Fee-fighters Going For Gold
WHILE SOME FRESHERS may have spent the Matriculation Ceremony trying desperately not to vomit into their mortar boards, others took the more virtuous opportunity to show their support for OUSU's anti Top Up Fees Campaign.
Students wore gold ribbons on the traditional sub-fusc costume to publicise their anger at the prospect of extra fees of up to £5000 per annum. The unanimous response from both the OUSU leadership and the freshers involved was that the event had been a success in raising awareness within the University.
The decision to continue the recent tradition of Matriculation day protests was made by freshers present at Monday's meeting of OUSU's Funding and Finance Committee.
Boxes of ribbons were sent to the colleges, their distribution dependent on the initiative of the freshers. And although the response varied from college to college, the lack of action in some quarters was put down to disorganisation rather than apathy.
At New College, approximately 80% of matriculating students wore the ribbons and refused to take them off for the official photograph. New College JCR President Will Straw said: "This demonstration illustrates the anger and resentment at New College over Top-Up Fees and is a slap in the face to both the Warden and the Bursar, who are both proponents of the scheme." There was a similarly positive response at St. Hilda's, traditionally at the forefront of anti-fees campaigning. There were even reports of one fresher with 'No fees' written prominently over her face, although this was viewed as over the top by other St. Hilda's protesters.
A separate demonstration - arranged centrally by OUSU - featured a student dressed as the Grim Reaper, who symbolized the death of free education. Coffins and fake blood were also splattered around to good effect in an attempt to generate some much needed publicity for the campaign from the local and national press.
Attention now shifts onto a national demonstration organised by the NUS, to be held in London on the 15th November (Wednesday of 6th Week). This is the first event planned by the NUS since their official decision to advocate the abolition of fees and the re-introduction of the grant system. Oxford will be sending a strong contingent from each of its universities in support of the march.
There has been some evidence that the University has begun to listen to the views of its students. Though it has not ruled out the introduction of Top-Up Fees, its declared policy remains that it will not do anything that will damage access to the University for bright students from all walks of life. OUSU is trying to convince the authorities that extra fees will inevitably do this, especially in the light of recent allegations concerning elitism in the Admissions process. As OUSU President Kirsty McNeill stated: "differential top-up fees will go one step further in making education a commodity only the rich can afford."
So although some just slept through what will probably prove to be the most boring 40 minutes of their lives - ignoring the 'brief' speech by the University Chancellor - the day's events proved that the fee issue is one that does excite genuine concern amongst Oxford's student population.
19th Oct 2000