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Flash: UC Students Take Over Wheeler Hall

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Friday November 20, 2009 - 09:48:00 AM
Despite the rain, students surrounded Wheeler Hall Friday in support of protesters who occupied the building.
Riya Bhattacharjee
Despite the rain, students surrounded Wheeler Hall Friday in support of protesters who occupied the building.
Students wait anxiously outside Wheeler Hall for news about the occupiers inside.
Riya Bhattacharjee
Students wait anxiously outside Wheeler Hall for news about the occupiers inside.

Reports are coming in that UC Berkeley students have taken over Wheeler Hall on campus to protest the 32 percent fee increase approved by the UC Regents at UCLA Thursday. 

Today (Friday) is day three of the strike students and university custodians and unions embarked upon Wednesday after a big rally and march. 

According to published reports this morning, students wearing red bandannas entered the building at 6 a.m., chained themselves to the doors and barricaded themselves inside. 

On Wednesday, a group of students dumped trash outside California Hall at 3 p.m., and an hour later had a discussion to plan next steps. 

Student leaders indicated at that time that they might be planning something for Friday.  

UC Berkeley police have now surrounded the building.  

It has been reported that pepper spray was used to make student arrests, and that at least three students have been arrested so far.