13 Arrested At Protest Over UC Fee Hikes

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Police arrested and pepper-sprayed University of California students during a violent protest Wednesday over a proposed tuition increase that left three officers injured.

Thirteen people, including 10 students, were taken into custody during the demonstration at the University of California, San Francisco, said campus police Chief Pamela Roskowski.

One student was arrested for investigation of assault with a deadly weapon after a campus police officer was hit with his own baton, Roskowski said.

The officer was struck in the head after a group of protesters surrounded him in a parking garage and grabbed his baton, she said. The officer drew his gun in self-defense.

"It was an angry and unruly and aggressive crowd," Roskowski said. "He was very concerned about his safety."

The names of the suspect and officer were not immediately released.

Campus and San Francisco police used pepper spray to disperse protesters who tried to cross a police barricade and enter a building where the UC Board of Regents was meeting. About 15 people were exposed to the pepper spray, Roskowski said.

About 300 students and workers participated in the demonstration ahead of Thursday's expected vote on raising tuition by 8 percent.

Under the plan, student fees for California residents would increase by $822 to $11,124. The figure doesn't include individual campus fees or room and board. The increase would go into effect in fall 2011 and raise an estimated $180 million in annual revenue, with $64 million set aside for financial aid.

UC officials said the fee hike is needed to maintain student enrollment, courses and services to offset unprecedented cuts in state funding.

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