EST. 1936
Redbrick Friday 14th October 2011 | Volume 76 | Issue 1395 | redbrickpaper.co.uk
Education for the nation: Meet Mr Drew from Channel 4's Educating Essex See Television, p14
Students protest on campus in support of VPE
Students protest at Mermaid Square on campus Jo Thomas Reporter
Political groups, unions and personal friends of the Vice President of Education, Edd Bauer gathered on Wednesday to protest against his suspension from the Guild of Students. Located in Mermaid Square near the Guild, the protesters held banners declaring 'Speech is free, Bauer's for me. F**k Harrop's silent majority'. Student voices were raised over a P.A. system saying, 'we are fighting against massive inequality. We are more determined. The best power we have is ourselves – we don't need the Guild', and 'this is not against Edd's injustice, but
Students stand against Edd Bauer's suspension from Guild and University Protest calls for Bauer to return to his role Full story on p5 Security measures employed at entrance to Guild
against the Guild'. More than two weeks after his suspension as Vice President of Education, the Guild are continuing their internal investigation. One member of the protest group who wished to be called an 'ex' Guild councillor claimed it was obvious that the Vice President of Education would be evicted from the very beginning due to his heavy involvement in raising educational awareness on campus, particularly in relation to student fees and job cuts. He said, 'it was simply a matter of time, but I didn't think it would happen this soon'. When asked what the atmosphere was like within the Guild itself, he said 'very tense.'
Photo by Freddie Herzog
Dan Harrison, leader of Birmingham Student Labour group, was also at the protest and he said, 'We don't need the Guild, and we don't want the Guild. I am embarrassed and ashamed to be a student at this university, and am asking myself whether I made the right choice in coming to Birmingham at all.' In reference to the group of students he personally represented, Harrison remarked that even though some Labour members didn't vote for Bauer, several were in 100 per cent support of him being reinstated to his position as VPE. The protest remained peaceful and gained the attention of both students, academic staff and union members.
'The protest showed that students are willing to stand up for what they care about.' -Guild President, Mark Harrop
Uninvolved students had mixed opinions about the protest. Hannah Brazil, 3rd year English student said, 'A lot of people outside were not very enthusiastic at the protest. It seemed to have little substance and seemed disorganised.' Chemistry student Pod Ruben
said, 'I think Edd Bauer should be reinstated because he is one of the few people who actually listens to students'. An official forum and debate named Birmingham Against Cuts will be held on the 24th November, at 7pm in the Council Chambers. Mark Harrop, President of the Guild, issued this comment, 'The protest today showed that students are willing to stand up for what they care about. Even though I cannot comment on the ongoing investigation, the matter of the suspension of the VPE was raised at the Better Education and University open forum. More importantly, we were able to discuss education issues that students face here at Birmingham.'