Calling all students

by poobee Thu Jul 25, 2002 09:43

http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=8292

by me - none Mon Jul 29, 2002 14:13

On the evening of Wednesday, 24 July a meeting took place in NUIG to consider the recent increase in college
registration fees and what could be done about it. A number of students were present and a very interesting
discussion took place. Firstly, exactly what the increase meant and the history of “free fees” was briefly
explained.

Although there were a range of opinions and viewpoints apparent at the meeting the general consensus was that
-something should be done, and the sooner the better
-we should try to work together with all student groups in Ireland
-it will be a long campaign, working on very many levels
-it will be difficult to draw together a large amount of students before September
-those in the student’s union exec will be going to a USI meeting later this week or early next week and will bring
our suggestions to that gathering. It is hoped that some of our suggestions will form part of the USI campaign.
-the next meeting will be called after the USI meeting next week
-GMIT will probably join with us in the Galway side of this campaign
-some present agreed that they would try to sort out the beginnings of a website and try to register the domain
name which was discussed.
-we need to raise awareness among all students and also perhaps work towards a rally day.
-we might ask opposition parties to agree that they will abolish registration fees when they come to power
-within the education system the government have chosen to make savings on third level, as they believe these
are the least likely to kick up a fuss!
-the money “saved” by increasing the fees is not a very large amount to the government, in relation to their
overall spending. This amount could be saved by devising a more balanced, less-wasteful budget.
-it was also suggested that we work under the framework of a general themed group “670”, all student groups
working on this campaign could come under this umbrella – both those which are USI affiliated and those which
are not. This issue is bigger than any union – it will affect every single third level institution in the country.
However this point was not fully discussed and no consensus was reached.

Many other things were discussed including strategy and the weaknesses within the government and the
particular individuals which we could aim to target. There were many well thought out points and good
suggestions.

Range of suggestions from meeting July 24, 2002.
Raising Awareness:
· Talking to people in queues for accommodation listings
· Talking to people during registration
· Taking photos of as many people as possible holding chalk board with student ID and their personal comment on
increase in fees
· Get support from International Students
· Go around student housing estates
· Talk with opposing TD’s and parties
· Postcards
· Petition
· Get all clubs and socs involved
· Register all students to vote
· Good slogans
· Possible get some college staff on our side?!

Possible Actions:
· Strike
· March
· Concert
· Rally day
· Website
· Sleep over (??)
· Approach nightclubs/get a song!!

Remove following three if posting somewhere public please:
Remove following three if posting somewhere public please:

by me Mon Jul 29, 2002 14:46 campaignforfreeeducation at yahoogroups dot com

Here are the minutes. If there are any disagreements or whatever don't
hesitiate to email me or call me (085 7238161).
Paul (the Millie!)

Minutes of Meeting of College Students on Sat. 27th July in Conway’s.

Attendance:

Finghín Kelly
Noel Hogan (Deputy President of USI)
Brendan Meskill
Rebecca Moynihan
Daithi Mac Seilbh
Ross Higgins (Deputy President of UCD SU)
Donal Lyons
James Redmond
Connor McGowan
Mark Grehan
Colm Jordan (President of USI)
Paul Dillon
Dan Finn
Paul Murphy

Purpose of Meeting: To discuss building opposition to the increase in
college registration fees.

Agreed:

1. To organise a united campaign of as many students as possible around the
central demand of “No fees”, with a secondary demand of “A living grant” –
there should be no financial barrier to attending third level education.

2. The campaign should be a proper campaign in that it should run over a
period of time with a number of actions, escalating at all times. The key
point of the campaign is clearly when the students are back in college,
before that events should be designed simply to maximise publicity and
attempt to raise student consciousness about the issue.

3. A campaign of mass non-payment, whilst ideal, is unrealistic and
unachievable given the current mood of students, and would simply result in
the isolation and victimisation of a number of students.

4. Despite some initial disagreements from Colm Jordan and Noel Hogan, it
was agreed to set up a broad campaigning group called “Campaign for Free
Education”, open to all who agree with the key demands, to act as an
umbrella group for the campaign. This body would be open to USI, affiliated
and non-affiliated local Students’ Unions, and other organizations,
including political ones. To this end, it was agreed that James Redmond
would collect email addresses of all present and set up a Yahoo Group called
the “Campaign for Free Education”, to enable us to discuss it further and
send an email to the British CFE to announce our presence and ask for more
information about their organisation. We should also look into setting up a
website. Structures of the organisation will be discussed later.

5. To approach other students around the country to make this a true
national campaign. Agreed to contact any sister political societies in
colleges around the country, and to get in touch with the Galway students
who met on July 24th about the same issue.

6. To attend the USI protest against the increase in the fees taking place
at 1.45 p.m. on the Boardwalk beside the Liffey on Tues. 30th July.

7. To meet again in a fortnight, on Sat. 10th August at 3pm upstairs in
Conway’s and to try to get some of the Galway students along.

8. Paul Murphy (Chair) to write up the minutes and distribute them via the
internet.

Ideas for the campaign were also discussed. Some of the suggestions were:

1. To organise a situation whereby the Education Minister was followed
around the country in an effort to be present wherever there was media focus
on him.

2. To organise some action on the day the Leaving Cert. Results come out
given that there would be massive media publicity. It’s also very relevant
because we will gain support not by moaning about how poor students are but
by making points about access to education. CJ raised some difficulty with
the idea, in that it an opportunity for USI to encourage people to go to
college, rather than perhaps scaring them away with stories of how expensive
college is. It was also suggested that the day the offers come out might be
a better day, given that it has more to do with access to education than the
results.

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