In a way, David Willetts is correct when he says describing student debt as just debt is not enough. (‘Universities minister hints that students will face higher fees’, Guardian 10/6/2010)
With the average graduate debt at £23,000 and starting salaries at £19,500, this is proportionate to the Greek crisis on an individual level.
In the middle of a recession, with young people bearing the brunt and the government slashing jobs, it is disgusting that the Conservatives, unhampered by their Lib Dem allies, are almost inevitably going to increase university fees.
The NUS has a conference to discuss fighting the attacks on 29 June. This conference should put forward a bold national strategy for a mass campaign mobilising the inevitable anger that will develop amongst young people.
This should include, but not be limited to, a national demonstration.
However, whether the NUS leadership supports this or not, we and others will not allow this latest attack to pass without a fight. Youth Fight for Jobs and Socialist Students will work with genuine anti-cuts campaigns to ensure that the real strength of opposition is shown, to stop these Tory cuts.
Ben Robinson,
Youth Fight for Jobs Chair
Matt Dobson,
Socialist Students National Organiser
Claire Laker-Mansfield,
Socialist Students National Organiser-elect
Sarah Wrack,
Sussex Stop the Cuts
Iain Dalton,
Press Officer, Leeds University Against Cuts
Ian Pattison,
Newcastle Free Education Network & Socialist Students
Edmund Schluessel,
Cardiff University Mature Students Officer and UCU Wales HE Union Learning Representative
Ross Speer,
Student Representative, Queen Mary, University of London
Paul Phillips,
Youth Fight for Jobs Student Organiser
Sean Figg,
Youth Fight for Jobs national organiser
Flore Janssen,
Southampton Socialist Students Secretary
ENDS
Youth Fight for Jobs is supported by six national trade unions
Socialist Students is organised in over 50 universities and colleges across the country
