Cal State Rules Out New Tuition Hike Vote

Los Angeles - The California State University chancellor has ruled out a new vote on a bitterly contested tuition increase, despite pressure to reconsider it because it might have sidestepped open-government laws.

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and the president of the school employees union wanted the CSU board of trustees to schedule a new vote on the 9 percent boost, but Chancellor Charles Reed said in a letter released Friday evening that there is "not good reason" to revisit the board's action.

Trustees meeting in Long Beach Wednesday retreated behind closed doors to vote on the tuition jump, after a chaotic meeting in which police clashed with demonstrators.

School officials say the vote was conducted legally.

Reporters and television crews in a hallway didn't learn until afterward that a vote was taken.