Student Day of Action Was Mostly a Success!

Wednesday was a very important day for students' voices to be heard. About 100 university, college and even high school students gathered at UNB's Student Union Building to express their discontent with tuition fees and the ever growing debt on their shoulders. Many students claimed that they had or would have approximately $20 000-$30 000 dollars owed back to student loans by the time they finished their undergrad. One grad student also exclaimed that he had an even larger debt of $75 000!


Speeches were made by various students who helped organize the rally and cheers were made to excite the crowd and get them ready for the long march ahead. The First Stop was the STU president Dr. Micheal Higgins' office. Chanting "Student's rights under attack, what do we do? Stand up fight back!", Dr. Higgins seemed surprised at the large group of students noisily marching into his office giving him coupons for 10% off of their tuition. Dr. Higgins told the students that he couldn't possibly reduce tuition and without government funding, chances are that tuition will continue to soar. Especially because of the new building his fancy office was in; it's cost was one million dollars over budget.

It didn't seem that Dr. Higgins or his bodyguard were going to be honest with us and just seemed to pass off all responsibility for students' rights to the government. The students then headed down to the UNB president's office, as determined as ever, only to discover that he was not there. The secretary looked a little confused at first but then laughed it off and gladly took more coupons from the UNB students.

According to Dr. Higgins, this situation was all the NB government's fault. So where to next? The legislature of course! Chanting and marching continued all the way to the Legislature Building this time calling out Ed Doherty, Minister of Post-Secondary Education. "Hey Ed Doherty, reduce the tuition fee!" was chanted and doors were banged upon. The only person who came out was Dan Bussieres who broke the students up and informed them that everyone was done at 1pm. The students arrived at the legislature at 3pm. Disappointed the students started to shuffle off. They were as suprised as I was that our elected MPs were done work at 1pm!

Then one of the MP's from Tantramar came out to speak to the students. He insisted that Canada just didn't have enough money to fund for university, even though countries poorer than Canada have free education. He also insisted that it was the responsibility of our University Presidents to lower our tuition. That's funny, Dr. Higgins informed us that it was the Legislature's responsibility. Furthermore, the government of Quebec has frozen tuition for over 30 years. At least one of them is lying. So it would seem that these government workers and school presidents are either trying to worm their way out of dealing with these issues, or they think students are dumb enough to fall for their lies.



The student day of action got a lot media attention and yet I have been informed that this weeks aquinian may include a small write up. This is one of the largest things to happen on campus in a long time, and this can't even make the front page of the students' very own newspaper? Fredericton's Student day of action was small in comparison to others happening that day all across Canada but it was still effective and well covered by the media. Fredericton must keep in mind that this is not the end of this cause. Because of Quebec students' hard work and continued pressure on the government, they have been able to keep their universities' tuition at a reasonable fee. They are truly an inspiration and should be a good example to other students that if we stick together, and work hard, we can make education more affordable and accessable for all of us.



Facts
- NB has the lowest minimum wage in the country, and the 2nd highest tuition.
- NB has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country!
- NB Tuition has gone up 175% in only 15 years!

Continue the fight! Education is a right!