Did the UC protests work?

by Jody Ballew

Amy Goodman with Democracy Now reports,

Amid thousands of student protesters and armed police standing guard, the University of California’s Board of Regents has approved a 32 percent increase in student fees. The vote will bring the total cost of a UC education to more than $10,000 per year for the first time. 

For me, this raises a very basic question about protest.  Does it work?  Is protest effective?  The students who occupied buildings and organized strong protests demanded a stop to these tuition hikes.  The hikes are now in place.  Why didn't the Board of Regents respond to the loud and present voices of the students?  How will the UC protesters reconstitute their protest now that their central demand has been denied?  UC students have already committed to a second strike on 3/4/2010.

Here is the interview and coverage by Democracy Now.  This video explores some very interesting perspectives regarding the protests and the privatization of education around the University of California events.  Goodman's guest Bob Samuels, President of the University of California American Federation of Teachers, offers real reasons to resist tuition increases.