PUERTO RICO: More violence as student fees imposed

The imposition of student fees is going ahead at the University of Puerto Rico despite violent clashes of striking students with riot police, writes Dr Maritza Stanchich, an associate professor of English at the university, for The Huffington Post. The final date to pay the fee was last Wednesday.

The student movement is now regrouping into another phase of the struggle, with plans to continue the strike and prepare for future reimbursement of the fee through a possible class-action lawsuit.

Strike leaders last week asked students who oppose the $800 fee - the vast majority regardless of their position on the strike - to opt for paying the first installment and thereby retain their status of enrollment. Assuming it is not hiked, the fee will be $400 in the ensuing semesters. Students were also advised to write 'Pago bajo protesta or 'Payment under protest' on payments via checks or money orders for evidence of their opposition in the event of reimbursements through a class action lawsuit.

Promised government measures to cushion the blow of the fee have not yet been institutionalised. It is estimated at least 10,000 students system-wide will drop out, including graduate students whose tuition is more expensive.
Full report on The Huffington Post site