You remember back in November, that the guild promised to run with the NUS a series of “town-takeovers”, the first of which is happening in Birmingham this Thursday. It is organised by the NUS and BCU student union, Birmingham guild have dropped out....
apparently the council expressed that they were very unhappy with this going ahead, perhaps not surprising considering it is conservative led….
The guild of student’s receives grants from the council to run various schemes including the community wardens, which it cannot jeopardize by taking part in something that would risk its relationship with the council long term.
The guild is, sometimes for the better, part of a symbiotic relationship with the institutions that it is meant to monitor, while we get the benefits of community wardens and student mentors we lose political independence of expression.
When it comes to a campaign like this at Birmingham guild, more than most other student unions, it is up to us to organise it.
We are also building a phone tree, to announce the time and location of the “town takeover” this Thursday. So send your mobile number to the creator of this group
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=185206133550 … Freddy Free
help get the word out anyway you can
Monday 30 November 2009
Sunday 22 November 2009
It begins.....
We are going to work to keep up momentum, to galvanise and stimulate the student body into action to stop top-up fees. To work initially around the vice-chancellor's position on the top-up fees review board, and later around the elections. Via our actions we aim not only to raise awareness and activism amongst the student body, but also in wider society, as this is an issue which affects everyone. We are looking for co-operation with all sections of the student movement and support actions undertaken by the guild of students, maintaining an active dialogue and ensuring our actions do not undermine the guild or NUS. We aim to organise not just nationally, but possibly internationally, and work to build strong and lasting networks. We will use channels formal and informal and work with both organisations and freely associating individuals.
While we respect the work of the guild and NUS, we believe change happens when it's visual and sustained, when it's a force of its own coming from below, not above, when individuals act spontaneously and freely, and in doing so become a catalyst for wider change. We refuse to wait for "official" approval or leadership -we are going to use our own initiative and encourage others to do so as well.
A diversity of tactics is required to stop top-up fees, but institutions like the NUS and the guild of students are limited in the actions they can take by the nature of their relationship with the university and state. The more tactics students are able to utilise, the better. We are ready and willing to utilise a broad range of tactics and organise autonomously.
Education is not a privilege or a product to be bought - it's a right, and should be democratically run for the benefit of all.
While we respect the work of the guild and NUS, we believe change happens when it's visual and sustained, when it's a force of its own coming from below, not above, when individuals act spontaneously and freely, and in doing so become a catalyst for wider change. We refuse to wait for "official" approval or leadership -we are going to use our own initiative and encourage others to do so as well.
A diversity of tactics is required to stop top-up fees, but institutions like the NUS and the guild of students are limited in the actions they can take by the nature of their relationship with the university and state. The more tactics students are able to utilise, the better. We are ready and willing to utilise a broad range of tactics and organise autonomously.
Education is not a privilege or a product to be bought - it's a right, and should be democratically run for the benefit of all.
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