Don’t be too hard on the protesters

I don’t think there are many students who would disagree with the major ideas of the Defend Education Birmingham movement – that fees should not be increased and the university should campaign to have them reduced.

At £400,000 a year he can afford the fees!

Yet with a student population of 26,000, the turnout for the protest suggests the majority of students don’t agree with the way Defend Education are going about their campaign.

In fact, the majority of the people I have spoken to are against the group, arguing it won’t change anything and the level of vandalism and disruptions to normal university life were unnecessary.

Well I’m not cleaning that up

I would like to defend the protesters from the accusation that they were only out to cause trouble – the protesters I spoke to were very clued-up on the issues they were addressing, and clearly felt strongly that the methods they were using were the best way to get the message across.

Viva la revolution

But I can’t help agreeing with the masses who say that ultimately this protest was futile. Worse, it has led to the alienation of a group with aims that most students do agree with.

The protesters were full of righteous indignation, but I think – if they really want their protest to succeed – they need to first engage more with the average student, who has more of an interest in the price of a Jagerbomb than politics.

Cheers!

Equally though, I hope the university doesn’t come down too hard on the protesters. The truth of the matter is that not all of them were the hardcore anarchists who kicked the door down to the great hall, then barricaded the ends, full Les Mis style. Some of them were just carried away with the mood.

I remember in the kettle – and yes, whatever you hear there was a kettle – a rumour was going around that everyone was going to be arrested. The mood was subdued, one girl was even crying. Everyone was writing legal numbers on their arms (including budding journalists!) and security were voicing thinly veiled threats.

The things I do for journalism!

Most of the protesters were just good people who cared about what’s going on in the world a little more than you and me. Whatever you think about the methods the protesters used, please don’t be too harsh on the protesters themselves.