First national USI Fed Up? Stand Up! March takes place in Cork

The 5th of November saw UCC and CIT students join to march from UCC to the Glasheen Road constituency offices of Fine Gael TD Jerry Buttimer. The march, which set off from UCC after 1pm was part of a nationwide series of student demonstrations planned ahead of Budget 2013.Turnout was poor in comparison to levels seen in previous years with some commented that the CIT delegation seemed larger and more organised than UCC's representation, though UCC Student Union President Eoghan Healy claimed that Garda estimates put the UCC contingent at approximately 850.The crowd marched down College Road, up Highfield Avenue and down to the Glasheen Road offices where they were awaited by Mr Buttimer and national media.CITSU President Danny O'Donovan- spoke to the crowd gathered and to Mr. Buttimer in particular."We are giving you the opportunity to state your stance but you should know that should you not stand in solidarity with students then we, as your constituents, will make sure that you will not be re-elected to office.UCCSU President Eoghan Healy called upon Mr. Buttimer to sign up to a pledge to oppose any budget 2013 proposals which include cuts to the grand and an increase in the student contribution.Apparently unswayed by the chants of "Jerry, Jerry" and "Sign It" coming from the crowd, Mr. Buttimer  thanked students for their attendance and "good humour" coming to protest."I've heard the speeches and I've listened to the communications from students and families about this {sic} and will go back to Government with what you have said. The important thing is that we live in a democracy. There is no easy solution, we are in a very difficult funding situation and what  you've said today is important. Education is the passport for us as a society to regrow, to rebuild and to regenerate our country. There is however no easy solution and those who tell you there is are not telling you the truth..."Mr Buttimer was then cut off by chants of "Sign the pledge" and handed back his microphone to a USI representative.Responding to this, Mr Healy declared that  "Jerry Buttimer has publically turned his back on education in Cork City" and that he looked forward to meeting with him in a few minutes. The CITSU, UCCSU and USI Presidents along with Sam Ryan, UCCSU Deputy President/Campaigns Officer then met privately with Mr Buttimer in his office.Kate Acheson, Campaigns Officer of USI congratulated the crowd for "standing up for third level education" in the first of what is planned to be a series of local protests nationwide and encouraged people to promote www.usi.ie/standup in the next leg of this national campaign.Below are some of the reasons why students say they came out to march. Cian- ArtsI’m very passionate about the grant- I have a grant myself. It’s going to get cut the next few years and I can’t afford College if it gets cut.Karen- General NursingWe’re here to protest against the fees because we wont be able to afford to go to college any more if they introduce fees.Laura- General NursingI’m here today because I wasn’t able to get a grant so if the fees go up I won’t be able to go to college next year because we won’t be able to afford it.Susan- Early Childhood StudiesI’m here because I have received a grant but if I lose the grant I wont be coming to college next year because it’s a lot of financial pressure on me and my family.Cathal- ArtsI’m here today because I’m sick of money that should be going to health and education going to Anglo-Irish bank to bail out a shattered banking system.Miriam- Drama and Theatre StudiesI had to take a year out because I couldn’t afford to go back to college this year so  now I’m looking for work to try and earn money to do my final year next yearGeoff- GovernmentI’m protesting because I believe cuts to education are unfair and students are being unfairly targeted because they don’t vote enough to make our voices heard.Alan- ArtsI’m here today because I feel the cuts to the student grants and the increase to the reg fee are completely unjustified and counterproductive to  what we are trying to do with the economy at the moment. I think it’s an absolute disgrace that people like Ruairí Quinn who got into power and build their movement off the backs of student involvement- a person who built his own career off the student movement- has now sold out to those people to line his own pockets. He’s happier with his ministerial pension than he is with his principles.Shauna- CITThe Government’s trying to target students because we’re the ones that can take it because we have to take it and it’s really unfair so we came out to show our supportRachel- CITI’m getting the grant and my mom and dad can’t handle the fees next year if they do go up and we can’t get the grant next year.  Audrey Ellard Walsh