Brighton and Hove Argus
12th December 2006
Students are revolting. And let's hope they continue to do so in ever increasing numbers.
I was very heartened and encouraged to read the article on the library sit-in at Sussex University (The Argus, November 29). That the students were prepared to do this despite legal intimidation - common practice these days - made it all the more significant.
This was in the same week that a large group of Brighton students went up to Faslane to blockade the Trident base with no fear of arrest. I have also noticed greater numbers of students more regularly attending the weekly protests at EDO.
It is a sad fact that youthful rebellion against the establishment appears to have diminished over the years in this country. Go to many anti-war marches and the average age is quite high - too high. On local marches, despite the high student population in Brighton, there are never that many students. There are a few who do turn up regularly but too few.
I do not know why student radicalism has faded but life as a student must be very different today compared to student life a few decades ago.
The fact that young people end up in massive debt so early in their lives is in itself sad but it also ensnares them into the system - the very system they should be rebelling against.
It may be that the masses of young people who demonstrated en-masse nearly four years ago when the Iraq War broke out have not forgotten the sense of empowerment they felt. Now many of them are of student age, I would hope that they will carry this through university and become much more involved with political issues.
So keep on speaking out, sitting in, blockading and revolting in increasing numbers; you have nothing to lose but your debts.
Glenn Williams, Park Crescent Road, Brighton
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