Students Shut Cal Library in Fee Hike Protest

BERKELEY — Shouting “Let Us In!” about 200 University of California students Friday marched on the school’s undergraduate library, forcing its temporary closure, in a protest over a 24% systemwide fee hike.

The students had hoped to hold a rally inside the Moffitt Undergraduate Library in protest of Gov. Pete Wilson’s proposed cuts in education and the UC Board of Regents’ approval of a $550, or 24%, annual fee increase for 1992-93. The increase came on top of a 40% hike that went into effect for the current school year. Including the latest increase, UC fees have risen 91% since 1990.

The library was chosen as the site of the protest because its hours have been reduced as a result of budget cuts, said Greg Lewis, a UC Berkeley junior who is lobby director for the statewide UC Student Assn.

With campus police in riot gear at its doors, the library was closed and evacuated about 12:30 p.m. It was reopened about 3:30 p.m., but a few hours later about 100 protesters re-entered the building. Karen Kenney, UC Berkeley director of student activities and services, said any protesters remaining at the 10 p.m. closing time would be removed and cited for trespassing.

In a related protest, five UC Berkeley students began a hunger strike Monday demanding that the UC regents rescind the fee hike. Striker Leti Luna said she works full time and carries a full load of classes, but probably would not be able to return to school if the increase is implemented.

About 100 students, including some at UCLA and UC Irvine, are participating in hunger strikes.