The University of California Regents have voted once again to increase the "fees."  The fees are really tuition, but they call them fees to maintain the facade that U.C. doesn't charge tuition to California residents. Alan Duke has this story for CNN.

The regents claim this is a last resort with no alternatives left. Oh, really?  They've cut everything that isn't necessary to the core mission of operating a university?

Among the things they should have axed a long time ago is the Death Penalty Clinic at Boalt Hall. The clinic states its "mission is to offer a program that helps students develop outstanding legal skills and to serve clients facing capital punishment." The first part is a legitimate function of a law school clinical program, but there is no reason for it to be solely on the defense side of the ledger. The last part is simply not UC's mission. While taking California cases may be a mere shift of dollars that would otherwise be spent elsewhere in the government, the clinic is not limited to California. The taxpayers and students of California should not be paying to represent death row inmates in others states, and they most certainly should not be paying for an anti-death-penalty advocacy group.

So, regents, before you hike fees another penny, ax this program.

Another place to cut is by not admitting students who are not ready for the university yet.  Some of the student protesters chanted, "We're fired up. Can't take it no more" [sic]. They clearly need a year or two of remedial courses in basic grammar and should go to community college first.