There had been a student protest in Oxford two weeks ago, followed by another massive national-level student protest in London. These protests were initiated after the release of the Browne Review, as well as the subsequent proposal to cut funding for higher education and increment of tuition fees for local students. As an international student, I did not see a need to be passionate about these development, but as someone who works in the area of higher education, this is one issue that I kept an eye on. As such, I did not participate in these protests, but I was physically present at the Oxford protest to observe from far and followed the news on the London protest.
I have several points to make after reflecting over these protests.
1) Could protest bring change? I agree that such massive protest had made clear the opinion of students on this matter. However, was the message only about students' dissatisfaction? What could be a better solution? Sadly, I only felt that these protests were just an opportunity for the majority of students to vent their anger in public. This was clearly reflected in the violence incidents during the protests, especially the London protest. Isn't critical and open engagement by students and their leaders with university administrators, politicians, Member of Parliaments and other stakeholders, a more mature and constructive avenue to discuss the matter?
2) Another point that I could not understand, "Why target the building that housed the Conservative Party?" While I understand this party along with the LibDems, is the government of the day, but isn't the Browne Review established by the previous government, which was the Labour Party? I wonder if the Labour was still in power today, would they have taken the recommendation of the Review and made the same decision? From an objective viewpoint, I see this development as a matter driven by economic imperatives rather than political ideology, but certainly, the students at the protest thought otherwise.
3) As I mentioned, these developments in higher education have been driven by economic imperatives. It is public knowledge that the UK economy is in a bad shape. Massive cuts have been expected, even before the general election in May. Did the students who participated in the protest thought about the economic consequences of their action? The obvious and short-term cost may be small. However, such massive protest that turned violence, will undoubtedly have a long-term economic consequences. For example, it is a fact that international students have been a major revenue to the higher education sector in the UK, as international students at the moment are paying 3-4 times more than local students. Following on to such violence protest, which had made it into the headlines of international news, I wonder, how many parents who are going to pay for their children's tertiary education, will want to send their kids to UK? I certainly would have hope my children will learn to be more mature and constructive in the university, rather than screaming and shouting and being violence on the streets. The tarnished image of higher education in the UK, may just be one of the long-term economic consequences, that may take years to recover.
4) One of the points advocated by the students at the protest was inequality of access due to the increment of fees. However, for a brief moment, I wish to suggest that we step into the shoes of the police personnel in front of the Millbank building that afternoon in London, who was nearly killed by the fire extinguisher threw down by the students from the roof. Imagine what would have happened to his or her children if the police was hit. Will access be more equal to the children of these police personnel if they were killed in the course of their duties by such irresponsible actions?
I admit the points I made were rather pessimistic about protest, especially the violence incidents, but I am certainly neutral about peaceful protest. I believe everyone has the rights to do so, although I was brought up in a rather repressive culture. However, while we respect the rights of individuals, I also believe that those who wishes to advocate their rights, should also bear in mind the rights of others in the society.
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The following is strictly a personal matter.
There was a "brainless" protestor in Oxford, carrying a placard to the protest with an upside down Malaysian flag hanging on the pole. If you do not know that this is a country's flag, then I don't even think he should be standing there as a university student. It would be much more beneficial for him to spend the 3-4 hours studying geography or general knowledge. If he indeed knew that this is the flag of another country, which has nothing to do with the protest, then I think he should be ashamed of himself that he can't even be respectful for such a simple thing. Don't try to run when you can even walk, don't fight for the future of the universities and students when you don't even have the basic civic etiquette to respect.
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