The University of California regents on Wednesday discussed the likelihood of raising fees by at least 24 percent after listening to impassioned students, who protested further increases. University officials later said that figure may go higher -- by at least another 12.5 percent.

"UC regents release your hands from my neck!" UC Davis junior Leon Arellano, who mows lawns to help finance his education, yelled into the microphone during the public comment period. "Shame on you UC regents!"

The regents had originally planned to vote on a fee increase Wednesday but postponed it until at least mid-June when they expect to know the full severity of the university's budget cuts.

They expressed relief that Gov. Gray Davis' revised budget released Wednesday did not deepen the cuts he proposed in January, but they are worried that lawmakers will still push additional reductions to UC's budget ranging from $80.5 million to $400 million.

"That would be devastating," said UC vice president for budget Larry Hershman.

California State University will also likely raise fees roughly 25 percent and perhaps another 12.5 percent. Both UC and CSU voted to raise fees approximately 10 percent six months ago.

The governor's revised budget restored $305 million to the community colleges, reducing the proposed fee increases from $24 a unit to $18 a unit.

UC regents postponed discussing alternatives to a fee increase outlined in a memo that included significant policy shifts, such as charging wealthier students more to attend UC or restricting enrollment by not admitting all eligible students.

"If the Legislature isn't prepared to support us, it's an option for 2004-05," Hershman said of limiting enrollment. "We don't want to do that."

More than 100 students, some of whom traveled all night in coach buses from southern California, decried the proposed budget cuts and chanted "Whose university? Our university!" until UC San Francisco police declared it an unlawful assembly and escorted them from the meeting.

Outside the students held a press conference and were joined by several regents, including Odessa Johnson, Tom Sayles, Alfredo Terrazas and student regent Dexter Ligot-Gordon. A tearful UCLA freshman, Rosario Luis, told the crowd that she will be the first in her family to graduate from college and that her nieces all look to her as a role model. Although UC officials have promised that students like Luis who receive financial aid won't pay any more if fees go up, Luis doesn't believe them.

"These student fees are putting up barriers," she said. "We represent our community, and our education is a right. I'm outraged."