If We Tolerate This...
There should not be a single Oxford student who isn't terrified at the prospect of top-up fees. It is true that we are the fortunate ones who will never have to face the reality of paying £4000 a year for our education, however we should know better than anyone how soon finances can become a worry.
This begs the question as to why there seems to be so much apathy amongst the student body over the issue. The NUS say 31,000, the police say around 10,000, which means that we can probably go safely for a point somewhere in the middle. That this many students took to the streets of London on a cold October day is heartening. But what is less heartening is how many failed to join them, and equally how restricted the real effects of such valiant demonstrations may be.
This is in no way to question the merits of Sunday's protest or the work of OUSU's Finance and Funding Campaign, but instead to enquire as to why their message appears to be falling on deaf ears.
The fact that fewer than 200 Oxford students could be bothered to make the journey to London must raise a few eyebrows. Ours is the University championing the introduction of the top-up fees, we are being used in the arguments for them and it is beginning to appear that we're lying down and accepting those facts.
This is not in anyway attended to castigate people who have hectic lives and can't afford to lose their Sunday instead it's intended to remind you that the fight goes on and that we have a powerful voice, or at least the potential for one.
If nothing else inspires you then surely the Manic Street Preachers summarised it nicely; if you tolerate this, then your child will be next.
P.S. The Editors would like to congratulate The Deputy Editor, Marcus Leroux, who has been nominated for "Arts Writer of the year" in the NUS/Mirror Student Journalism Awards.
23rd Oct 2003