Chancellor Gene Block and other top officials met with UCLA students in a town hall meeting today to answer questions about the budget crisis, fee increases and a range of other issues.

 

 

"We've been through a rough week," Block told the crowd of about 200 people gathered in Ackerman Union, acknowledging large protests that took place at UCLA after the UC regents approved a 32 percent increase in student fees last week. Although almost all students with family incomes of $70,000 or below will have their fees covered by UC, the fee increase will be difficult for many students, Block said.

 

"These are trying times," he said, noting that state funding has been drastically reduced, forcing UC to seek other revenue. "The state has not turned around economically, and there is very little chance that the state will come back to the table in the way we'd like to see it support this university."

 

The meeting, arranged following a Sept. 24 sit-in at UCLA's administration building, opened the floor to students and faculty to ask Block questions directly. Cinthia Flores, president of the Undergraduate Student Association Council, and Jamal Madni, President of the Graduate Students Association, moderated the Q&A.

 

When students asked what Block planned to do for Bruins who can't afford the fee increases, Block explained that the goal is to have a formal payment-deferral program in place by fall 2010. He added that students who need help sooner could work one-on-one with the office of Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Janina Montero to arrange deferrals.

 

He also encouraged students to contact Keith Parker, assistant vice chancellor of government and community relations, if they are interested in helping regain state support for UCLA. "We work very hard in advocacy in Sacramento," Block said. "There's nothing more effective than walking into a legislator's office with a student to let a student to tell their own personal story of how they're struggling."