Pamela Louderback, Day 29: Part final

A big topic of concern that I haven't mentioned yet is the hike in fees for University students.  It's quite heated here - last week (Wednesday) many students took to the streets yelling and chanting explitives "F**k fees - free education now, etc... Their demonstrations were so loud, you could hear them at my office -- which is a good three blocks away from the Student Union.  So, I thought I'd put on my 'political' hat and share what I've learned...

Of course, the number of students who came out for the rally paled in comparison to an estimated 50,000 students who took to the streets of London to protest against government proposals to cut education spending and raise tuition fees.  Students throughout the UK joined together to march from Whitehall to Downing Street and on to Parliament.  Their objective -- to mount pressure on MPs (Ministers of Parliament) to vote against what is termed the 'Browne' review.

The Browne review, or proposal states the cap on student fees should be lifted entirely and graduates will start repayment once they earn £21,000.  Additionally, Universities should be allowed to decide what they charge students.  Lord Browne, (former chief executive of BP), said universities that charged the highest fees would have to demonstrate they are widening access to students from poorer homes.  Yeah -- I'm a bit skeptical that will happen -- maybe I'm becoming a bit jaded.  Just imagine if NSU, or any other institution was allowed to decide how much to increase tuition - without considering RUSO or some other governing body's opinion on the matter. 

Anyway, Wednesday's march coincided with Question Time in the House of Commons -- perfect timing, of course.   For those who are not familiary with the term "Question Time" -- it is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask government ministers questions. These questions are asked at the start of business in both chambers and are known as 'oral questions'. The Prime Minister answers questions in the Commons every Wednesday.  Thus...Wednesday's march...

However, Brownes proposal doesn't have to be put in place.  If it were to be defeated at Westminster, Browne in Northern Ireland would become a "non-issue".  Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg came under fire as well from the opposition on his party's u-turn on tuition fees.  UK and Ireland students chanted "Clegg, fa dive ya hink ye are?"  and "Remember the Irish students!"  and "Teach us, don't leave us!"' as they passed Parliament.  Protesters listened to calls for Liberal Democrat politicians to keep the tuition pledge they made in teh run-up to this year's general election.  Guess it's politicians being politicians...at the expense of students -- mostly women and minority...

And therein lies my small attempt to share with you the current UK foreign politics as it relates to higher education.

Banner depicting "Freeze the Fees" sentiment -- hanging on the Student Union entrance.