Around 200 students from the university protested in Lincoln city centre against the proposed rise in tuition fees and cuts to education funding on Wednesday, November 24th to coincide with the national day of walkout and demonstration.
The march, which began at the top of Steep Hill, proceeded through the city centre before finishing outside the SOAP centre at the University of Lincoln.
The demonstration was organised by Socialist Students Lincoln (SSL), but those marching included lecturers, members of the public and many prospective university students alongside current university students.
One college student said: “I don’t think it’s right that they should be allowed to raise education fees”, whilst Rupert Walker, a student at the University of Lincoln said that he hoped the demonstration would make “an impact on Karl McCartney to sway his vote [on tuition fees] in parliament”.
As well as the issue of debt, the government’s actions on class issues were also raised, in a speech by student Huseyin Kishi: “They are going to reinforce a class society, where the wealthy can afford an education but the many can’t.”
The demonstrators chanted slogans such as “no ifs, no buts, no education cuts” as they marched to the university with banners and placards. Although there was a “significant” police presence during the march, in a statement the police said this was to “ensure both the right of the students to protest peacefully and the safety of the wider public. Thankfully there were no issues and no arrests were necessary.”
The demonstration ended with a rally, during which members of Socialist Students Lincoln, students and lecturers voiced their opinions. Jack Dobson, communications officer for SSL, said: “We are here to tell Clegg and Cameron we will not tolerate this attack on students.”
Jo Sams, one of the organisers of the demonstration and president of SSL thanked those who had taken part and declared the march had seen a “great turnout”. Sams criticised the government for making “students, young people and the poorest in society pay for a crisis we didn’t even cause”.
Lincoln was not the only city in which its students have held a demonstration over tuition fees. Students in Leeds, Birmingham and Oxford amongst others have protested against the rise in fees and cuts to education.
Take a look at our gallery of photographs by Carly Norton and Luke Morton
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