Reproduced From Workers' Weekly Vol. 31 No. 8, 3rd March, 2001 Article Index: WWYG EDITORIAL NUS Week of Action Special: STUDENTS MUST TAKE UP POLITICS THEMSELVES TO WIN THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION Interview With the President of Newcastle College Students Union Petition at Newcastle College: Students Give Their Views Newcastle Students against Fees: Press Release by Will Wiles, Chair of the Campaign For Free Education, Newcastle Union Society Sussex University Students Occupy Accounts Building CULTURE Manics Play to Sell Out Crowd in Cuba! WWYG EDITORIAL NUS Week of Action Special STUDENTS MUST TAKE UP POLITICS THEMSELVES TO WIN THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION THE PAST WEEK saw the National Union of Students (NUS) holding a Week of Action, which, it announced earlier, was central to its campaign strategy against tuition fees. The week included many events at universities and colleges around the country, including "Question Time"-style sessions, a national petition, a large-scale postcard signing event, lobbies of MPs and a National Shutdown. It follows the successful national student demonstration in November of last year, which 25,000 students attended, and showed that the movement of the youth and students is being consolidated around the principle that Education is a Right, Not a Privilege! The struggle of the students to end tuition fees is very just. Not only are students being denied the right to an education by its being turned into a privilege, but the whole education system is being turned into a big, and very competitive, marketplace. At the same time, government investment is being reduced, which has paved the way for the introduction of private finance and privatisation. Businesses are "investing" in the education system so that they can directly use it as a source of profit and can exercise control over its content, so that the students, on leaving, can best suit their requirements. These developments in the education system are part of an all-round programme to put education into the service of paying the rich. In so doing, the right to an education is not recognised, because education ceases to be available to all and ceases to be available at the highest level that society can provide in all fields of study. This special edition of the Youth and Students section of Workers' Weekly focuses on the week of action in Newcastle's two universities and further education college. We are printing: a press release by Will Wiles of Newcastle's Campaign for Free Education; a report of a petition that took place in Newcastle College; and an interview with Newcastle College Students Union President Mel Smith. The NUS says that in the run-up to the General Election it is essential that students continue to have their voices heard. On the other hand, it is vital that students do not limit themselves to the lobbying of political parties. The very fact that students are forced to protest against government policy exposes that students are marginalised from politics. They must organise to end this marginalisation and to build a future in which the right to education is guaranteed for all. In order to accomplish their aims, students must take up politics themselves and discuss the way forward for society. The issue for students is to consciously adopt a world outlook, which will provide the necessary coherence to their actions and political thought, ensuring that their struggles meet with success. Article Index Interview With the President of Newcastle College Students Union A WWYG REPRESENTATIVE interviewed Mel Smith, President of Newcastle College Students Union, following the petition at Newcastle College on Wednesday, February 28. The interview was informal and fairly brief, with two main questions being answered. She was first asked about the aims in her view of the NUS Week of Action regarding Newcastle College. "I feel it's important that students in further education are made aware about tuition fees," she replied. "Many want to got to university, yet a lot are not aware of the debt they will face, including the rising cost of accommodation." Second, Mel Smith was asked about the issue of asylum seekers, which she had brought up in the discussion as another important issue in the college. "The college is turning away asylum seekers," she said, "because they cannot fit any more in." The places at the college are given in the first place to British citizens. Asylum seekers, by their official status, are not considered equal citizens, and are given second, or even third place, after international students, who pay to study in Newcastle. "The international students pay four to five thousand a year. The asylum seekers can't even afford to pay for food! On the voucher scheme, they get fifty pounds a week for food, which for a family is nowhere near enough." Article Index Petition at Newcastle College: Students Give Their Views STUDENTS AND WORKERS at Newcastle College were petitioned on Wednesday, February 28, to show their opposition to tuition fees, which will be faced by many of the students at the college after completing their courses. The petition was a contribution to the national collection of signatures organised by the NUS as part of its Week of Action against the fees. Students from the Universities of Newcastle and Northumbria helped with the action. A student member of the WWYG also assisted, and spoke to some of the students. The overwhelming majority were in favour of the petition. A group of students even joined in with taking the petition round to reach a wider section of people. Sarah Morse, one of the students who signed, commented that the fees "don't give everyone the chance for education. They're putting a lot of people off." Another student gave a contribution about the issue of the staff pay dispute the college. "Knowing one of the lecturers," he wrote, "I realise how low morale is and most lecturers can't wait to get home. Many seem to always be looking through the jobs section of The Chronicle on a Thursday." Article Index Newcastle Students against Fees: Press Release by Will Wiles, Chair of the Campaign For Free Education, Newcastle Union Society Newcastle University, The University of Northumbria and Newcastle College are participating in their first joint campaign for many years. In response to the National Union of Students (NUS) calling a national week of action (26th Feb-2nd March) and a national shutdown of universities and colleges (March 1st), the three colleges have got together to send out a strong and united message to the local Labour MP Jim Cousins that free education is an election issue. The week will consist of a rolling programme of action with the first event happening at Newcastle College on Wednesday 28th February. Designed to encourage support for the lecturers who are currently striking over an unfair new pay deal, the union will be providing DJs and information about what it will be like for those students who are under 18 who wish to study in higher education, as well as encouraging the student body to become more active in the campaign. Students at Northumbria will be shutting down the university on Thursday 1st March. NATFHE (National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education) lecturers will be on strike and students will be supporting this action. Newcastle University students will be participating in each action. This is not just to beef up the numbers but is also to emphasise the importance of solidarity in the student movement so as to register our opinions in advance of the likely May election. A petition will be collected all week which will emphasise Newcastle students' demand for greater access to higher education and handed in on Friday March 9th. The Campaign for Free Education in Newcastle University took the initiative in organising the event and involving Northumbria and Newcastle College. We feel that student solidarity is a pre-requisite for resolving the education funding crisis in a way which will deliver a proper deal for students. Article Index Sussex University Students Occupy Accounts Building ON FEBRUARY 27, 40 students occupied the Students Accounts building at Sussex House, Sussex University's administration building. This action was undertaken because 110 students are threatened with expulsion from the university because they cannot pay their tuition fees. Sukant Chandan, SLP youth national student organiser, explained that the action was undertaken because a stand had to be taken against the privatisation of the education system and, concretely, against the effects of this privatisation which means expulsions on non-payers and the further inaccessibility to working class people who cannot pay and to those foreign students who pay from £7,000-£9,000 a year on fees. The students drafted a letter to the vice-chancellor with the following demands: 1. that there are no retributive repercussions on the occupiers; 2. that the 110 non-payers are not expelled and no sanctions are imposed on them (for example, barring them from computer services and library cards); 3. That the vice-chancellor categorically rule out top-up fees (fees which individual universities can impose on their students above tuition fees) at any future date. Instead of replying to this letter, the University brought in private security (roughly 20) and police (also about 20) with dogs. Access in and out of the occupation was stopped by 1pm by the use of 6ft fencing which was put up by security with the help of the police. The construction of the fencing was resisted by students demonstrating outside. The University and the police did not allow any food or water in, and only allowed occupiers out. Food and water were thrown in by the demonstrators outside, who numbered around 100. Sukant Chandan recounts that the University demanded that Sara Turnbull step down as Sussex University Students Union Education Officer as she was a part of the occupation in a personal capacity. The University also threatened to stop funding the Union (which would effectively shut down all Union services - sports, bars, shops, etc.) and charging the Union thousands of pounds a day from the occupation. By roughly 4pm, the University presented the students with court injunctions which would mean that bailiffs would, by force, take them to court on the Wednesday morning, February 28, for criminal trespass. The occupiers sent a letter to the vice-chancellor stating that they would cease the occupation if there were no repercussions on the occupiers and denouncing the brutal treatment by security. A letter came back immediately from the VC stating that if the occupation would cease that there would be no repercussions. At 7pm the occupying students walked out to a crowd of at least 150 students, made speeches and had a march around campus. The students say that the organisation, education and mobilisation will continue. Article Index Culture Manics Play to Sell Out Crowd in Cuba! The Manic Street Preachers played their first show of 2001 at the Karl Marx Theatre, in Havana on February 17. Rumours had been circulating about Fidel Castro attending the gig after Nicky Wire stated he would be "very honoured" if the revolutionary leader would attend. He did indeed attend, amongst a 5,000 capacity crowd. Although tickets were sold for the equivalent of 17p, a large number were distributed to musicians and schools by the Cuban Ministry of Culture. In the one and a half hour set, playing in front of the Cuban flag, the Manics premiered nine songs from their up coming album "Know Your Enemy", including the Cuban inspired tracks "Baby Elian" and "Let Robeson sing". "Baby Elian" was inspired by the case of Elian Gonzalez and the lyrics include the line, "Kidnapped to the promised land / America the devils play ground." Along with "Raindrops keep falling on my head", "Baby Elian" formed James Dean Bradfield's customary acoustic spot. For the songs "Kevin Carter" and "Ocean Spray", the band were joined by an Havanan trumpeter. The concert was full of firsts. Nicky Wire took lead vocals for the first time on "Watsville Blues". The band also played their first ever encore, and were very warmly met by the crowd. The band met with Fidel before the concert. Of this meeting Nicky said, "I was completely overawed. I said to him, `Its gonna be noisy tonight', and he said, `It's not as noisy as war'. Some bands go to see Tony Blair, we go to see Fidel Castro." They also met with Fidel for lunch the day after the concert. James told reporters that he was "buzzing", about the meeting with the iconic leader. "We're having lunch with the guy tomorrow, I think I'm just gonna let Nick do all the talking." When talking about their reasons for playing the Cuban gig, Nicky said "We' ve just got a lot of respect for the Cuban people and the Cuban culture, and we wanted to do something really different this time." James stated that "Cuba is an example that everything doesn't have to be Americanised". They insisted that the visit was not "like a student Che Guevara sort of thing, it's just that Cuba for me is the last great symbol that really fights against the Americanisation of the world". It is very encouraging to see a band taking a stand for what is progressive in the world and opposing what is retrogressive. The US blockade against Cuba is a major example of US imperialism, and the imposition of American culture on the world. Taking a stand on this can therefore be seen as a positive contribution. This opens up the question of how do we create our own popular culture? It is the people themselves who should participate in creating their culture, and not have it imposed upon them in the form of a dictate. A culture created by the masses can only serve to open the doors of society to progress. The culture will come from the people, so will not serve the ruling classes or the agenda they have. The manufactured nature of the existing music industry and the state of the charts is proof that our culture is not something we have created as a country or a people, but is a product of the rich who profit from these pop bands. Music and culture should not exist to serve the interests of the minority, but should reflect us, the people of this country, and what we create. There is much talent and ability around us, and this is not just the good music and bands that we are already able to hear, but music that never gets heard. It is up to us as the youth and the future, to create our own culture and one which serves the people. The concert was a complete success, with the Cubans dancing and applauding. Nicky Wire observed, "No one ever dances to us normally." The attention that the Manic Street Preachers have brought to Cuba and its fight against the American blockade is invaluable. The gig can be assessed as a great event by a great band, in honour of the great stand that Cuba has made against American imperialism. ==================================== The Youth and Students section of Workers' Weekly reports on and analyses the conditions of young people and the agenda they are setting themselves to become political and overcome their marginalisation from society. We warmly invite all readers to contribute constructively to the section by sending in their letters, ideas and reports so as to improve its content and extend its readership. To contact the Workers' Weekly Youth Group (WWYG), pass your messages via Workers' Weekly: Email [EMAIL PROTECTED]; write to 170 Wandsworth Road, London SW8 2LA; or phone 020 7627 0599. http://www.rcpbml.org.uk ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----
