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Thousands expected at fees demo

Oct 24 2003 16:21

Gary Ewer

The largest national demonstration against top up fees is to take place this weekend.

Imperial students protest about fees at graduation day in 2002

Tens of thousands of people are expected to descend on central London this Sunday to take part in the NUS organised Anti Fees Demo. It is anticipated that this will be the largest national demonstration of it's kind yet, and will be attended by students, parents and campaigners along with stilt walkers, fire-eaters and brass bands.

The Government is facing a lot of criticism about the proposed top up fees and are even saying they will back down,,174-866308,00.html on the issue if there is sufficient public pressure to do so. The British Council have recently said that British Universities could loose millions,,174-866310,00.html if they are introduced, as EU students will opt to study elsewhere rather than pay fees in Britain.

Imperial College Union intend to take part in the demonstration and any students wishing to take part in the march can meet in Beit Quad at 11am on Sunday or at noon in Tavestock Square ready to join the rest of the protestors in Malet Street at 12:30pm before the march makes its way through the streets of London to Trafalgar Square. IC students coming to the march will be supplied with a free tshirt and doughnut (subject to availability).

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Discussion about “Thousands expected at fees demo”

The comments below are unmoderated submissions by Live! readers. The Editor accepts no liability for their content, nor for any offence caused by them. Any complaints should be directed to the Editor.

1. Shrenik Patel

Oct 24 2003 18:41

Mmmmm...doughnuts....only one???? Damn.

I will be there.

2. Sam

Oct 24 2003 18:43

I am reminded that it's graduation day again on wednesday... does anyone have a banner handy?

3. C!

Oct 25 2003 09:04

Banner for what?

IC students say no to graduation?

4. Sam

Oct 25 2003 10:34

Or possibly a black banner, somewhat spookily like the one pictured in the article, hung from the east side of beit during Graduation 2002...

5. Banner Installers Co

Oct 25 2003 13:26

{sucks in air through teeth} Dunno about that mate, it's gonna cost ya. I don't reckon I can get hold of the parts. It's more than my jobs worth to do that etc.

6. Seb

Oct 26 2003 23:00

Well, I saw the tail end of the march (didn't go myself, trying to avoid getting sucked into the fees thing again). I'm glad I didn't go and sorry that ICU got involved if what I saw was representative. Hundreds of people next to hungerford bridge with socialist worker plackards with "F**K FEES you F**ckers". Cogent political debate? No wonder universities and students are not longer looked to as central part of forming national oppinion.

I had thought that part of ICU's fees policy was not only to campaign against fees, but to campaign against fees positively.

7. tom t

Oct 27 2003 11:51

In reply to Seb,

I went and there were plenty of people there with the usual showing of Socialist Worker placards, but there were also plenty of people there with home-made placards and other ingeneous devices - the Imperial against war banner had very skilfully been changed to Imperial against fees, and there's only so much you can legibly get on a placard! Sadly IC didn't get its grand plan of having our own placards into gear on time, (which is why SWP is still able to appear credible - they CAN get placards out to the masses) - it was nice to see no Tory party or Lib Dem placards and banners - I did count two Green Party ones from where I was though ;-)

Ultimately, by not going and resigning yourself to not making your voice heard, the relevance of the march was decreased and the power of the 'f**k fees lets start a revolution' brigade was increased....

8. Oliver Pell

Oct 27 2003 12:01

I saw loads of Lib Dem banners, but they were all in a block. No Tory ones though - but I think IDS has other problems at the moment...

9. Nia

Oct 27 2003 12:32

Well yesterday BBC online were saying that IDS was going to be at the demo and that he'd been chatting to some students down the pub beforehand. They've updated their article though and it no longer mentions him.

Hmmm, I wonder if he got a round in. ;-)

10. Seb

Oct 27 2003 21:44

Tom:

I already gave a good 5% of my degree to the fight against fees! With my average mark, I really can't afford to get involved in fees again in a real sense, and I don't think protest marching is going to be that effective on this issue. I'd rather see IC concentrating it's funds on direct lobbying.

I guess the Socialist Workers bridgade, or several student unions with strong links must have all synchronised their travel. When I went past embankment there was nothing but SW placards.

Closed This discussion is closed.