Day of Action Against Fees!

national | miscellaneous | news report

Monday November 11, 2002 20:29

by Campaign for free education - CFE-UCD

Day of Action Against Fees Boycott Lectures and Reclaim your College This government has increased capitation fees by 69% and now plans to introduce fees of E4,000 or more. We cannot lie down and just accept this attack on education. Fees of E4,000 and more will mean thousands of student dropping out of college, poverty conditions for those who remain, and hundreds of thousands of ordinary young people being denied access to college. As the government is now firmly set on the re-introduction of fees, we have to be firmly set on opposing them - we have to be willing and able to take serious mass action against fees.

What the CFE has done so far

CFE has already successfully organised a blockade of Brian Lenihan, occupied the dual-carriageway for half an hour, and blockaded the Minister for Education, Noel Dempsey, within the Vet. Building for around two hours. All of this already proves to the government how serious we are in opposing their attacks.

What's Next?

Now, we have to move beyond these protests of hundreds, into action of thousands in UCD and try to co-ordinate our actions with mass action of students right across the country. We have to show the government and the public that we do not accept this vicious attack on education, and that we're all willing to take action to defend our right to education.

This means that our next action is one that will really register our protest - a mass boycott of lectures and the reclaiming of our college for a day. This will show the government our resolve and prove to them that students are not a soft touch and are willing to fight on this issue to the end. It can also serve as a focal point for students across the country, showing what is possible, and also what is necessary to defeat the government.

On Wednesday 20th November at 11am we are calling on all students to boycott lectures, and not to go back to them for the rest of the day. If you are opposed to the attack on your right to education, your action is necessary. The unity and action of all students is the only thing that can defeat this government. Talk to your class mates, and tell everyone you know to boycott lectures from 11am. We will then take action to reclaim our right to college - our right to education. Effectively, this will mean taking back the campus which our government wants to deny us access to. We want to have a very strong show of strength by student power in UCD which will be seen by other students across the country.

This is a warning shot to the government, and if enough students act, it will put serious pressure on the government before the budget in early December. If enough of us are prepared to take action, we can prevent the government from further attacking our right to education, and begin the fight for truly free third level education.

BOYCOTT LECTURES
RECLAIM OUR COLLEGE
RECLAIM OUR RIGHT TO EDUCATION
Day of Action Against Fees

Boycott lectures from 11a.m.
Then Assemble in front of the Arts Block
Reclaim our College...