A group of campaigners and protesters held a public event which they termed a “teach-out” in central Oxford on Monday afternoon.
The event, which took place in Bonn Square opposite Westgate Shopping Centre, was organised by the Oxford University Campaign for Higher Education, and advertised with the tag-line “The Alternative to Austerity”. It aimed to criticise the government’s cuts to public services, and to support the public sector strike planned for Wednesday.
The afternoon saw speeches from lecturers and campaigners on the NHS, pensions, and higher education. These were interspersed with unprepared contributions from passers-by: shoppers making their way through the square were offered leaflets, and the chance to air their opinions over the microphone.
Matt Myers, a fresher reading History at Wadham and one of the organisers of the “teach-out”, told Cherwell that the event was designed to give ordinary people a voice. He said, “Our political system is very élitist, as we only get the chance to have our say every five years when there’s a general election. Today is about allowing people to take part in a political process: it’s a model for the society we want to create.”
When asked if he thought the event would have an impact on government policy, Myers said, “Events like this aren’t going to change the political situation in this country, but it’s still important to get people discussing these issues face to face, outside of the national newspapers and the BBC.”
Rob Jackson, a London student who lives in Oxford and who also helped organise the event, said that it was important “to take people out of the university to hold lectures in public places and support the strikes on Wednesday.”
He added, “My parents’ generation was the first to go to university – I don’t want to be the last. I wouldn’t have gone to university if fees had been £9,000 a year.”
Student opinion on the “teach-out” was mixed. Imogen Jones, a third-year classicist at Corpus Christi, reacted positively to the event. She said, “Any peaceful protest against unnecessary and unfair cuts is a sign that the British people are engaged in politics, and are expressing their democratic rights.” Jones also praised the campaigners’ message, arguing, “What’s going on in higher education is terrible.”
Nick Dickinson, a second-year History and Politics student, agreed that the event was “a legitimate form of protest”. Referring to the campaigners’ method of making passionate speeches to passers-by, he remarked, “It seems to work for those crazy gospel guys on Cornmarket!”
However, not all students were equally convinced. Colette Weston, an Oxford graduate visiting for the day, questioned the name “teach-out”, commenting sarcastically, “What a great name…”
Jan Willem Scholten, a third-year PPEist, said, “I think it’s admirable that people venture out into the cold for what is ultimately a futile way to spend Monday of 8th week.”
