Anglia Ruskin Students' Union

This campaign will highlight alternative Higher Education Funding strategies to the Government and encourage students to vote in the General Election.

The current HE funding system is going under review in the warm up to the general election next year. The government are proposing to lift the cap on tuition fees, meaning that universities could potentially charge what they want for tuition. Would you be prepared to pay £10,000 a year for your university education? Would you be able to justify that? Students wont be able to pay that much and that’s exactly why we’re running this campaign. An alternative system seriously needs to be used so students do not leave university with ludicrous amounts of debt!

The next campaign stunt is happening on the 31st October throughout the streets of Cambridge. The stunt is called Debt Sentence, and it is a promotional stunt to raise the profile of the campaign with the general public; making this a doorstep issue in the run up for the general election. All you need to do is come along to the front of Helmore on the 31st October at 11.30 dressed up in Halloween attire, we will be marching through the centre of Cambridge.

For more information please come up to the SU office, email the President at m.east@angliastudent.com, join the facebook group Town Takeover 2009, or join the event page Debt Sentence March.

The campaign is taking on several layers within planning. We are going out and speaking at several local 6th forms and secondary schools, alerting people of the significant impact this proposed lifting will have on them. Students’ will be asked to sign generic letters to local MP’s, expressing their concerns over their proposals. The main event will be held on the 26th November throughout the centre of Cambridge. We will be holding several campaign stunts varying from the Big Red Bike Ride, to the Running of the Debt, as well as flash mob style stunts. The day will finalise with a debate being held with local members of parliament and other Government officials speaking on the issue of HE funding. Several other Unions from across the country will be joining this campaign in Cambridge, so it has the potential to be a huge event! Watch this space to find out more, or see above for other contact details