Approximately 500 students took part in a recent day of action against student debt in Lansdowne campus’ Fisher courtyard, organized by the Camosun College Student Society (CCSS).
“I was really happy about the outcome. It was a feeling of accomplishment,” says Camosun psychology student Nathanial Goyet-Lamoureux. “It’s good to know that we are all in this together. Everyone has debts and it’s scary sometimes, but I feel that we can support each other and together we can accomplish great things.”
The February 1 on-campus event was part of the national campaign Education Is a Right, in conjunction with the Canadian Federation of Students, who are encouraging students across to country to rally government for change.
“We want the NDP and other parties to listen and make these issues part of their platform,” says Madeline Keller-MacLeod, CCSS external affairs executive.
The Education Is a Right campaign asks for reduction in tuition fees, re-establishment of the BC Student Grant Program, and the elimination of student-loan interest fees.
“The minister of advanced education [Naomi Yamamoto] is not interested in even lowering interest on student loans,” says Keller-MacLeod. “We are asking for elimination of interest.”
The event included free food, a crafts station where students could write messages on t-shirts, a video crew recording students’ thoughts, and games, including one that was a student-debt take on Snakes and Ladders (“You’re exhausted, drop out now,” was one of the moves on the board).
Camosun College granted academic amnesty to students who missed classes to attend the event, but some students who didn’t attend the rally still wanted their money’s worth.
“We already paid tuition, so why would we not go to a class that we already paid for?” says biology student Amanda Hewlett.
Meanwhile, Keller-MacLeod has no doubts that the day of action raised awareness among most students.
“We accomplished a lot and more students are now involved,” says Keller-MacLeod. “The event just built momentum; it’s nowhere near over.”