurehead behind all of these cuts, does not have my sympathies either.



Here is a list of the activities that will be happening on the UC Irvine campus tomorrow. Please join the effort if you believe in the cause:

Day of Action- UCI September 24, 2009 Events

9-10 am: Act Out Interactive Drama: Arts Plaza

9-12am: Morning Teach-ins within classes all over the campus...check back for information about classes and schedules

12 NOON RALLY AT THE FLAGPOLES: PLEASE COME SUPPORT UCI AND PROTEST THE BUDGET CUTS TO PUBLIC HIGHER ED IN CALIFORNIA.

FEATURING: SPEAKERS REPRESENTING STUDENTS, FACULTY AND WORKERS!

This is our major event of the day where we hope for a large crowd! If there is only one event you can make on 9/24/09, this should be your priority.

2-3pm: Rally in the Social Science Plaza

5-7pm: Evening Teach-ins: Humanities Gateway 1010


Here are some primary articles and links to the most recent information on budget cuts from both sides:

The UC Budget Myths and Facts

UC Newsroom Details on Budget Cuts

UC Berkeley News Budget Central

Local News KTLA: Walkouts and Strikes Planned on UC Campuses