HomeArts & CultureComment & FeaturesFilmLifestyleLiveMusicNewsPodcastsSportsTechnologyTelevisionTravel

Flashmob gathers in #Telldavid campaign

10th Nov 2009

Students gathered earlier at the clock tower in protest Photo: Pete Blakemore

Stu­dents gath­ered ear­lier at the clock tower in protest Photo: Pete Blakemore

A flash­mob of around 400 stu­dents gath­ered at the base of the Clock Tower on cam­pus today in protest against the pro­posed rise in tuition fees.

The crowd amassed at 12.50 to make ten min­utes of noise after the news emerged that the Vice-Chancellor of Birm­ing­ham David East­wood would be on the panel review­ing uni­ver­sity fees nationwide.

Wes Street­ing, the Pres­i­dent of the NUS, made a speech to the crowd that received a rau­cous response involv­ing instru­ments such as whis­tles and pots and pans. The Pres­i­dent of the Guild, Fabian Neuner also made a speech and led the crowd in inter­mit­tent chant­ing along with Vice Pres­i­dent for Wel­fare Jonny Davis and Vice Pres­i­dent for Hous­ing Ed Sparkes. Par­tic­i­pants held plac­ards that read ‘Think of the chil­dren’ and ‘David, David, hear our plea, do not raise tuition fees.’

The last-minute event, called ‘Tell David’, was organ­ised by offi­cers at the Guild and pro­moted rapidly yes­ter­day after the announce­ment was made in the morn­ing that Pro­fes­sor East­wood would be involved in the deci­sion on fee rises. He has pre­vi­ously stated that he would be keen for fees to reach up to £7000.