All around us, we hear that evil “R” word being tossed around: Recession. We’ve been told that the recession means that the government has had to spend billions of dollars on keeping corporations afloat; that we have lost billions in the stock market; that we are all going to feel the pain of cutbacks.

And we have. Some of our parents are out of work, everyone’s in debt, social programs are being cut, and there’s no future in sight. “Go back to school, wait the recession out,” we’ve been told. There’s no better place to be in a recession than in school, where we can build business contacts, learn skills and weather the storm.

Of course, if tuition rates go up, we’re screwed. All across California, students are protesting a 32 per cent fee increase at their (obstinately) public schools. Which means that they will be paying almost double what we are now to go to school. According to university officials, the increases were in response to a lack of government funding, which has led to a drastic budget shortfall. Sound familiar?

At the University of Alberta, professional programs are faced with a 66 per cent fee increase. And at UBC, we were faced with a $25 million budget shortfall. How long until that translates into increased tuition fees?

Californian media outlets are reporting that student action has been counterproductive to their cause, which, of course, is absolute horse shit. In a world where students feel increasingly disenfranchised and powerless, direct and aggressive reactions are all that’s left. What else are we going to do? Write a letter? That doesn’t help pay the bills any more than active protest does. At least active protest gives you media play. Bear in mind that since students protested the Campbell tuition hikes at the beginning of this decade that saw tuition rates double, we’ve seen tuition remain at a steady level. We’re not saying the two are linked‚ but the actions of students definitely didn’t hurt.

So, even as you’re faced with arrests and possible disciplinary action, stay strong, Californians. No doubt we’ll be in the streets with you soon.

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