An open letter on why I think hidden course costs suck:
Dear Student Body
So here we are, elections week. I thought I'd start a blog about some of my policies so that I can explain them in full for those who want to know what I'm proposing on my manifesto as well as share some of the other ideas that didn't make it into my top six. First of is tackling hidden course costs and as you may or may not know, I am a Media Arts Student and on my course every year, in addition to tuition fees I end up forking out somewhere in the region of £70-£100 my money for course materials, not to mention that students on my course also have to fund their mandatory film shoots throughout the degree. This got me thinking about what issue I want the SU to tackle and how we can make SURHUL a place for every student to have a platform for their ideas and improvements. Speaking to lots of other students earlier in the year, like the freshers in Kingswood where I'm an RSA, they thought that having paid £9000 on the course was enough to warrant a full education for a year, not any more additional costs.
Textbooks, course-packs, reference material and equipment and lab fees are unacceptable hidden costs coming from a university that is turning a neat little profit, has upwards of £90 Million in reserves and pays its management handsomely. I say this stops now. I say we as students lobby the college to cut those costs down, especially for low income students. I say we as a union organise book swaps with students who no longer need a course text for the next year. I think every mandatory course material for all subjects should have enough copies of the text for an average seminar group on that course. I think departments that involve vocational creative projects like film, theatre and stagecraft should get more help and funding from their departments so that the creative output of Media Arts and the Drama department are not thinned out by students not having enough personal wealth and that their projects become reputable pieces of work that show those departments excellence.
I don't think it will be an easy fight, but I think it's something every student can agree on. If the college want to treat us like customers and not learners then why aren't we getting value for money? This is like the most expensive budget airline flight ever, where they charge you for seat-belts and to use the bathroom! It's got to stop. And I want to be the person to help stop it, with you, the student body. Please on Friday Vote Sam Jones for Education and Campaigns Yours Faithfully,
Sam Jones #supportingSam
#JonesingForJones