SURYA QUINONES
STAFF WRITER

San Diego State University graduate student, Ashley Wardle, was at risk of a possible two-year suspension from the university after protesting against possible tuition increases within the CSU-UC education system.

On Nov. 16, 2011 CSU students from San Diego and Long Beach gathered to protest tuition increases at a CSU Board of Trustees meeting in Long Beach.

Wardle said, “Until tuition increases end, until class sizes stop raising [sic] at the same time as executive compensation, until all those things end I will continue to protest.”

The protest was held due to a now approved state-wide nine percent tuition increase that will be imposed this fall for the 2012-2013 academic year. On average, tuition will increase by $500 for all undergraduate CSU students and even more for graduate students. Staff, students and the public want the CSU Board of Trustees to tax the wealthiest one percent in the state in order to better fund higher education tuition.

Board members did not allow students to speak in the meeting and were removed from the meeting, which most considered unfair, causing commotion among the students outside of the office. In an effort to participate, students began chanting as they attempted to enter Chancellor Charles B. Reed’s office where the meeting was held. The glass door was shattered after friction between students and the police, leading the board members to feel the need to secure the building with police. Without any warning, Wardle was among one of the four SDSU students who were shoved and pepper-sprayed before getting arrested.

In the first week of December, Wardle attended an informal hearing, because after being arrested at the protest, Wardle was accused of violating the school’s code of conduct and had the option to either take the two-year suspension or attend a formal hearing, which could potentially extend the suspension or lead to expulsion.

At the hearing, Wardle stated, “The police engaged in an unnecessary amount of force. They shoved students from behind with no warning.” She continued by saying that students should not refrain from practicing their First Amendment rights.

Students from UC Berkeley were also arrested due to protests to the tuition increases and were removed of any blame by President Robert Birgeneau. Many wish for SDSU president Elliot Hirshman and Chancellor Charles Reed to grant the same for Ashley Wardle.

A settlement statement was presented to Ashley Wardle on Jan. 6, 2012, which states that suspension will not be activated, allowing Wardle to continue attendance at SDSU. However, Wardle will be ineligible to participate or hold leadership positions in student organizations.