Ellington

UW students and workers gathered yesterday in Red Square to protest tuition hikes and budget cuts, then marched to the 22nd floor of the UW Tower before interrupting the Board of Regents meeting chanting their demands.

The protest came about after several student organizations, including the UW Student/Worker Coalition (SWC), e-mailed the Board of Regents, urging them to move their monthly meeting from the UW Tower to an auditorium in Kane Hall. Although the meetings are open to the public, the SWC felt the limited space and time allotted were preventing people from attending.

Herb Simon, Board of Regents chair, released an official response detailing why the meeting couldn’t be easily relocated.

“The meetings of the board are established by annual schedule and published with the State Code … Changing the time has implications for the agenda the board may consider, and so it is very difficult to do so without seriously affecting the business of the board,” the statement said.

However, this did not stop students and workers from having their voices heard. About 80 people rallied with picket signs and megaphones in Red Square, attempting to draw attention to the issues of concern. One of the SWC’s main goals is to bring awareness to students, showing them how to be involved and take action in regards to their future.

“I am from out of state, so my tuition is a lot, anyway, and it sucks to think I might have to go back to California where I can afford to go to school,” UW sophomore Loren Carlson said.

The protests against the budget cuts initially started in full force last spring, when 200 workers protested tuition hikes and increased class sizes for students.

“The main plan is to continue to organize together against the budget cuts for as long as it takes, basically,” Cindy Gorn, SWC press liaison said.

The crowd marched from Red Square to the UW Tower, where only a limited number of people were allowed into the board room on the 22nd floor. Police lined the room as students and workers quietly filed in, waiting to be heard. Mid-sentence, board member Stanley H. Barer was interrupted by a collective reading from members of the SWC.

“As the UW announces a second round of budget cuts, students and workers have come together to form a coalition to fight against not just the fact of these budget cuts, but their implementation and the privatization of the university as a whole,” the protesters chanted in unison.

The group continued by addressing seven demands they wish to see met: transparent and democratic budget allocation; a cut from top administrators that would cap salaries at $150,000 per year; no layoffs, no speedups for workers; prioritizing an open, accessible public education for all; freezing tuition; and an increase to need-based aid.

“We’re getting larger, stronger, smarter each day,” said James Stephen Wilson, a custodian who was present at the protest.

Between reading each demand, the group chanted loudly as members of the board sat in their seats.

More than one board member declined comment when asked about the protest.

Reach contributing writer Tiffany Shedrick at news@dailyuw.com.