UC students don’t want tuition freeze to thaw

University of California students walked out of class on Monday, but not to protest the presidential election; they are protesting the threat of tuition hikes.

Members of UC Santa Barbara’s nonpartisan Student Activist Network said they are concerned in-state tuition will spike in the new year when a tuition freeze ends.

In-state tuition costs $12,240 a year, compared to $10,000 in 2009 and $3,300 in 1999.

Students want to remind others the UC system was founded as a free institution until Ronald Reagan introduced the first student fee in 1968.

“Students are realizing the student debt crisis has become unsustainable. The student debt crisis has surpassed the credit card debt of Americans. That is insane,” said Victor Garcia.

If Eric Villalobos had the UC Regents ear he said he would tell them they need to put pressure on the legislature to fund the UC system.

“They are making students and workers fight for scraps,” said Villalobos.

They fear tuition will increase at least 5 percent each year for the next five years.