you Said no to rising fees

Your union and officers want to thank you all for the support you showed for our 'say no to rising fees' campaign which put real pressure on the government to vote against the bill for education cuts and rises in tuition fees.

On Thursday 9 december the government voted in favour of rising tuition fees and cuts in education funding.

 

What has been decided:

In response to the Browne* review, a bill has been passed in government which means rising tuition fees wioll rise to £6000-9000.


What might this mean for MMU students?
Cuts like this mean may result in:
  • Course, module and campus closures,
  • Staff redundancies, both academic and support staff,
  • Less money available for student support,
  • Merged classes: therefore less tailored teaching and one-to-one support,
  • Fewer resources: this could mean fewer books in the library, or fewer materials for students and the cost of buying materials could therefore fall to the individual student,
  • Cuts to Basic Skills and English speakers of other languages (ESOL) provision.

 

What you said about the decision

"Anger, Devastation. Cowardly to abstain. Theft of Education. Death of university education as we know it. Never Voting Liberal Democrat again. Sell outs." March Davis

"I Feel betrayed. I am concerned for my younger brother who may now face fees of £9000. However takes hope from the slim majority and hopes those who abstained will be encouraged to say no!!! next time." Daniel K Utter

"Disappointment and sadness. A huge loss to society. Serious concerns that we will now get a tiered university system. What will happen to the arts under the government? I feel betrayed; I worry for the future of the country. I cannot believe after so many demonstrations the deadline was not even moved and more consideration to the wholes proposal given. Also when will the government realise that most of us protesting won’t be affected by this! Does that not at least make them think?

We’ve just witnessed the death of an education system that funded the widening knowledge of our society. This new era is based on purely economic drive which views the arts as a luxury and not really needed in society- what a world we’re going to be living in! An ignorant world indeed! My feelings at this moment? Forlorn. Elisa Artesero BA(hons) Interactive Arts.

Also:

It’s not like we didn’t see this coming. I’m as unsurprised as the owner of a broken Jack-in-a-box. NO SURRENDER!

Shocking decision

JOKE

Angry, frustrated & worried, knew they were never going to listen to us students, but I am devastated to see that our government thinks this is okay and acceptable. Lib Dems have just been a disgrace to everybody who have voted for them. They said they’ll do a lot for us students when they needed our votes but once they got here, they forgot that it was us that helped them be there in the 1st place. Want to do something but really don’t know how we can change this. But then again looking at France and the effect people had there, I wonder if we could do the same!

I am disappointed that just a majority of 21 voted can pass a law that will dramatically change and affect the lives of people across the country. I have never protested against the government policies before but this really struck a cord with me- I hope that all the work we have done has made a difference in some way.

The passing of the rising of tuition fees to £9000 bill is the end of education as we know it. I am annoyed that the vote has gone through with such a small majority of 21. And disappointed, upset that the future of the next generation has been passed off thoughtlessly by leading MPS. The Lib Dems have sold out to the conservatives at the cost of the next generation, especially those of low socio-economic backgrounds. I worry for the kids who will be next coming to university in the next few years. They’ll be faced with so many more barriers.

I have no time for rioters, going equipped to injure those responsible for maintaining public order is not the behaviour of a democratic, peaceful body of men and women. Disappointed at the number of invertebrate eunuchs in government.

Shame! Shame! Shame!

Damn! Damn! Damn! Damn! Damn!

 

*What the Browne review means in 29 words:

"A market in education. Arts and humanities funding axed. Less
prestigious universities to close. Support for living costs cut.
Minimum bursaries scrapped. No loans for students with 'low grades'"

Want to know more?