The 29th October has always seemed like a distant milestone in time. Not any more. In less than a week, thousands and thousands of students will be pounding the streets of the Big Smoke, angry that top-up fees has seen thousands and thousands of potential students give higher education a miss because of the cost.

But in the midst of organisation students locally, getting them fired-up about the issues and ensuring as many members as possible turn up at the demo, it’s vital that student unions are also focusing equally on the other side of our campaign: Meeting with and lobbying senior figures in your institution on this issue at every opportunity you have. The same goes for your local MP(s) and/or MSP(s) and/or AM(s). It may be more ‘behind-the-scenes’ - but is just as vital to our campaign.

At my institution in the past month, the Senate of my University elected its representatives on to University Court for the next 3-year term. Before the students reps on Senate cast our vote, we lobbied each of the candidates, questioning them on a whole range of issues included education funding. We were then able to vote for those academics who shared our views on how higher education should be funded and who should pay for it. They got elected; giving the Students Association crucial additional allies on the University’s governing body.

Also in the past month, my university has been selecting a new Vice-Chancellor and Principal. The Students Association fought to ensure we were involved in this selection process, and won a 30-minute one-on-one session with each of the 5 candidates on the shortlist. Again, I quizzed each on their views on the future of higher education funding in Scotland and the UK (as well as on a variety of other issues of course). These discussions had a sharp influence on whom the Students Association preferred as a candidate, and this in turn influenced the University’s final decision.

In both of these incidences, the views expressed by the academics – the would-be decision makers and influencers we spoke to - variety dramatically. Some staunchly supportive of keeping the market out of education; other believing it to be an inevitability and a concept they are not interested in challenging.

That’s why Admission: Impossible is a fight that we can’t just take to the streets of our capital. We must also take it to each and every institution’s Court, Council or Board of Governors throughout the country. When ever the subjects of admissions or fees or widening access or retention or students working part-time come up, talk about this year’s NUS Priority Campaign, armed with the arguments and the facts. When every any other subject comes up that you can pivot back to student funding, do it and talk about this year’s NUS Priority Campaign. Actually table papers for discuss on these issues at these meetings. And whenever you have a say in the selection or election of a position within your University, lobby all candidates and then vote/recommend accordingly. These people have a bucket load of influence, the ear of the government and when they say something, the media reports it. So let’s make sure we have them on our side.

I’ll see you on the streets of London this weekend!

Cheers,
Fin

e: stephen.findlay@nus.org.uk
m: 07764 756513
and don’t forget to visit: www.officeronline.co.uk/admissionimpossible

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