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Sussex students stage mock exam protest

1:31pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

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More than 150 students staged a mock outdoor exam to protest at others being banned from taking tests because they could not afford fees.

The protest in a courtyard at the University of Sussex last Friday was the latest stage in an escalating conflict between students and the administration.

The protest was sparked by the university banning 20 international students from taking exams, which start this week, because they have fallen behind with tuition fee payments.

It said the bans would be overturned once the overdue fees were paid.

The students have also faced having their library and email accounts suspended.

Daniel Vockins, president of the university's students' union, which called for the protest, said the students had been given unreasonable deadlines to make repayments when they were completing dissertations and revising for exams.

The mock exam was followed by a march to the university financial offices where a petition with 300 signatures was handed over.

The protest followed a campaign on networking website Facebook, supported by academic staff, to help Nigerian student Luqman Onikosi, who was one of the banned students.

He has since been given leave to complete his exams and pay outstanding fees in September.

International students have to pay fees of around £9,500 a year at the university, which the students' union said made it difficult for many to cope.

A University of Sussex spokeswoman said it had a general policy, which had been agreed with the students' union, to take prompt action in contacting students who were getting into debt problems.

She said: "Such students are informed by a series of letters, reminding them of the need to pay fees, advising them of any action that will be taken, and inviting them to seek help.

"The University of Sussex is home to over 2,000 non-UK students from 120 countries.

International students are a vital part of what makes the campus a diverse and exciting place.

"From time to time, a small number of students run into financial difficulties and have problems with paying their fees. In such cases, the university and the student union are able to offer practical advice and support."

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Your Say YourThe Argus

Andi, says...
2:01pm Wed 7 May 08

If these striking students are so concerned about this, why not pay the fees out of their own pockets, instead of expecting the university to shoulder bad debts? If the fees are too steep for international students, perhaps they should consider studying somewhere they can afford.

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Steve, Brighton says...
2:02pm Wed 7 May 08

If they cant afford the fees then they shouldnt go to Uni. Have they heard of part time jobs ? How will they get on in life once they have finished studying for their degree in potato growing or the study of dandelions !

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Jocelyn, Hove says...
2:20pm Wed 7 May 08

Sulk, grumble, whine...

When students organise a prank at Brighton Station everyone starts **** and moaning about how they never do anything meaningful, and when they do it's the usual tired 'lazy student' stuff. Boring!

Obviously students can't pay for other people's fees. What an idiotic suggestion.

And what's with the reference to ropey degrees? Most students are on 'normal' courses.

Have you been to university? Do you have any idea what it's like? All this 'school of hard knocks' rubbish comes across as bitter, unhappy jealousy. What makes you so great?

Well done to the Sussex students for standing up (or rather sitting down) for what you believe in!

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Daniel, Sussex says...
2:31pm Wed 7 May 08

We're saying "let them study" - allow all students to take their summer exams because it benefits neither student nor university bank balance to stop them studying just days before summer exams. It's unreasonable and simply not in the spirit of the institution.

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Alex, Preston Park says...
2:40pm Wed 7 May 08

Why do foreign students pay £9500 a year?

Mr get a part time job. I worked all the way through Uni around 30/35 hours a week, I would have been pushed to afford that each year.

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melfromhove, hove says...
2:56pm Wed 7 May 08

by all means excuse them from the fees. Then, when its all over, lets all go over to their respective countries and see what WE can get for nothing.

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Andi, says...
3:13pm Wed 7 May 08

It's called 'sarcasm' Jocelyn - of course they wouldn't dream of paying other students' debts, but it's pefectly alright to pass the burden onto the university I suppose? Grossly unfair it may be, but even students should be held accountable for their own debts - think of it as a rehearsal for the real world! And yes I did go to Uni, as did my son.

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Jocelyn, Hove says...
3:29pm Wed 7 May 08

Andi wrote:
It's called 'sarcasm' Jocelyn - of course they wouldn't dream of paying other students' debts, but it's pefectly alright to pass the burden onto the university I suppose? Grossly unfair it may be, but even students should be held accountable for their own debts - think of it as a rehearsal for the real world! And yes I did go to Uni, as did my son.
Sarcasm's a little tricky to distinguish in it's written form. Inverted commas are good!

I think Daniel from Sussex puts it pretty well - stopping them from studying isn't going to help anyone.

I agree that the students should account for themselves, but what a lot of money!

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Jocelyn, Hove says...
3:31pm Wed 7 May 08

Yes, yes, I see the incorrect apostrophe! No need for any clever dick to point it out.

Oh, I forgot to mention: melfromhove! What a great attitude you have! You sure seem to know what life is all about!

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Jill, Falmer says...
3:38pm Wed 7 May 08

Suggesting that these students get jobs to cover the cost of their fees is ridiculous- I agree completely, especially given the restrictions on international students from working more than 20 hours a week.

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melfromhove, hove says...
3:38pm Wed 7 May 08

Jocelyn wrote:
Yes, yes, I see the incorrect apostrophe! No need for any clever dick to point it out. Oh, I forgot to mention: melfromhove! What a great attitude you have! You sure seem to know what life is all about!
Thank you.

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cobblers, wobblers says...
4:15pm Wed 7 May 08

If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.

If you can't pay the fees, don't do the course.

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Anon, Brighton says...
5:00pm Wed 7 May 08

melfromhove wrote:
by all means excuse them from the fees. Then, when its all over, lets all go over to their respective countries and see what WE can get for nothing.
but Britain has already gone over (to quite a few countries actually) and has got a whole lot for nothing. of course then it was called the british empire.

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David, Brighton says...
5:39pm Wed 7 May 08

I think it's brilliant what these students have done. It's a nice change for people to be caring about people rather than money.

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Acheron, Hove says...
5:41pm Wed 7 May 08

Amazing how many people haven't really read what is said in the article. At no point does it say anywhere that they want to avoid paying the tuition fees. The issue is more about how quickly they are being asked to pay back arrears and the timing of the request!

I assume that all those who are complaining about students struggling with their fees will also be more than happy for every bank to instantly demand back every loan in arrears etc. After all, the damage that would do these peoples lives (let alone the economy) is minor compared to the disgrace of being in arrears! (That last paragraph was sarcasm in case anyone didn't pick up on).

Banks have a system for rescheduling debt, is it really beyond the university to be able to come up with something similar for the incredibly small minority who can't keep up the payments. (Or will that be beyond some of the brightest minds there). (Sorry, sarcasm again).

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Anon, Brighton says...
6:47pm Wed 7 May 08

I know of misguided international students who have been promised easy part time jobs, relaxed tuition fees policies etc etc. and then they struggle to make ends meet once in the UK. The ones who make these promises? university representatives- who dont care so much for the students or their promises once they've got their commission!
I want to hunt down those representatives!
Im sure glad at least they have honest and sincere fellow students who really know fair from unfair.

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Albell, London says...
7:34pm Wed 7 May 08

Steve wrote:
If they cant afford the fees then they shouldnt go to Uni. Have they heard of part time jobs ? How will they get on in life once they have finished studying for their degree in potato growing or the study of dandelions !
Lets see how much expendable income you have working a part time job.

Of course you'd probably then complain about all the 'immigrants' taking all the jobs in the city.

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liz, brighton says...
7:34pm Wed 7 May 08

if foreign students cant pay the fees on time ,then they should stay inthere own countries and study, we get no help if we lived abroad.

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Lecturer, Brighton says...
7:43pm Wed 7 May 08

If - Capital I
can't - apostrophe
time, - placing of comma
their - not there
country - singular
we would get - stick to the same tense.

FAIL

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Leo, Brighton says...
7:50pm Wed 7 May 08

liz wrote:
if foreign students cant pay the fees on time ,then they should stay inthere own countries and study, we get no help if we lived abroad.
Yes, I can see how you might be worried by an influx of literate people from other parts of the world...

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sam,, btn says...
7:57pm Wed 7 May 08

Lecturer wrote:
If - Capital I can't - apostrophe time, - placing of comma their - not there country - singular we would get - stick to the same tense. FAIL
How very cheap of you. Satisfied with yourself? Or just sickenly smug?

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Paul, Brighton Seafront says...
7:58pm Wed 7 May 08

liz wrote:
if foreign students cant pay the fees on time ,then they should stay inthere own countries and study, we get no help if we lived abroad.
It is not unheard of for any student to fall behind on payments, whether they be 'native' or foreign students. It seems that the SU president believes that unrealistic deadlines have been set. No one is a winner if they are unable to take their exams and drop out without paying their fees. Some common sense is needed!

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newsjiffy, London says...
10:09pm Thu 8 May 08

Quite disappointing how some people will take any chance to have a pop at students. Some people who study at Sussex are going to go on to work in medicine and social care, a bit more important than "the study of dandelions".

As a former Sussex student, I wish Luqman all the best.

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j.w, brighton says...
2:32pm Fri 9 May 08

Foreign students come here because there aren't opportunities for study at home and pay a premium here which the UK universities depend on. We need them. They're not allowed by their visas to work more than a few hours a week so cannot simply work to pay fees.
That having been said there are a few whose finances do not work out and find they're unable to pay fees. In these cases its right for the university to stop then building up debts they can never repay.

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Matt, Brighton says...
10:36am Sat 10 May 08

I think this shows hows ridiculously uninformed the general population are. Week after week I have to read comments which amount to absolute doggerel because people have no idea about what they are moaning about.

The article clearly states that this is about foreign students who run into financial difficulty. It's not about people trying to freeload.

Frankly, I'd like to see anyone of these detractors study in a foreign country - perhaps one in Europe, not to mention one on a different continent - and then try to survive when they are told they can't study anymore because they haven't the means to pay.

To invoke a colloquial saying: I think most people would die on thier arse.

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Rosie, Brighton says...
1:51pm Sat 10 May 08

I would like to add that alot of people don't seem to fully understand the situation. The particular students that we are supporting come from developing countries and have worked hard to be here. The circumstances under which they can't pay their fees are extreme, for example Luqman's sponser died. He is very dedicated and hard working, arguably more than alot of British students, and is definitely appreciative of the opportunities a university education here will give him. Why not share some of the opportunities we get given on a plate in the West with people who can potentially make a difference in the world by taking this education back with them, to help rectify the difficulties in their countries with intelligence? Although our protests may well be fruitless in the face of well-established bureaucracy, should we not show our humanity? I sincerely hope that not everyone holds the view that these students have come to England for a free ride, or if so I hope this has made you reconsider those views.

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Paula, Alfriston, Sussex says...
9:38pm Sun 11 May 08

I feel really moved to read about students caring so much about fellow students from other countries - what a very refreshing attitude. These are international students who have fallen into financial difficulties since beginning their studies, and who are asking for a reasonable timescale for repaying debts - they are not requesting to freeload. International students pay colossal fees, and it might be difficult for them to pay back arrears immediately. All of this stress must make sitting exams at the moment even harder.

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Comments are closed on this article.

The protest was on behalf of some overseas students who had run into financial difficulty The protest was on behalf of some overseas students who had run into financial difficulty

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