"Don’t let money mean more than minds."

"I WENT to university in 1998 and spent four years in
Newcastle. The year I started was the first year they introduced tuition fees.

Dale Brook

Although I received some help with my fees I still needed
the full student loan entitlement and help from my parents in order to survive.

In my final two years my course included a postgraduate
qualification and I became eligible for a post-graduate loan from my bank of up
to £15,000.

Some of my peers took the full amount while I managed with
£9,000. Therefore I left university just over a year ago with debts amounting
to approximately £25,000.

However, the result of debt once you leave higher education
can be severe. Without the promise of good jobs, any thoughts of quickly
repaying your burden become unrealistic and, for example, the last repayment of
my bank loan is in 2011!

I would always advise people to take the plunge and try
university despite the hardships. However, any attempt to make the position
more difficult for students should be vehemently resisted. Given that the new
proposals are so controversial they are certainly not a forgone conclusion. The
gauntlet has been thrown down, so speak out now before our money means more
than our minds."