{"id":35191,"date":"2021-04-22T11:16:15","date_gmt":"2021-04-22T10:16:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shefnews.co.uk\/?p=35191"},"modified":"2021-04-22T11:16:15","modified_gmt":"2021-04-22T10:16:15","slug":"students-protest-covid-tuition-fees-at-sheffield-universities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shefnews.co.uk\/index.php\/2021\/04\/22\/students-protest-covid-tuition-fees-at-sheffield-universities\/","title":{"rendered":"Students protest Covid tuition fees at Sheffield universities"},"content":{"rendered":"

Students protested at the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam campuses yesterday, demanding a tuition fee refund for this year\u2019s teaching.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was part of a \u2018national day of action\u2019 with protests at 26 campuses across the country, organised by Socialist Students.<\/span><\/p>\n

The demonstrations were after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced universities would not be able to resume in-person teaching until at least the 17 May.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam Calvert, 21, was one of the organisers and said: \u201cWe’re being charged the same rent, the same tuition this year as we would be in every other year, but the value just isn’t there.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe’re trying to push for a rebate, some form of acknowledgement that we are paying this huge amount of money and getting into loads of debt, and then we’re not getting it in return.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Protest\"<\/p>\n

There has also been rent strikes in Sheffield with students withholding their second semester\u2019s rent, as they have not been allowed to attend classes in-person for most of the year.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 17 May date for students to return to in-person classes has been met with derision by many.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yesterday’s protests also aimed to shed light on the struggles of students throughout the pandemic, which many feel have been overlooked by the government and the media.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mr Calvert, a student from Matilda Street, said: <\/span>“The Covid bulletins that Boris has been doing, they mention schools every time, the plan for pubs, but he doesn’t mention universities.<\/span><\/p>\n

“The one thing we’ve had is lectures can start on May 17th which is useless, we need them to acknowledge that we exist.<\/span><\/p>\n

“It stems from the government, but the universities could do a much better job at acknowledging that we’ve been struggling and supporting us on it.”<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

no mention of university students, at all???? it\u2019s ok Boris I\u2019ll write my 20k word dissertation with no books, no resources and being moved from remote to on-campus learning every other month. im tired<\/p>\n

— tom (@tomhvrdy) January 4, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n