Student Strike shuts down University of Puerto Rico

Guarded entrances

Heavy police presence

Student strikes erupted at the University of Puerto Rico when the administration proposed extreme tuition hikes as a resolution for the university's large debt and budget deficit.

"After negotiations were coming close to end the strike, it was discovered that there was going to be a 100% estimated tuition hike. The hike, unveiled by the President of the Board of Trustees, Ygrí Rivera, made the previously negotiated achievements on the waivers or exemptions almost inconsequential. The administration "flexibilised" the hike, trying to make students agree with either a 100% tuition hike or a $1,300 Special Fee. The fee would be paid twice or thrice a year, for a three year period, and would be tied to a tuition hike after the 3-year period, despite the fact that tuition increases are already in place until the 2015-16 academic year according to Certification 60.
In order to have the special fee approved, in July 2010 the government modified the Board of Trustees to increase their members from 13 to 17. Then, they imposed a special fee of $800.00 per year indefinitely."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_University_of_Puerto_Rico_strike 



"University of Puerto Rico students successfully, and almost without a significant incident, paralyzed academic and administrative operations at the Río Piedras campus Wednesday after university officials had vowed to keep the institution open."
http://www.prdailysun.com/news/Student-strike-shuts-down-UPR