Wits students protest over tuition fee increase

So once again the bullies get their way with lawlessness. It is very concerning that these disputes cannot be settled with civilised processes and illegal acts like blockading exits or defacing statues seem to win the day time and again. What precedent are we setting?
 
Agree on process to be followed to determine student fee increases for 2016

Following an intense and protracted engagement between protesting students and members of the Executive Committee of Council, it was agreed that:

  1. The University will suspend the decision on all fee increments made for 2016. There will be no fee increments until negotiations reach an agreement.
  2. The negotiations pertaining to fee increments will resume anew.
  3. In the eventuality of negotiations breaking down, the University will not revert to its initial decision.
  4. A new framework for negotiations will be jointly agreed upon in which any final decision of Council on this matter will be presented to a University Assembly.
  5. There will be no disciplinary action taken against students or workers who participated in the protest, and no worker will face dismissal as a result of their participation in the protest.
  6. The Exco of Council will advance the position of the students for a no fee increase at Council.

The University will officially be closed on Monday, 19 October 2015, to allow Council to report to a University Assembly. This includes the suspension of all University activities including lectures, examinations, assessments, practicals, etc and will affect all students and staff on all campuses including the Medical School and affiliated hospitals.

The agreement was signed by the Chairperson of the Wits Council, Dr Randall Carolissen and Mr Mcebo Dlamini, on behalf of the students.

A full Council meeting will be called tomorrow, Sunday, 18 October 2015 to deliberate on these matters. Council will report to students at noon on Monday, 19 October 2015.
 
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Suspension of fee increases ?

Ja, well, no, fine !

Wits has high cost increases due to wage increases to staff, cost increases by service providers, reduced government subsidies, cost increases due to the ZAR collapse and general inflationary pressure. None of which are avoidable (except government subsidy).

So who is going to pay for the above ? Or is Wits just gradually going to decline (using up invested funds) and then go bust ?

If there are no fee increases this can only be funded by the ANC government, or the universities will be destroyed.
 
Necropolis said:
How is it sexist?
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If you're a decent journalist/reporter, you'll make sure you have all the right info before writing an article. The person who wrote this didn't have that info and instead of finding out, he assumed, "SRC president. Meh...its a dude". If he didn't know he could have said "his/her" but he made a choice. What stopped the writer from saying "her deputy" even if he didn't know.

Not gonna argue this any further.
 
Jola said:
Suspension of fee increases ?



Ja, well, no, fine !



Wits has high cost increases due to wage increases to staff, cost increases by service providers, reduced government subsidies, cost increases due to the ZAR collapse and general inflationary pressure. None of which are avoidable (except government subsidy).



So who is going to pay for the above ? Or is Wits just gradually going to decline (using up invested funds) and then go bust ?



If there are no fee increases this can only be funded by the ANC government, or the universities will be destroyed.
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They're suspended not cancelled. Until the council comes up with a realistic number.
 
SammyD said:
If you're a decent journalist/reporter, you'll make sure you have all the right info before writing an article. The person who wrote this didn't have that info and instead of finding out, he assumed, "SRC president. Meh...its a dude". If he didn't know he could have said "his/her" but he made a choice. What stopped the writer from saying "her deputy" even if he didn't know.

Not gonna argue this any further.
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A lack of research or proof reading of an article != sexism.
 
Necropolis said:
Jesus but people are sensitive.

Who cares?
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The Fact Police cares, or else we can just throw the facts away and say the student protestors are extremely peaceful and made no threats at all about anything and that the police used excessive force to move people who were peacefully studying.
 
Jola said:
Suspension of fee increases ?

Ja, well, no, fine !

Wits has high cost increases due to wage increases to staff, cost increases by service providers, reduced government subsidies, cost increases due to the ZAR collapse and general inflationary pressure. None of which are avoidable (except government subsidy).

So who is going to pay for the above ? Or is Wits just gradually going to decline (using up invested funds) and then go bust ?

If there are no fee increases this can only be funded by the ANC government, or the universities will be destroyed.
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You're making the assumption that those protesting give a damn about all of that.

They see the fee increase as exorbitant and that's that - but you can be damn sure they'll be the same group of people protesting when Wits needs to close down because it is no longer able to support itself.
 
Necropolis said:
You're making the assumption that those protesting give a damn about all of that.

They see the fee increase as exorbitant and that's that - but you can be damn sure they'll be the same group of people protesting when Wits needs to close down because it is no longer able to support itself.
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Yes.
 
Jola said:
Realistic number is more likely to be 15%
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"The realistic number of our cost increases was 15%, we tried to lower the impact by only implementing a 10.5% increase, but since you insist we use a realistic number we will now increase the fees by 15% next year."

I'd love it...
 
supersunbird said:
"The realistic number of our cost increases was 15%, we tried to lower the impact by only implementing a 10.5% increase, but since you insist we use a realistic number we will now increase the fees by 15% next year."

I'd love it...
Click to expand...

That would be awesome.
 
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