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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Vol 36 No. 12. 6 June 1973

Student Rent Strike

Student Rent Strike

Uk Students Say New Grant Increases Still "not Enough"

Measured in terms of participation, the rent strike launched by university students in Britain demanding higher study grants is an impressive success. More than 40 local student unions on campuses around the country joined the boycott campaign led by the National Union of Students of the United Kingdom (NUSUKI and refused to pay halls of residence fees until the grants were increased. On May 7, NUSUK promised "stronger action" if the Department of Education and Science did not reply to its demands within two weeks.

On May 15, the Government's Department of Education and Science announced that student grants would be increases by 20 pounds (about 50 US dollars). Grants for married women were to be raised for the first time in eight years. The Department also allowed a 22 per cent increase in cost limits on school, polytechnic and university construction. NZUSUK promptly labelled the Government's offers "totally inadequate". In a joint statement iss ued by outgoing NUSUK President Digby Jacks and president-elect John Randall, the grant increase, which they broke down to an average 50 pence per week, was described as going "nowhere near compensat ing for the enormous costs students are suffering."

'Another issue that has caused trouble in the past, and seems likely to do so again, is the financial contributions that parents are expected to make to their children's higher education. To help poorer families, the point at which they are expected to contribute financially to their childrens higher education has been raised from a basic income level of 1,100 pounds to one of 1,500 pounds. This means that, for example, a family with a "residual income" (meaning what's left after essentials) of 1,500 pounds will pay 30 pounds instead of 70 pounds at present. Below that level they pay nothing. An estimated one fourth of the parents of Britain's 350, 000 higher education students will benefit from the new ruling.

To have some idea of the discrepancy between the Government's offers and the students' demands it should be noted that the announced grant changes will cost some 10 million pounds while the changes asked by the students would have amounted to some 65 million. The immediate effect of the decisions made by the Secretary for Education Margaret Thatcher will be to leave the next step up to the universities. Many academicians have supported the students' demands, even though disapproving of the rent strikes. The university authorities had been waiting for the Government announcement before taking disciplinary measures against the non-paying students. In the weeks to come, clashes between the academic authorities and any militant students continuing the strike seem inevitable.

English Students Unite!

Communication between students and staff in the Engiish Department is virtually nill. At a time when change is occurring gradually, students have no representation in the department, and teachers seem to receive little feedback from students.

A meeting relating to these issues and the courses, their relevance, and possible change will be held on Thursday. If you feel that the courses should he changed or discussed, come to the Lounge and Smoking Room at 1 o'clock on Thursday.

English Students Meeting: Lounge: Thursday 7th June: 1 p.m.

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