Welcome!
UCLan Students' Union President, Reni Eddo-Lodge
First of all, I’d like to say hello to both returners and freshers. It’s an absolute honour to be your student union president for the year ahead. If we’ve not met yet, come and find me on the first floor of the students union, and while you’re at it, come at see the rest of the Student Affairs Committee!
Is it time to hold another national demo?
Some of the more beady eyed amongst you will notice that there’s been a concerted effort from other student unions across the country to hold another national demonstration.
Those of you who were students at UCLan last year will probably know that, with direction from the National Union of Students, UCLan Students’ Union took three coach-loads of students to the streets of Westminster to protest against higher fees.
Over the past year we’ve seen the abolition of the Education Maintenance Allowance, the scrapping of the government’s Aim Higher scheme, and the tripling of tuition fees- not to mention the recent announcement that 794,000 young people are not in education, employment or training. Many universities have already made their fee decision, including our own, but the creeping privatisation of higher education as a whole is a prospect that worries many.
There a pros and cons of holding another national demo. Many will argue that it’s important to keep up the momentum. Others will say that the battle has already been lost. There are debates to be had locally, and the changes to higher education could potentially cause changes to the university that we know and love.
But ultimately, these are my opinions, and as president I’m reluctant to make a decision without consulting the people I represent first.
So, what do you think? Do you love the idea of another national demo, or think it’s pointless? There will be an open meeting next week (Tuesday 27th September, 5pm, Atrium) for some discussion and debate, but in the mean time you’re welcome to email me with your thoughts at supresident@uclan.ac.uk.
Last year's national student demonstration. Photo by semisara (Flickr).
