Student Protest
- Thread starter Kirkby
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That's bullshit. How the fuck am I supposed to pay off £9000? I'm not surprised they rioted. Hell, I would have done the same, regardless of whether or not it's violent.
Of course being violent isn't exactly nice, but what else can you do to get your point across?
Perhaps this is part of the reason why I haven't heard anything aboyt my Student Loans Application for a while.
This is terrible news. Next there will be a report on dwindling numbers of students going to university and the Government will wonder why.
Fuck you coalition government.
Of course being violent isn't exactly nice, but what else can you do to get your point across?
Perhaps this is part of the reason why I haven't heard anything aboyt my Student Loans Application for a while.
This is terrible news. Next there will be a report on dwindling numbers of students going to university and the Government will wonder why.
Fuck you coalition government.
Government aka taxpayers. This is how I feel about dumb shit protesters... Most of the protests that end like this and fuelled by jobless fuckwits who pay little or no tax. All the damage they cause is payed for by me. If these whiney little shits actually got a job then they could afford most of the things they are protesting about. I think a few rubber bullets to the face would sort them all out.lacktheknack said:
I assume you're referring to the Demolition protest today? My university union, here in Leeds, actually had coaches prepared to take students and staff (yes, here in Leeds even the lecturers and staff are protesting against the government's plans to raise tuition fee caps) down to London to take part. In our student paper on Friday I'm expecting heavy coverage of the event and the response by the government, since it is something that affects a lot of people.Kirkby said:
Personally, I'm lucky, as I'm in my final year now. My brother is in Sixth Form and he'll be going to university next year, so it won't affect him in first year but I don't know if he'll have to pay the higher rate in his second year, from 2012. Our VC (Vice Chancellor, the guy in charge) went on record when the Browne Report was published as saying he wants to raise the Leeds tuition fees to £9000, to much controversy on campus. The stupid thing is, he still advocates things like new buildings and stuff, and stupid things like having University Council meet in fancy hotels when there are perfectly good spaces on campus, and decides to make cuts like getting rid of the School of English Library, when there are plenty of other things he could cut instead to save costs. Oh, and the Leeds budget was reported last year as being about £20 million in deficit, latest figures show that was overestimated (deliberately) and we're only about £2 million in deficit, a very manageable amount. As I say, the 'mistake' has also been found to have been deliberate to try and justify some of the more extreme cuts like making a lot of 'non-essential' staff redundant.
Protestors at our university, in a group called LUAC (Leeds University Against Cuts) actually sent letters to the PM, Deputy PM, and our own VC last week, containing bills that the recipients are supposed to pay, since they didn't have to pay for their education (when they went to university it was government-sponsored, no tuition fees whatsoever), so they have no experience of being in debt like we do. I'm expecting to leave university with around £30,000 of debt. Luckily I live fairly frugally anyway, so by the time I'm earning above the threshold to start paying that back I'll be able to manage, but many others won't. Hell, I'd even be happy to pay graduate tax, like the Lib Dems (who I voted for) suggested. The MP I voted for, in my constituency, is a Lib Dem, Greg Mulholland. He met with students and he's come out as saying, since before the election, and even now, that he supports graduate tax rather than tuition fee increases, and that if it comes to a vote in Parliament he'll vote against the Browne reccomendations. Let's just hope the rest of the government sees sense and follows suit, before it's too late.
Oh joy, I cannot wait...especially studying Journalism so I'm not getting away from it.LordCuthberton said:
I'm not sure, what did it say? Might jog my memory
I think it is downright outrageous that they've basically tripled the cost of uni fees. There is actually 0% proof that any of it is going into developing anything whatsoever. Know what its going to? Wages - of uni staff and MPs. What makes them think university students can afford to bail the economy out of the crap they got it into? Thanks to this, hundreds of thousands of people wont be able to afford university anymore! Im gonna owe an EXTRA £12,000 in fees, and for what exactly? Thats right - sweet f.a! It wont benefit me or anyone I know in any way!
Having said all that - I dont know if Im prepared to smash windows and throw fire extinguishers of roofs! Im not ready to get a criminal record and limit my life to no end over that! But I can completly understand the reaction they've taken. Im astounded they didnt see something like this coming. Peaceful protests clearly aren't working, they aren't taking the students seriously - what else are they meant to do to get their point across? And if this doesnt work then I fear for the safety of the MPs because one of them will get attacked by someone!
Having said all that - I dont know if Im prepared to smash windows and throw fire extinguishers of roofs! Im not ready to get a criminal record and limit my life to no end over that! But I can completly understand the reaction they've taken. Im astounded they didnt see something like this coming. Peaceful protests clearly aren't working, they aren't taking the students seriously - what else are they meant to do to get their point across? And if this doesnt work then I fear for the safety of the MPs because one of them will get attacked by someone!
My brother's going to study at Cambridge next year hopefully, we can't afford to pay £9000. I'm lucky because I am Scottish and also study here, so my tuition fees are payed for me. I can see pressure being put on rather quickly to make us pay as well...
My friend is a university student and she went and joined the protest, students really do care about this and the poor ones didn't vote for the tories I can tell you that for nothingLord Mountbatten Reborn said:
Great logic there - shame they'll be saving up until their pension kicks in since they'll all be working in supermarkets! Can you seriously not see the dilemma here!? Let me spell it out for you - None of them can afford to go to university and get decent jobs!!!XinfiniteX said:
How'd you feel if you bought something for £9000 and the government sent a bill to your house for £27,000 instead and said "Yup
Nothing you can do about it so pay up now", after promising you they would not raise the price! Would shooting you with some rubber bullets make you feel better?Im not saying violence is the answer but there is no way you can say they havent got a right to be royally pissed off! This kinda of thing should have been anticipated!
Continuing the offtopicness a little longer I saw this linked to somewhere else.AcidLillies said:
http://soundcloud.com/the-real-scroungers/the-real-scroungers
Can't say I'm all that surprised really. Time to break out the bows and hoodies?
Rob in da hood?
Fixed.Tipsy Giant said:
Nobody got hurt through luck. Those damages aren't going to pay for themselves and it gives students a bad name.
Of course it was a disgrace. It was a horrible example of how protest should go.
And another thing, I bet someone wore a Che Guevara tee shirt without realising how out of place it was.
Maybe the system works different over there. In Australia, when you go to University, there are systems in place to pay for your tuition. Once you get a job over a certain amount ($50k a year i think?) then you pay a certain percentage of your wages to pay off the fees. The fees shouldn't even be an issue. And by having a part time job while they study they can offset other costs... No one said they had to work in a supermarket...Auron225 said:
If it's that big of a problem to them then quit. Seriously, no one is forcing them to go!
its pretty damn expensive over here as is. $36,000 American. not that an increase doesn't matter, just saying.
Im not exactly keen on the idea of the increased fees, especially as the legislation will be in place by the time I am in my final year of University; however, i think it's time to realise that every sector of British society has to pay for the deficit we're in; It would be unfair on every other service that are receiving cuts if uni students bore none of this burden. I agree it's unfair that society has to collectively pay off this deficit seeing as it's the bankers and the previous labour government who are at fault.
Oh and vandalising the Conservative building? Surely it would make more sense that if anything should be vandalised, it should be the Labour HQ because they are largely responsible for the country's debt, and lets not forget that it was also them who introduced tuition fees in the first place.
Oh and vandalising the Conservative building? Surely it would make more sense that if anything should be vandalised, it should be the Labour HQ because they are largely responsible for the country's debt, and lets not forget that it was also them who introduced tuition fees in the first place.
I say. Good.
3000 is expensive enough, trippling the cost for education is just further proof that the current government's economic policies excist to keep the rich, rich, and make the poor, even poorer. It is fucking horseshit. You can not get a job without higher education these days, and no one will be able to get degrees if the fees are that high. Fewer people are going to get into work, and everyone, will suffer.
I'm glad they smashed the place up, I can't say I wouldn't do the same thing.
3000 is expensive enough, trippling the cost for education is just further proof that the current government's economic policies excist to keep the rich, rich, and make the poor, even poorer. It is fucking horseshit. You can not get a job without higher education these days, and no one will be able to get degrees if the fees are that high. Fewer people are going to get into work, and everyone, will suffer.
I'm glad they smashed the place up, I can't say I wouldn't do the same thing.
Granted peaceful protests are often ignored by the government, but rioting just brings even more negativity towards the protesters (lets face it, students aren't exactly the most popular group in society), and then villifies US instead of the government, making it look like WE are in the wrong. To use a cliche. We're supposed to be the intellectual future of the country, and we show this by kicking through windows, destroying buildings and, in some ways endangering lives?? Cause THATS what will get our point across...
Though I'm second year so the raises shouldn't effect me much I still think its wrong, why should we have to pay up to £9000PA to get an education? I appreciate things don't come for free but the way to recoup the money that britain owes is NOT through the students, one of the poorest and most indebted groups around...
On a lighter note, one of the banners in the protest stated "What would chuck norris do?"...made me chuckle...
Though I'm second year so the raises shouldn't effect me much I still think its wrong, why should we have to pay up to £9000PA to get an education? I appreciate things don't come for free but the way to recoup the money that britain owes is NOT through the students, one of the poorest and most indebted groups around...
On a lighter note, one of the banners in the protest stated "What would chuck norris do?"...made me chuckle...