h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

British researchers may have noticed a particular image of violent protests in London. Let's face it, if you looked at a newspaper you could hardly have missed it: http://politicalscrapbook.net/2010/11/nus-protest-front-pages/

The BBC also had this image. Check out picture no 4: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11728003

This uncropped version seems to tell a slightly different story. Sure, the guy kicking a window is still there, but he's surrounded by photographers, and the rest of the protesters are just standing there. I wonder what actually happened to lead up to this.

Yes, I saw that too. It seems incredibly stage-managed.

I knew that there were huge protests in France, but I was only vaguely aware of disturbances in the U.K. Why are they protesting?

Large cuts to university funding, combined with rises in student fees. There are plans for ways to minimise the impact on the students in the short term (they don't have to pay back the loans until they start earning at least the current average UK wage) but this doesn't stop the fact that student fees will rise from about £3200 per year to £6000 or even £9000 per year.

Not sure where I stand yet, there seem to be lots of good ideas coming out of the government that go along with these rises but I haven't read up on it much.

I remember the last time the tories were in power, $£@&-staines all of them, we just about to have the total desserts Hay ho

Huh?

If your parents are wealthy (eg can afford Eton) then you can pay your top-flight uni fees up front. No loan, no interest, no extra charges.

If you can't pay them up front and take the loan, get a good degree, get an incredible job that allows you to pay off the loan quickly you pay interest on the loan at a higher rate *and* you get charges applied for early repayment.

If you can't pay up front and take the loan, get your degree and a reasonable job - say up to about 40k - you can expect to be paying it off your entire working life but might clear it eventually.

If you can't pay up front and take the loan, get your degree and a reasonable job - say up to about 25k - you can expect to never pay it off before it is written off for you when you are old.

If you can't pay up front and your family background is very poor you might get a bursary to pay the fees for you so you don't have to take the loan so no interest, or charges even if you manage to get a fabulously well paid job. Even so, to someone whose annual family income is under 15k (or at benefits level), the potential to saddle yourself with 50k of debt for life is going to put off a large number of potential doctors, vets, architects, or any degree that takes more than three years to complete.

I think this is apalling, can you tell?

When I was at uni we marched against the imposition of any fees. Didn't work.

Some parts of it seem more appalling than others. I regret to say that the income standards for repaying the student loans are more reasonable than what we have in the U.S. My brother and his wige work for the State University of my state. They have had to make huge cuts in course offerings many many many times.

I've talked to people who owe huge amounts for student loans, but they've been unemployed for at least two years, and doubt they'll ever be able to get jobs with retirement benefits.

Inn a way, I'm glad the students in the U.K. are expressing their disgust with what's being done to them. Our students seem not to be anywhere near as vocal.