Students protest across the country as HEFCE announces university cuts


HEFCE has announced cuts to university budgets today that are part of plans to cut 2.5 billion from higher education by 2013.

In response students are protesting as part of a national day of action called by Socialist Students and Youth Fight for Jobs.

At Sussex University students are protesting alongside lecturers who a striking to defend jobs and courses.

Matt Dobson, Socialist Students organiser, said “The government claim they have to slash higher education to reduce the national deficit, and job losses for staff and higher fees for students is the only way.

“But they have allowed the bankers to hang onto their bonuses and big business through privatisation to make billions from universities.

“University managements point to their shrinking budgets but vice chancellors are earning record salaries.”

We won’t pay for their crisis!

“Students and university workers won’t pay for their crisis! There has been a wave of protest in the universities and colleges this year wherever cuts have been announced, and Socialist Students have been to the fore of that.

We are calling for a strategy of mass action side by side with the UCU lecturers union and other trade unions against cuts and higher fees.”

Youth Fight for Jobs and Socialist Students will also be producing a pamphlet on how to fight the cuts, and planned increase in university fees.

Socialist Students is a campaigning organisation active in universities across the country fighting for free education and to stop all cuts.

Youth Fight for Jobs was launched at the start of the recession to combat the growing effects of youth unemployment.

It has the backing of three national unions, the PCS, RMT and CWU, as well as many other trade union and student bodies.


Leeds University – Carnival against Cuts

Parkinson Steps 12 noon

Sussex University – Support striking lecturers

Library Square 4pm

Newcastle University – No to course cuts, No to tuition fees, No to job losses

Assemble outside Newcastle Student Union 12pm

Southampton University- No to closures of sports studies, cuts in humanities, defend wardens jobs

1pm at SUSU concourse

Leicester University

12 noon, outside the Student Union (Percy Gee) building

Liverpool University

4-5:30 outside guild of students, mount pleasant

Salford University

the green 12 noon

Manchester University

union steps, oxford road 12 noon

Manchester Metropolitan

Outside SU, Oxford Road 12 noon

University of West of England (Bristol)

Frenchay Campus 12 noon

Westminster University

Marylebone Campus 2;30pm

Protests on Friday 19 March

Conel College North London – Protest at David Lammy visit

4pm

Cardiff University – Protest outside university court

1pm