University of California student activists protested and walked out of class at noon on Monday as they continue to make their opposition against tuition hikes known.
The loud protest, with people carrying signs that read "Free Education" was part of a statewide Day of Action.
The students have been sleeping over at Wheeler Hall at UC Berkley, and have been staging sit-ins there too all last week. Students have also taken over buildings at other UC campuses including at Davis and Santa Cruz.
"I have no doubt in my mind things will keep going regardless of how many people are here," Cal student Joseph Watkins said. "The message is still there that knowledge is not a commodity that its not a privilege that people should be taken away from public."
The protests stem from the UC Board of Regents 14-7 vote on Thursday to approve increases of as much as 5 percent in each of the next five years unless the state devotes more money to the 10-campus system.
A spokeswoman from UC Berkeley was not immediately available to comment.
Students have vowed to stay in the building until the regents rescind the tuition increases.
"With regards to the regents, we’re calling for them to rescind the tuition hikes," Watkins said, "and that it's just absurd the students voices were not heard."
