Sit-in protest over top-up fees

Sit-in protest over top-up fees

Mr Clarke used sit-ins to protest when he was a Cambridge student

Cambridge University students have staged a sit-in in protest at top-up fees.

About 100 students occupied the Senate - the building where degree ceremonies are held - in protest at higher education finance reforms proposed by Education Secretary Charles Clarke.

Organisers say the protest was inspired by Education Secretary Charles Clarke - a former president of Cambridge University Students' Union.

Current student union president Paul Lewis said: "Charles Clarke, who is the architect of the White Paper advocating top-up fees, is a former president of the students' union here.

"Whenever he protested against something here he would use the method of occupation.

It will make Cambridge even more expensive than it is already and more difficult for people from certain backgrounds to come here

Cambridge Students' Union president Paul Lewis

"Students here are very upset and angry with the issue of top-up fees, not for selfish reasons because it won't affect us, but because of the effect it would have on potential future students.

"It will make Cambridge even more expensive than it is already and more difficult for people from certain backgrounds to come here."

Plans to introduce top-up fees for university students initially appeared to have been rejected by senior academics at Cambridge University.

Positive comments

But the students union said it was disappointed by an article published by the vice-chancellor Prof Sir Alec Broers in which he made more positive comments about the possibility of charging students extra to study at Cambridge.

The Cambridge University Council - the institution's policy making body - is due to respond formally to the White Paper by the end of April.

"The university is currently considering its response to the White Paper, and consulting widely with its academic community, the Regent House," a spokesman asid

"Top up fees are the only increased funding option that the government has offered British universities to close the funding deficit.

"If the University of Cambridge decides to introduce them, then it has to guarantee a "needs-blind" admission system and ensure that every possible effort is put into access schemes and increasing the range and level of bursaries.

"We would remain committed to admitting the most able students regardless of their backgrounds or ability to pay fees

Cambridge University spokesman

"Cambridge has always said that if in future we do consider any changes to student fees, we would remain committed to admitting the most able students regardless of their backgrounds or ability to pay fees."

Currently students are required to pay up to £1,100 a year in fees depending on their parents' salary.

The government is proposing allowing individual universities to charge up to £3,000 a year.