Tuition Fees March

[eFestivals]

Nah, it was only 35 arrested and 14 people injured.

Hmmm ... you need to be careful with believing the numbers police give for injuries.

At the Climate Camp protests in Kent a year or two back, the police tried to justify the actions they'd taken by saying the activists were violent, and gave a figure for the number of old bill that were injured.

Some smart cookie pursued things (with an FOI request I think), and it turned out that not one of the injuries were caused by the activists, and the injuries were things like "I hurt my back getting out of the police car" and "I was stung by a bee".

[eFestivals]

but the situation in NI only started to get any better when it was agreed that carrying on with the violence just perpetuated the violence

but a change which wouldn't have come about had they not been prepared to use violence to bring about that change - the same in Rhodesia, the same in SA.

[Ed209]

Just walked through South Kensington where currently the group known as "Muslims Against Crusades" is having an Armistice protest, and it literally looks as though half the MET police is on exhibition road. Helecopters, vans, bikes, patrols, cops everywhere, the whole area is on police lockdown ... and all for 20 protesters.

Tells its own story

[rabid]

Just walked through South Kensington where currently the group known as "Muslims Against Crusades" is having an Armistice protest, and it literally looks as though half the MET police is on exhibition road. Helecopters, vans, bikes, patrols, cops everywhere, the whole area is on police lockdown ... and all for 20 protesters.

Tells its own story

[llcoolphil]

Or is it just that they don't care, because none of it will affect them (it'll only affect students who start their course in 2012 or later). "I'm alright Jack".

Thatcher spawned a wonderful thing.

[funkymp]

Yeah cos the reputation of students amongst the general non student public is massive isn't it.

But go on then - what do you think shouting and bawling and waving some placards will achieve? A million people tried it not to long ago. Still went into Iraq.

Edited November 11, 2010 by funkymp

[llcoolphil]

You can't really compare protesting against a war (which was already a foregone conclusion by all parties involved, where public opinion meant fowk all to those involved at the top at the time) and a rise in student fees imo. 2 completely different things.

[funkymp]

It's protesting against governments taking action on our behalf but without any consensus for that action. They are easily comparable because they are about the public not waiting for an election to represent what their opinion is.

Edited November 11, 2010 by funkymp

[llcoolphil]

With you there, the second part - think the problem here more than anything is how the lib / tories have just lied to the public about this whole student funding process and gone back on promises already.

[funkymp]

When were you at university?

[nightcrawler13]

ok, i dont want this to end with people going mental at me, i just need it explaining to me...

the increase in tuition fees to me doesnt seem like a bad thing?

yes they are now a lot more, but you don't pay ANYTHING back until you earn over £15,000. Even then it's only a small proportion of your earnings, it's like paying for Sky!?

They drop the debt after 30 years, so it's unlikely half of students will even pay it all back anyway

it helps out the economy, and even more importantly it may lower the number of students...

the market for graduates is saturated, i have three friends with chemistry degrees who can't get jobs and are on the dole...

we were pretty much taught in highschool that if you didnt get a degree you were a failure, but the people who went on to do a trade are earning 5x + how much my graduate friends are right now!

so, all in all, though i'm a lefty, i think maybe this is a good idea??

[Budweiser]

anarchy in the uk:

[llcoolphil]

ok, i dont want this to end with people going mental at me, i just need it explaining to me...

the increase in tuition fees to me doesnt seem like a bad thing?

yes they are now a lot more, but you don't pay ANYTHING back until you earn over £15,000. Even then it's only a small proportion of your earnings, it's like paying for Sky!?

[lifelessfool]

I couldn't get down to the protests as I've finally found a job in Manchester, and couldn't get the time off. I don't really know where I stand with the university situation, I do feel there are too many people with degrees being unable to find jobs and the like, however I've only gone to uni to learn and don't really want a high paid job at the end. But if tuition fees were what they are going up to now when I was picking options, uni wouldn't of been an option especially if as someone stated maintenance loans vanish! I can barely live at the moment and I don't waste my money on nights out that often.

[dakyras]

Sussex Student Union has refused to condemn the violence.

Lads.

[dakyras]

The University of Sussex Students' Union has refused to condemn violence at Wednesday's tuition fees protest.

Dozens were injured and 50 people were arrested when thousands protested in London, with some breaking into and damaging the Conservative Party's HQ.

Five hundred students from Sussex University joined the march.

Their union said the damage was "a drop in the ocean compared to the true violence and vandalism" applied to the education system by the government.

[bunique]

Sussex Student Union has refused to condemn the violence.

Lads.

[dakyras]

That would be the same union that for the entire time I was there ran out of money by Spring each year and had to shut down its bars and shops on campus!

[gemstarrr]

i would have gone to this, but had already paid for a uni trip that day.

i think its awful how clegg has gone back on his word. i voted lib dem because they promised not to hike up fees and seemed to be backing students. NUS were campaigning for us to vote lib dem and i only know 1 student who voted for a different party.

its not right, they wouldn't be in power at all if they hadn't of won the student vote and now theyre going back on their word. it makes us feel stupid and let down. we would have been better off voting labour.

even though it wont really effect me it makes me sad to think that my younger sister may not be able to go to uni because of money. the system's already pretty messed up. because of what my parents earn i dont get any grants or bursaries. yet, because theyve got a high mortgage and my dad is in danger of losing his job soon and my brother is starting uni next year, they cant afford to give me much money. so there i am working my arse off trying to balance uni with a part time job and a social life (the only one which i could find being at a club, resulting in only 3 hours sleep a couple of nights a week before uni, affecting my work) while many of my friends are happily living off free money from the government/uni, not even needing a job.

needs sorting out. particularly students with parents who are divorced. ive got a friend whose dad is paying for her whole tuitition fees and rent and is giving her 60 quid a week on top of the full loan she gets plus full bursary she recieves because she only lives with her mum. she doesnt even appreciate how lucky she is, it makes me angry!

[Paul ™]

they cant afford to give me much money. so i am working my arse off trying to balance uni with a part time job and a social life

Edited November 15, 2010 by Paul ™

[Ed209]

Maybe stop drinking as much

[Paul ™]

what a shit comment to make.

[jump]

Why? You can't plead poverty in one thread and then boast about liking a drink in another thread without expecting comments.

[Paul ™]

Wasn't it her mates birthday in the other thread though?

[Ed209]

Irrelevant but she admitted she likes a drink in a couple of posts, and posted that while being drunk again.

If you have enough money to go out and drink that much, you can't be in poverty or expect a lot of handouts from parents IMO