Following a mass demonstration on the 24th of November against the proposed fee increases and cuts to higher education funding we occupied the students Union to call for an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) so as to mandate the Union to take a stand on the cuts/fee increases issue. After collecting in excess of 150 signatures in support of the EGM in a matter of hours, and after extended negotiations with the union sabaticals, the EGM was agreed.
On Wednesday the 1st of December the following motions were passed with overwhelming majority:
MOTION 1: UBU Stance Against Tuition Fees
This Union Notes:
1. That the Coalition Government is proposing measures that will lead to an
increase in tuition fees, with the potential to take them up to £9000 per
academic year.
2. That there has been widespread opposition to the government’s
proposals within the student body, as was demonstrated at the national
protest taking place on 10th November 2010 and 24th November 2010.
2a. That the National Union of Students (NUS), the University and College
Union (UCU) and the University of the West of England (UWE) Students’
Union have recently come out in full support of all student activism against
education cuts and fee increases.
3. That the University of Bristol Students’ Union has thus far failed to take a
public position on the crucial issue.
This Union Believes:
1. That these measures will increase the gap between those who can afford
Higher Education and those who cannot.
2. That these measures will contribute to the commodification of education.
This Union Resolves:
1. To take an active stance against the rise in tuition fees.
2. To use its relationship with the University of Bristol to oppose measure
leading to increased tuition fees in any form.
3. To work with any students and staff wishing to debate or campaign
against the introduction of measures leading to an increase in tuition fees.
3a. To support all forms of student activism on this matter, including any
occupations, days of action and contributing financial, legal and political aid
for all current and future occupations.
4. That the Union must take a lead in actively campaigning against the
introduction of an increase in tuition fees and should consider alternative
arguments that up to now have been side-lined.
5. To co-operate with UWE, FE and HE college representatives in view of forming
a Bristol-wide group against education cuts and fee increases.
MOTION 2: UBU Stance Against Education Cuts
This Union Notes:
1. Current government proposals state that universities will receive a 40%
overall budget cut by 2014 and an 80% cut in the teaching grant.
2. This would mean that arts, humanities and social science will face a 100%
cut in public funding.
3. Those currently in further education also face damaging cuts, for example
the removal of the Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA).
4. There is widespread student, staff and public opposition in Bristol to
these cuts as demonstrated by the thousands who protested on the 24th
of November 2010 and the subsequent student occupation of the Union.
5. That the National Union of Students (NUS), the University and College Union
(UCU) and the University of the West of England (UWE) Students’ Union have
recently come out in full support of all student activism against education cuts
and increases in fees.
This Union Believes:
1. That these cuts are unnecessary and will have a huge detrimental effect
on the learning experience at Bristol, the breadth of courses on offer and
the critical capacity of the university as a social space.
This Union Resolves:
1. To take an active stance against these cuts.
2. To use its relationship with the University of Bristol to oppose these cuts
in any form.
3. To work with any students and staff wishing to debate or campaign
against these cuts.
3a. To support all forms of student activism on this matter, including any
occupations, days of action and contributing financial, legal and political aid
for all current and future occupations.
4. That the Union must take a lead in actively campaigning against the cuts
and should consider alternative arguments that up to now have been side-
lined.
5. To link up with the wider labour movement in Bristol. The Students’ Union
mandates its members to go to the shop stewards of the Trade Union branches
and the workers in general, across Bristol and beyond, in all branches of
industry, education, public service, etc. with the precise aim of building links with them in fighting the cuts.
6. To co-operate with UWE, FE and HE college representatives in view of forming
a Bristol-wide group against education cuts and increased fees.
