Tuition Protesters Shut Down UC Santa Cruz

Protesters are blocking all entrances to UC Santa Cruz as part of an ongoing demonstration against tuition hikes.

The university advised students, faculty and staff to stay away from campus Thursday due to the blockade.

The protest began at 4:30 a.m. when students and other protesters blocked the west entrance to campus. Protesters then showed up at the main gate.

"I'm here to shut down the campus," UC Santa Cruz student Dayton Andrews said. "I oppose the tuition hikes, and I oppose the privatization of public education."

But some students said the protest was inconveniencing them. Transfer student Alexis Brimhall said she couldn't drive her car to her dorm.

"I'm paying to live on campus," Brimhall said. "I've already paid for this quarter, and now I'm restricted access to my home."

The protesters say they will not be back Friday.

The UC Board of Regents voted last November to increase tuition by up to 5 percent over each of the next five years at the institution's 10 campuses.

UC President Janet Napolitano argues the university needs the money to offset disinvestment by the state. Gov. Jerry Brown opposes the tuition hikes, and there have been numerous protests over the proposal.

On Tuesday, police arrested six protesters who shut down Highway 1 for several hours by chaining themselves to bins filled with concrete placed in lanes.

The California Highway Patrol used jackhammers, saws and crowbars to unwind the tangle of chains and concrete. The suspects were arrested for creating a public nuisance, failure to obey an officer and conspiracy.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.