4/19 Update: 18 people who were arrested at the Tent University spent the night in jail after riot police stormed the site with little warning from the school administrators. The Tent University will continue today, and Action in Defense of Education organizers are looking ahead to tomorrow's state-wide day of action to protest cuts to higher education, continuing fee hikes, and holding back Proposition 98 funds for K-14. ECR Interview With AIDE, including info about the protest in Berkeley on 4/20.

4/18: Approximately 20 participants in the Tent University protest and teach-in at UCSC were arrested this evening by university police. Information on the arrests has not yet been released by UCSC police or the Santa Cruz Sheriff, but according to reports on Santa Cruz Indymedia, arrestees were dragged and clubbed by police and subjected to pain compliance and chokeholds. With a large crowd gathered and an increasing presence of cameras documenting the police brutality, university authorities eventually made a concessionary deal with organizers allowing a small number of participants to camp on the field, according to reports on Free Radio Santa Cruz. The arrestees were transported to the Santa Cruz county jail, where a large crowd was gathered in support as of 1:30 a.m. 4/19.

Inspired by the original Tent State University in New Jersey symbolizing the displacement of higher education, UCSC students organized Tent University Santa Cruz (TUSC) in response to the budgetary injustices facing California's education system. TUSC, described as the largest political gathering in the recent history of UCSC, will address the ongoing workers' struggle, the anti-war movement, the walk-out to defend public education on April 20, and the racial justice movement, according to organizers. A few days ago, the University posted "No camping" signs and warned organizers that its no-sleeping policy would be strictly enforced.