STUDENTS gathered en masse today to protest against tuition fees and the rising burden of university debt.
A group from Socialist Students took to Bitterne's shopping precinct to lobby Itchen MP John Denham - the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
Brandishing placards and posters and armed with a loud speaker, campaigners demanded free education for all.
Mr Denham, who was holding his constituency surgery at the time of the rally, came out to meet the demonstrators.
He said further education had become more widely available since he attended university.
"The number of people from poorer backgrounds (going through further education) continues to rise and there is no evidence that the introduction of fees has put people off," he said.
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"We will look at fees next year when we have evidence from the first three years of the fees system in operation."
Posted by: Ron, Locks Heath on 2:21pm Sat 2 Feb 08
I finally managed to escape living in the Bedford Place area last year after putting up with student noise from parties and abuse when asking them to quieten down, and seeing them out in the area drinking themselves into a stupor on a Friday and Saturday night - they seemed to have enough money to be able to drink like that, vomit it up in the street and then start again. Sunday morning was a real pleasure walking past the vomit, urine and broken bottles around Bedford Place and London Road.
No sympathy for them at all, they are their own worst enemy.
I finally managed to escape living in the Bedford Place area last year after putting up with student noise from parties and abuse when asking them to quieten down, and seeing them out in the area drinking themselves into a stupor on a Friday and Saturday night - they seemed to have enough money to be able to drink like that, vomit it up in the street and then start again. Sunday morning was a real pleasure walking past the vomit, urine and broken bottles around Bedford Place and London Road.
No sympathy for them at all, they are their own worst enemy.
Posted by: Sue, Southampton on 2:22pm Sat 2 Feb 08
The students should manage their finances. They do not need to spend so much on alcohol, entertainment, shopping - so many can afford to go to Waitrose, others are always laden with designer label bags. They are always out - when do they study? when do they actually complete their assignments. Some may work hard but I am appalled by the behaviuour of Southampton University Students.
The students should manage their finances. They do not need to spend so much on alcohol, entertainment, shopping - so many can afford to go to Waitrose, others are always laden with designer label bags. They are always out - when do they study? when do they actually complete their assignments. Some may work hard but I am appalled by the behaviuour of Southampton University Students.
Posted by: Jim Smith, Soton on 5:38pm Sat 2 Feb 08
Although i do not agree with student fees in principle, i have to admit in practice it will encourge students to choose their degrees more wisely. I have no doubt that the statistics will show less people on mickey mouse degrees (e.g. media studies) and more on proper degrees such as physics and chemistry.
Although i do not agree with student fees in principle, i have to admit in practice it will encourge students to choose their degrees more wisely. I have no doubt that the statistics will show less people on mickey mouse degrees (e.g. media studies) and more on proper degrees such as physics and chemistry.
Posted by: John Harris, Southampton on 5:42pm Sat 2 Feb 08
[quote][bold]Ron[/bold] wrote:
I finally managed to escape living in the Bedford Place area last year after putting up with student noise from parties and abuse when asking them to quieten down, and seeing them out in the area drinking themselves into a stupor on a Friday and Saturday night - they seemed to have enough money to be able to drink like that, vomit it up in the street and then start again. Sunday morning was a real pleasure walking past the vomit, urine and broken bottles around Bedford Place and London Road.
No sympathy for them at all, they are their own worst enemy.[/quote] How do you know which ones are students and which ones are chavs fron the flowers estate?
Ron wrote:
I finally managed to escape living in the Bedford Place area last year after putting up with student noise from parties and abuse when asking them to quieten down, and seeing them out in the area drinking themselves into a stupor on a Friday and Saturday night - they seemed to have enough money to be able to drink like that, vomit it up in the street and then start again. Sunday morning was a real pleasure walking past the vomit, urine and broken bottles around Bedford Place and London Road.
No sympathy for them at all, they are their own worst enemy.
How do you know which ones are students and which ones are chavs fron the flowers estate?
Posted by: King Mush, Woolston on 5:57pm Sat 2 Feb 08
"Ron wrote:
I finally managed to escape living in the Bedford Place area last year after putting up with student noise from parties and abuse when asking them to quieten down, and seeing them out in the area drinking themselves into a stupor on a Friday and Saturday night - they seemed to have enough money to be able to drink like that, vomit it up in the street and then start again. Sunday morning was a real pleasure walking past the vomit, urine and broken bottles around Bedford Place and London Road.
No sympathy for them at all, they are their own worst enemy.
How do you know which ones are students and which ones are chavs from the flowers estate?"
Easy - the students' tattoos are spelt properly
"Ron wrote:
I finally managed to escape living in the Bedford Place area last year after putting up with student noise from parties and abuse when asking them to quieten down, and seeing them out in the area drinking themselves into a stupor on a Friday and Saturday night - they seemed to have enough money to be able to drink like that, vomit it up in the street and then start again. Sunday morning was a real pleasure walking past the vomit, urine and broken bottles around Bedford Place and London Road.
No sympathy for them at all, they are their own worst enemy.
How do you know which ones are students and which ones are chavs from the flowers estate?"
Posted by: Automan, Southampton on 6:09pm Sat 2 Feb 08
yawn, typical anti-student comments made by University of Life types. Students have lived in the Polygon, Portswood, Highfield and Bassett for years so you shouldn't complain.
As for Denham, it's funny how he benefitted from a free University education + grant when Mrs Thatcher was in power and I was lucky to go to Uni during the Major years. Anyone who went to Uni under Blair/Brown must be at least £20k in debt with little chance of getting onto the housing ladder or making a savings provision for the future.
Best course of action? vote Denham and his gravy train colleagues out at the next election.
yawn, typical anti-student comments made by University of Life types. Students have lived in the Polygon, Portswood, Highfield and Bassett for years so you shouldn't complain.
As for Denham, it's funny how he benefitted from a free University education + grant when Mrs Thatcher was in power and I was lucky to go to Uni during the Major years. Anyone who went to Uni under Blair/Brown must be at least £20k in debt with little chance of getting onto the housing ladder or making a savings provision for the future.
Best course of action? vote Denham and his gravy train colleagues out at the next election.
Posted by: Get it right, Hythe on 6:12pm Sat 2 Feb 08
[quote][bold]Jim Smith[/bold] wrote:
Although i do not agree with student fees in principle, i have to admit in practice it will encourge students to choose their degrees more wisely. I have no doubt that the statistics will show less people on mickey mouse degrees (e.g. media studies) and more on proper degrees such as physics and chemistry.[/quote] ...fewer people...
Jim Smith wrote:
Although i do not agree with student fees in principle, i have to admit in practice it will encourge students to choose their degrees more wisely. I have no doubt that the statistics will show less people on mickey mouse degrees (e.g. media studies) and more on proper degrees such as physics and chemistry.
the only reason why poorer people go to university now is not becasue the fees are reasonable, they are an outrage, it is because they HAVE TO to get a decent job to earn decent money to live. three years ago fees were considerably alot cheaper, especially accomadation so you cannot possibly compare three years ago to now and say that fees have not put people off, of course they have but they have no choice. take a reality check, please !
the only reason why poorer people go to university now is not becasue the fees are reasonable, they are an outrage, it is because they HAVE TO to get a decent job to earn decent money to live. three years ago fees were considerably alot cheaper, especially accomadation so you cannot possibly compare three years ago to now and say that fees have not put people off, of course they have but they have no choice. take a reality check, please !
Posted by: Adam, Portsmouth on 6:52pm Sat 2 Feb 08
As one of the students on this protest I would like to interject. this protest was not solely about 'managing our finances' as some seem to believe. We are protesting against the privatisation of education. this would lead to Universities such as Cambridge, Oxford , Durham and the like charging in excess of 17 thousand pounds a year for education, a price many can not afford. this would lead to smaller universities seeking investment from private companies to subsidise the lack of government funding that is already disappearing.
As we know there is no such thing as a free dinner, and these companies would seek to bolster the degrees that they would benefit from ( e.g. a pharmaceuticals company pouring money into pharmacy degrees and neglecting English degrees) effectively dovetailing education into Universities being chosen on cost and not on merit.
The Ministers proposing these hikes in fees benefited from free education. therefore is it fair that they then increase the price for students' education and withdraw government funding?
Billions of pounds are spent for every day that this country occupies Iraq, and yet Britain is the fifth worst spender on education. is this really right?
Our protest was not based on the idea of having a 'free ride' or 'getting in those extra drinks' but creating a free and fair education, and not selling out education so that the Government can bail itself out of debt.
As one of the students on this protest I would like to interject. this protest was not solely about 'managing our finances' as some seem to believe. We are protesting against the privatisation of education. this would lead to Universities such as Cambridge, Oxford , Durham and the like charging in excess of 17 thousand pounds a year for education, a price many can not afford. this would lead to smaller universities seeking investment from private companies to subsidise the lack of government funding that is already disappearing.
As we know there is no such thing as a free dinner, and these companies would seek to bolster the degrees that they would benefit from ( e.g. a pharmaceuticals company pouring money into pharmacy degrees and neglecting English degrees) effectively dovetailing education into Universities being chosen on cost and not on merit.
The Ministers proposing these hikes in fees benefited from free education. therefore is it fair that they then increase the price for students' education and withdraw government funding?
Billions of pounds are spent for every day that this country occupies Iraq, and yet Britain is the fifth worst spender on education. is this really right?
Our protest was not based on the idea of having a 'free ride' or 'getting in those extra drinks' but creating a free and fair education, and not selling out education so that the Government can bail itself out of debt.
Posted by: Automan, Southampton on 7:39pm Sat 2 Feb 08
I saw an excellent film last night called The History Boys- about a group of grammar school lads trying to get into Oxbridge. Not only was it funny but it highlighted the problems working class kids face trying to access higher education.
Shame on this government for selling out to the class bigots at Oxbridge- look at the flack Brown got for sticking up for Laura Spence all those years back!
As for more people going to University before 1992 there were fewer Uni's as we had Poly's and Institutes of HE where most poor people went.
I saw an excellent film last night called The History Boys- about a group of grammar school lads trying to get into Oxbridge. Not only was it funny but it highlighted the problems working class kids face trying to access higher education.
Shame on this government for selling out to the class bigots at Oxbridge- look at the flack Brown got for sticking up for Laura Spence all those years back!
As for more people going to University before 1992 there were fewer Uni's as we had Poly's and Institutes of HE where most poor people went.
I would love to go to university or even just take some online courses but with a young family to support and look after plus that ever increasing council tax. Furthering my education is destined to remain nothing more than a pipe dream.
With the expense of day to day living and ever increasing taxes we cannot afford to take on the debt and added financial hardship further education would entail.
This country isn't interested in helping those that wish to learn probably because the government needs our tuition fees to help pay for Scotlands free tuition.
I would love to go to university or even just take some online courses but with a young family to support and look after plus that ever increasing council tax. Furthering my education is destined to remain nothing more than a pipe dream.
With the expense of day to day living and ever increasing taxes we cannot afford to take on the debt and added financial hardship further education would entail.
This country isn't interested in helping those that wish to learn probably because the government needs our tuition fees to help pay for Scotlands free tuition.
Posted by: Adam, Portsmouth on 11:58am Sun 3 Feb 08
although I can see the anger at the idea of English citizens paying for Scottish tuition fees, Devolution essentially gives Scotland a set amount of money that they can spend on what they choose. They have chosen to spend it on care for the aged and students. although we are a unified kingdom, devolution is so far gone that sovereignty could never be re-established in London. the money coming from British taxpayers would remain in Britain if Scotland were to 'secede' from the United Kingdom, much like the ROI has done, and this would mean that Britain would loose access to North Sea Oil, which as we know, just wouldnt do !
They took my photo while talking to Denham [bold]bold[/bold] :)
although I can see the anger at the idea of English citizens paying for Scottish tuition fees, Devolution essentially gives Scotland a set amount of money that they can spend on what they choose. They have chosen to spend it on care for the aged and students. although we are a unified kingdom, devolution is so far gone that sovereignty could never be re-established in London. the money coming from British taxpayers would remain in Britain if Scotland were to 'secede' from the United Kingdom, much like the ROI has done, and this would mean that Britain would loose access to North Sea Oil, which as we know, just wouldnt do !
Posted by: Jenny, Portsmouth on 3:16am Mon 4 Feb 08
I was also one of those protesting on Saturday and feel that some of the previous comments are untrue and unfair. As a fellow student has commented, we are not looking for a so-called "free ride". Coming from a working class background and being the first in the family to be able to go to university I have personal experience of how the tuition fee system only hinders matters.
We recieve a loan which barely covers living costs due to extortionate rent and are expected to survive on that for a year. It doesn't take a genius to work out that £4,000 a year doesn't stretch very far, hence why many students have to work part-time to ensure they have enough cash for food and books. The tuition fee loans do cover the costs, yet they are still loans which will have to be repaid once we are in full-time employment earning over £15k per annum. If the tuition fees rise again then for some people it will take many, many years to repay their debt. This is especially unfair for women who in some professions have no equality in levels of pay, so it takes even longer to pay off.
Again for mature students it poses even more of a challenge. No one knows what life will throw at you and if the opportunity to go to university at 18 was closed off due to other events you should not be discriminated against. I feel for mature students who juggle part-time work, studying and providing for their families.
One comment that particularly touched a nerve was that relating to the choice of degree courses that some people take. I am being forced to take a second degree to get into my choosen career which I shall recieve no financial help with - no loans, nothing! When I was 18, as I'm sure many people will agree, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. It's unfair to close down options to those who made mistakes in their youth who have to take on further qualifications to achieve their career goal.
At the end of the day, education should be available to all, and at reasonable costs.
I was also one of those protesting on Saturday and feel that some of the previous comments are untrue and unfair. As a fellow student has commented, we are not looking for a so-called "free ride". Coming from a working class background and being the first in the family to be able to go to university I have personal experience of how the tuition fee system only hinders matters.
We recieve a loan which barely covers living costs due to extortionate rent and are expected to survive on that for a year. It doesn't take a genius to work out that £4,000 a year doesn't stretch very far, hence why many students have to work part-time to ensure they have enough cash for food and books. The tuition fee loans do cover the costs, yet they are still loans which will have to be repaid once we are in full-time employment earning over £15k per annum. If the tuition fees rise again then for some people it will take many, many years to repay their debt. This is especially unfair for women who in some professions have no equality in levels of pay, so it takes even longer to pay off.
Again for mature students it poses even more of a challenge. No one knows what life will throw at you and if the opportunity to go to university at 18 was closed off due to other events you should not be discriminated against. I feel for mature students who juggle part-time work, studying and providing for their families.
One comment that particularly touched a nerve was that relating to the choice of degree courses that some people take. I am being forced to take a second degree to get into my choosen career which I shall recieve no financial help with - no loans, nothing! When I was 18, as I'm sure many people will agree, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. It's unfair to close down options to those who made mistakes in their youth who have to take on further qualifications to achieve their career goal.
At the end of the day, education should be available to all, and at reasonable costs.
Posted by: Helen, Southampton on 10:47am Mon 4 Feb 08
You say students have to manage their finances, not spend so much on alcohol etc... But doing my degree in London, my student loan did not even cover my rent for the year, which was £100 a week. Let alone tuition fees, food, books etc.
You say students have to manage their finances, not spend so much on alcohol etc... But doing my degree in London, my student loan did not even cover my rent for the year, which was £100 a week. Let alone tuition fees, food, books etc.
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