Graduation Day Discontent

Press release - [6:14pm 09/05/13] - For Immediate Use

Graduation Day Discontent

During the procession at graduation day on Friday 19th May, students from the University of Auckland are planning a visual protest against the extreme amount of debt that they and other students are subjected to.

The procession will leave at 9:30am from Old Government House at the University of Auckland and proceed to the ASB Theatre in Aotea Square.

Students will be placing a sticker on their graduation gown which indicates how much debt they owe, a visual reminder of the number that the government reduces them to.

This protest follows on from other protests at the University of Auckland and around the globe against the austerity measures that are being imposed on students.

The government's 2013 budget saw a reduction in funding to the University, including the cutting of postgraduate allowance, and the capping of allowance to the first four years of study.

New Zealand has the 7th highest tuition fees in the OECD and fees at the University of Auckland go up by 4% each year which has seen students in complete financial distress.

Protesters recognise and appreciate the immense amount of time and money people have put in to get to where they are today. For this reason the protest will be a respectful, silent but visual protest.

“We do not wish to take away from people's celebratory procession but to send a message about the high cost of education in this country and, in turn, the inaccessibility of such an education to many.”

Education should not be a debt sentence.

ENDS

© Scoop Media