Schools

'Hipster' UCSC Students Disgruntled About Tuition Increases

Students at the home of the Banana Slugs share their opinions about tuition increases and on being ranked the second 'hipster' institution of higher learning in the United States.

While UC Santa Cruz students got a laugh out of a news report that ranks the school second in the country for "hipsters," many also expressed frustration and anxiety about other news. The University of California regents raised the price of tuition another 9.6 percent this week—on top of an 8 percent raise earlier in the year.

“I am going to have to put up more of my own money, so it is stressful,” said Aaron Hall, 22, a chemistry major sitting at a campus cafe.  “I am definitely not happy about it, being that it is my fifth year.”

The sudden extras costs and loans have given a financial problem that he hopes to conquer once he obtains his degree.

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“I figure that what I am learning is worth the cost, and eventually I will get the loans paid off.”

The increases in tuition spiked the curiosity of some and drove them to research the historical pricing at UCSC. They expressed disbelief at how financially accessible the university once had been. 

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“They are ridiculous, and I have seen the price range since 1960," said senior Manasa Varulli, 20, a biotechnology major who was waiting for the bus. "It was just $1,000 to $2,000."

Tuition is now between $11,000 and $13,000. UCSC has two summer sessions, one from June 20 to July 22 and the other from July 25 to Aug. 26.

“No one is really taking action," added Varulli. "I feel like if more people cared, then our voice would be heard by the government.”  

Paying more for something and not getting more things in return is a recipe for disaster for any place that charges for a service. Many students say they have become irritated for this very reason.

“I am paying more and I am seriously getting less,” said Nestor Rivera, 22, a fifth-year legal studies major. Rivera said he has seen three tuition increases in his four years at UCSC, and he believes the money is not being allocated properly.

“I still see classes being cut; I still see faculty being unable to teach classes. “

Students say the tuition increase shows that politicians lack commitment to education, and future generations are not a priority for the powers that be.  

“Education is taking the shorter stick in everything, it seems like,” said Heather Wilhelm, 21, a senior studying world literature and education, who was about to jog around the sports fields. “I guess people in higher positions don’t really value the education of the future.”

Out-of-state students have also felt the economic pinch of these price increases. They already pay a higher fee than in-state students and will have to pay even more now.

“I am from Minnesota, so I pay more anyways, but just adding to that isn’t going to help my family,” said Reed Adler, 20, a junior and environmental studies major, who was on his way to study for a quiz.

He says he feels lucky that the increases have not really affected him personally. However, he says that he has seen a lot of students struggle to get financial aid as result of these increases. “Financially, it is not something I support.”

On the lighter side, students on campus this week laughed at having their school being ranked as the in 2011 by the Huffington Post.

Students say it may have to do with the “hipster” fashion sense of some students.

“I saw it coming, no lie,” said Rivera, the legal studies student. “Since my freshmen year, I had friends who would always dress up that way, and I was just, like, that is such a weird way of dressing, then it became a trend.”

Another student remembered how she could trace elements of hipster fashion on the school's Web page, as she was considering applying to the school.  

“I saw the pictures of people wearing weird shoes, being barefoot, and nice clothes.” said Cindy Ramirez, 19, and sophomore human biology major. “You kind of could tell.”

Not all students at UCSC, however, have had a college experience that has been surrounded with students with this particular fashion sense. 

“Contrary to what everybody else is saying, I actually have no friends who dress in that hip style kind of way,” said sophomore Wanjiku Muhire, 19, a legal studies major. “Maybe I am not in the right spots at the right time, but everybody just kind of has their own style.”

While, some Banana Slugs expressed shock when told the home state of the college that was ranked the “hippest” in the nation.

“How did we not get first?” said Connor Williams, a junior and earth science major. “Some school in Iowa beat us? That is a little upsetting.”


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