Big tuition hike protest in Sacramento

Thousands of students, lawmakers, professors, administrators, and other higher-education supporters rallied outside the state Capitol this morning. From the Sacramento Bee:

Speakers at a rally on the west steps of the Capitol blasted the budget cuts to higher education and the cost of tuition and fees at campuses throughout the state, framing access to a degree as a right that should be extended to students of all socioeconomic standings. "Regardless of our backgrounds, we all have been wounded by these cuts," said Sydney Fang, a student senator at UC Berkeley. "Today we stand in solidarity as students, as workers and as community members because we have had enough. We have had enough. UC regents have not heard our voices and it is time for our legislators to stand with us."

The Mercury News describes how students from middle-income families are getting squeezed:

Consider a family of four -- married parents, a high-school senior and a 14-year-old child -- making $130,000 a year. With typical aid, the family should expect to pay nearly $24,000 for a Cal State freshman's tuition, on-campus room and board, supplies and other expenses. At Harvard? Just $17,000, even though its stated annual tuition is $36,305.