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Twelve students at Cal State colleges have gone on a hunger strike to protest increasing fees and tuition, reports the San Fernando Valley Sun. The strike began yesterday, and will last until next Wednesday.
Speaking to the Sun, 22-year-old strike organizer and CSUN art major said that the students are "paying more for less," as tuition has gone up 318% even as budgets are being cut and fewer students are being admitted.
He added that with the strike, students are upping the ante after feeling like rallies, protests and marches haven't gotten the attention of policymakers and school officials.
The striking students, who are from CSU Dominguez Hills, Fullerton, Long Beach, Sacramento, San Bernardino and Northridge and were organized by the on-campus group Students for Quality Education, have clear demands:
The students' demands include a five-year moratorium on student fees, the elimination of all 23 campus presidents' housing and car allowances, no more cuts to classes and student services and a designated free speech area in each campus.
They'll bring those demands to a CSU Board of Trustees meeting at the Long Beach campus on Wednesday, the last day of the strike.
