So There's gonna be a protest...

Fukuyama

Plenty of buzz going around college at the moment about a protest in Dublin organized by the USI.

I read another thread on here that said Irish protests never succeed because they're too small. Well the organizers are saying that 25,000 will be marching. It's two weeks away and the FB page already has around 8,000 positive replies to the march... http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=124538357601069

Anyone think it will achieve anything or will it just be another flop?

I personally am hopeful that upwards of 25,000 turn up to march to the Dáil.Trying to bring back in huge fees for students is ridiculous. We need to invest in God damn education not put half the people coming out of school straight into the dole cues or on a plane to Canada or Australia.

Thoughts AH?

thebigbiffo

i dont agree with the grounds of the protest and i dont just think it will fail i hope it will fail

dilallio

I've seen events on FB where 20,000 people replied as attending but 300 actually showed up.

curlzy

I will be giving it my full support. Personally I think this jaded Irish lazyiness is so ****ing retarded, if we're too lazy to get off our arses to protest then we deserve everything we're getting. Let's follow the elderly and march on the Dail, they won, they got back their medical cards.

Fukuyama

dilallio wrote: »

I've seen events on FB where 20,000 people replied as attending but 300 actually showed up.

Events yeah...

But there is serious buzz around the college and the SU are really getting the message across. Also, because it's to do with fees and many students are seriously struggling at the minute (myself included) I think a lot will come. Hopefully.

Have ran into very few people in college who say they aren't going.

I heard they're six bussed coming up from Letterkenny IT alone. And my mates friends from Galway are all bussing it up to Dublin in the morning... just seems like this might be a success.

flas

i was in college at the time of the last one, there were huge numbers at that one. it was actually mad fun around dublin that day, dont think i have ever seen so many students drinkin in the pav after the march, all other colleges in the country run buses for 4euro to dublin for this march so id say expect a huge crowd!

knird evol

Fees

kfallon

Students + Facebook......oh dear God!!!!

catbear

thebigbiffo wrote: »

i dont agree with the grounds of the protest and i dont just think it will fail i hope it will fail

Now Brian, open rancor and dissent are signs of a healthy democracy, even if it as unfocused as the present government. Protest sharpens the mind of the office holder.

However if there is a piss up after then you could join them for a "think in".

Sykk

Lol did you see the comments on the page?

The USI are about as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike but I'll head along anyway

I agree with the march, but the USI is a waste of space.

The USI is a waste of time.

So, while every student in Irenland is in Dublin.... Anyone fancy a session????????

This whole thing is a sham. About 200 people will show up, realize there's not enough, then head to the pub

flyton5

I'm going along to protest against the original protest...

smash

Maybe instead of marching you should stay in college and do an economics class to learn about how f*cked the country actually is right now!

Fukuyama

Sykk wrote: »

Lol did you see the comments on the page?









This whole thing is a sham. About 200 people will show up, realize there's not enough, then head to the pub

Again I just cant see that happening... that's whats confusing me because from an outside perspective I'd agree with you. But EVERYONE seems to be going and the colleges are right behind it.

When the SU president and a rep from the USI came into a lecture to tell us about the march they got a round of applause as they left. Seems people really want to attend and be heard.

Fukuyama

steve06 wrote: »

Maybe instead of marching you should stay in college and do an economics class to learn about how f*cked the country actually is right now!

But then next year only maybe 50% of people attending college will be able to continue to do so. So then we're doubly ****ed.

I nor my parents and most people I know could afford E3,000 ON TOP OF the other costs associated with college.

R0ot

Each strike/protest brings us closer to having the IMF intervene.

Mr Benevolent

Why are they protesting? Students in most EU countries pay for their education, ours is heavily subsidised and substandard.

I'd rather pay lots for high quality education then be given subsidised shite.

Sykk

Dean0088 wrote: »

Again I just cant see that happening... that's whats confusing me because from an outside perspective I'd agree with you. But EVERYONE seems to be going and the colleges are right behind it.

When the SU president and a rep from the USI came into a lecture to tell us about the march they got a round of applause as they left. Seems people really want to attend and be heard.

It's a click on facebook to say yes and join the crowd. Actually going and doing it is a different story

Fukuyama

Confab wrote: »

Why are they protesting? Students in most EU countries pay for their education, ours is heavily subsidised and substandard.

I'd rather pay lots for high quality education then be given subsidised shite.

Irish colleges are hardly substandard. People come here to get degrees because they are of a high quality.

Yes, other European countries have fees. But other European countries didn't **** themselves up. Try getting a student loan today or any time in the next ten years. GOOD LUCK!

Besides, education is, and should be looked upon as an investment in our future. When we start to come out of this mess I want graduates who know what they're doing to run the country. Not people who got a pat on the back for getting honors in their LC and we're slid into a comfy civil service job back in the 70s.

smash

Dean0088 wrote: »

But then next year only maybe 50% of people attending college will be able to continue to do so. So then we're doubly ****ed.

I nor my parents and most people I know could afford E3,000 ON TOP OF the other costs associated with college.

Phrase of the day... "Student loan"

CreepingDeath

Dean0088 wrote: »

Plenty of buzz going around college at the moment about a protest in Dublin organized by the USI.

Student protests only serve to block city centre traffic.
Nobody listens to them.

Fukuyama

steve06 wrote: »

Phrase of the day... "Student loan"

Yeah because bank give out sooo many of those these days.

Yawns

Makes me glad I started a fund for my kid to cover this kind of thing. Oh well, only another 15 or so years before it's needed. Think I'll have enough?


Oh GL with protest. Thank all 166 people who show up will ya?

skelliser

This march will be well attended and hopefully inspire the rest in society to protest as well.

However the USI are a complete and utter waste of space. In my many years in college iv only ever heard of the USI when the USI president gets a few radio spots to promote a march in dublin. That is all iv ever heard them doing.

If students these days want to question where the registration fee goes and why its getting increased maybe they should look at the USI. After all some of that money gets flitered to the USI.

This is not to take away from the SU's in colleges.They do an excellent job.

brianthebard

knowledge economy rabble rabble rabble

MagicSean

Dean0088 wrote: »

Plenty of buzz going around college at the moment about a protest in Dublin organized by the USI.

stopped reading when I saw the organiser.

smash

Dean0088 wrote: »

Yeah because bank give out sooo many of those these days.

Damn, you might have to get a job then....

Da Bounca

The fees are more than adequate as is.
There isn't a justifiable reason to increase them. Also, given the state of the country currently, it's ****in outrageous to suggest such an increase.

MIRMIR82

Sorry i can't make it. I actually have to do a days work:P

Notorious97

Christ the culchies are coming

Fukuyama

steve06 wrote: »

Damn, you might have to get a job then....

I have two. Tesco and I do some freelance writing.

People who can get bye in college without a job will have no trouble having their parents pay for their fees. It's the other majority which this will effect.

Cheers though, people like you make me laugh.

fenris

steve06 wrote: »

Maybe instead of marching you should stay in college and do an economics class to learn about how f*cked the country actually is right now!

Is that economics as taught to/by the people that created the current mess?

smash

Dean0088 wrote: »

I have two. Tesco and I do some freelance writing.

People who can get bye in college without a job will have no trouble having their parents pay for their fees. It's the other majority which this will effect.

Cheers though, people like you make me laugh.

Well 3k registration is less than €58 a week spread over the year. You'd spend over twice that on a Saturday night out.

youcancallmeal

I dunno its an odd situation, the government is pumping money into 3rd level education but there are very few jobs for new graduates nowadays so a lot them emigrate. In essence we are educating the best and brightest to 3rd level and then sending them off to another country which can benefit from this

Thats a very broad generalised view in fairness

Chairman Meow

Dean0088 wrote: »

I have two. Tesco and I do some freelance writing.

People who can get bye in college without a job will have no trouble having their parents pay for their fees. It's the other majority which this will effect.

Cheers though, people like you make me laugh.

Thats some quality writing, fella. Dont give up the day job...whatever that is.

seamus

This same kind of thing was going on when I was in college, "Protect your fees, protect your education, protect your grant". Nobody went to the marches then, either.

The vast majority of students have free fees, registration fees paid their parents, and either live off their parents or have a part-time job, so they don't care about the maintenance grant or the fees.

The USI are a complete waste of space - ultra-socialist privileged kids with no sense of how the real world works. The same kind of people who end up working in SIPTU and IMPACT when they grow up.

MIRMIR82

Chairman Meow wrote: »

Thats some quality writing, fella. Dont give up the day job...whatever that is.

-Its in Tescos:D

Bottle_of_Smoke

F*ck clean off. Lack of fees mainly just benefits the middle classes.

I say this as a student paying around 3500 GBP a year in fees. Or at least will be when I graduate and start paying them back.

Wonder how many people show up to the protest in designer clothes and go drinking afterwards.

And of course the obligatory unoriginal twat who shows up with a ''careful now'' placard.

StupidLikeAFox

steve06 wrote: »

Well 3k registration is less than €58 a week spread over the year. You'd spend over twice that on a Saturday night out.

You'd spend over €120 quid on a saturday night? Thats my weekly wage buddy! Don't assume that just because you can, so can everyone else

Anyway, bring on the protest. Whether it works or not its good that we have an opportunity to display some of the anger being felt, as part of a sizeable group.

A lot of our current leaders (Gilmore etc) were great protestors in their day and it'll be good to see the youth come out in force for this one. Granted there are elements who are genuinely pissed off and there will be some who are looking forward to the free tshirt and day out in dublin, but there will thousands there for definite!

smash

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

Wonder how many people show up to the protest in designer clothes and go drinking afterwards.

You're assuming they'll turn up at all instead of going straight to the pub in the first place.

ColHol wrote: »

You'd spend over €120 quid on a saturday night? Thats my weekly wage buddy! Don't assume that just because you can, so can everyone else

If you have a job, no mortgage and minimal bills then you can afford to put away €58 a week!

ColHol wrote: »

Anyway, bring on the protest. Whether it works or not its good that we have an opportunity to display some of the anger being felt, as part of a sizeable group.

There are bigger groups of people out there who are being more screwed than students are!

ColHol wrote: »

A lot of our current leaders (Gilmore etc) were great protestors in their day and it'll be good to see the youth come out in force for this one.

Gilmore is a tool though.

ColHol wrote: »

Granted there are elements who are genuinely pissed off and there will be some who are looking forward to the free tshirt and day out in dublin, but there will thousands there for definite!

Point proven that it's just a joke to most of the people who will turn up.

Harekin

Da Bounca wrote: »

The fees are more than adequate as is.
There isn't a justifiable reason to increase them. Also, given the state of the country currently, it's ****in outrageous to suggest such an increase.

Pretty sure the reason the fees are being increased is BECAUSE the Government can no longer afford to subsidise education so heavily.



Anyways since when has 3rd Level Education been a right of ever person? Pretty sure no country in the world has 3rd Level education as a right of every person.

The Aussie

Dean0088 wrote: »

to bring back in huge fees for students is ridiculous. on a plane to Canada or Australia.

(excuse the fact im Australian here for a moment but)
Am i the only person here who thinks 3rd level education should not benefit other nations with a skilled workforce and leave the Irish tax payer (me included) with the bill, this now skilled/trained workforce is bettering another country, i say scrap the gravy train this country just cant afford, or is it just me???

Notorious97

The Aussie wrote: »

(excuse the fact im Australian here for a moment but)
Am i the only person here who thinks 3rd level education should not benefit other nations with a skilled workforce and leave the Irish tax payer (me included) with the bill, this now skilled/trained workforce is bettering another country, i say scrap the gravy train this country just cant afford, or is it just me???

If we cannot afford to pay 3rd level fees for students thats another fact of the harsh reality facing us. Everybody is going to feel it, and have to accept it if they wish to continue living in this country. Like you said if we cannot afford it then we have to scrap it. December is going to be a horrible month, the budget will be harsh unfortunately but i believe nobody is going to escape paying for this.

It sucks that some families will struggle to pay 3rd level fees, but alot of families will struggle to pay for other bills too. Its just a fact of life unfortunately and we can thank FF for it. Cheers Bertie & Cowen, cu*ts

JONJO THE MISER

We need hundreds of thousands to march and strike arround the country.

SeaFields

The Aussie wrote: »

Am i the only person here who thinks 3rd level education should not benefit other nations with a skilled workforce and leave the Irish tax payer (me included) with the bill, this now skilled/trained workforce is bettering another country, i say scrap the gravy train this country just cant afford, or is it just me???

I certainly has to be considered. The country continues to invest in third level education, in the form of free fees, but it cannot provide the graduates with appropriate employment opportunities afterwards (by proxy - it is unable to provide an economy which grows and therefore the businesses which usually employ graduates are not in a position to do so).

It must also be considered that the quality of third level education is going to suffer and smaller budgets have to be stretched even further. I have seen this from the inside, having been a third level researcher. Our well educated workforce may not be as well educated as we like to believe.

It is debate that may well happen. The greens assume that it is off the table with their program for government but I don't think anything can be off the table these days.