QUB students occupy university building

A successful occupation at Queens outside the Vice Chancellor’s Office was undertaken on Tues 30th November by students FEE (Free Education for everyone) Campaign including Socialist Society members. The occupation was organised in solidarity with thousands of students in the rest of the UK as part of a second National Day of Action increased tuition fees. The occupation consisted of approximately 50 students and despite pressure put on the Student Union’s Executive to show their support they refused to back the campaign.

Security and the PSNI were present during the occupation but with no intervention due to the peaceful nature of the protest.  The sit-in lasted for 3 hours demanding the Vice Chancellor show his face and explain his support for increase in fees to £9000 a year. Outrageous considering Peter Gregson himself received his University Education for free and now is on an annual wage of £200,000, is a member of an exclusive Gentleman’s Club and receives an annual wine allowance of £10,000 that students are footing the bill for!

Instead of Peter Gregson the Pro-Vice Chancellor showed up to listen to our demands and again put forward the stance by Queens that fees needed to be risen. He was told that FEE would be calling more campaigns and stepping up the pressure to get the message across that any rise in fees would be unacceptable. HM Revenues and Customs failed to obtain £123 billion in unpaid taxes from the rich and banks are still making profits despite the massive bailout of tax-payers money. The money IS there to ensure free education for everyone!

Westminster announced that on Thurs 9th December a vote would take place on the rise of tuition fees. Student Unions’ and the NUS-USI must call a protest on the day of the vote and mobilise students to oppose these attacks on education.

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