SANTA CRUZ -- About 150 UC Santa Cruz students rallied today to protest a proposed 8 percent fee increase.

The noon rally coincided with the beginning of a meeting in San Francisco, where the UC regents are addressing UC President Mark Yudof's proposals for post-employment benefits reform and student fee increases. Graduate students and other staff were on hand in support.

"I think the people who aren't protesting have a myopic view. This will increase their debt and it will effect their children's education in the future," said Nina Mautner, a UCSC junior. "Public education has been degraded for years now. We're not getting what we're paying for." The rally started with about 100 people in the Porter College Quad. The march wound through the campus and grew to about 200 students at its height. The students occupied