An Apathetic Attitude

Reclaim The Uni marchers last year | Photo: James Maskell

Apathetic, lazy and drunk, or intelligent, active and wanting to change the world? Students have been called both, and then some, since the dawn of time. But which student stereotype, if either, holds true today?

Students have always been known as activists, an example of the exuberance of youth wanting to change the world before the cynicism of age takes its toll. The psychedelic era of the ’60s, the anti-Thatcher years and the pro-Blair years have all come and gone. However the noughties have seen a marked fragmentation amongst students. With more people than ever enjoying the university experience, the homogenous student conscience of yesteryear is no more. Although generally a positive development, this has also lead to some worrying trends.

Last week, for example, saw the shocking (I use this term extremely liberally) news that former University of Manchester Students’ Union Communications Officer Alex Castro was cautioned for threatening a police officer during the “Reclaim The Uni” demonstration. This protest was partly about students demonstrating their activism, fighting “The Man” (or “The Woman” for those who like their activism politically correct) and trying to make a difference for their fellow students. The cloak of apathy was being discarded and the fact that the capitalistic fat pigs were being made to pay for their crimes to humanity was just a bonus.

However, look at the fine print and you realise this is not the case. The demonstration itself attracted just 200 protesters, which is a very poor return for a university packed to the rafters with tens of thousands of students. The “Reclaim The Uni” campaign which protests contact hour cuts, insufficient library books and poor feedback from the University surely deserves more attention. Unless we’ve all become so rich that the £3,145 yearly tuition fees (not to mention the cost of books, supplies etc) mean nothing to us. We don’t seem to mind the University spending it on superfluously underused, mismanaged and unattractive buildings.

Granted, not everyone agrees with the “Reclaim The Uni” campaign’s methods or some suspect, ulterior motives but this is far from an isolated incident. The first Students’ Union General Meeting of the year, which decides Union policies, was called off having failed to reach quorum. The unchangeable part of the Union Constitution – the attendance of at least 300 people – which forced the meeting to be stopped, should not exactly be mission impossible, and yet it proved to be just that. The student satisfaction rates for the University of Manchester are among the worst in the country and yet no one wants to do anything about it. Students are more likely to enjoy redundant self-pleasing nights out than partake in any Union activities. I am not saying that going out and having a good time is bad, far from it, but should it come at the price of social obligations?

The answer to which stereotype fits best is pretty clear. Castro et al are now the exception rather than one of the many shining lights within the sea of student activism. In a very British way, students have grown up to be a bunch of whingers who complain about everything without trying to change anything. Following the failed General Meeting a student remarked: “In a University of 30,000, 300 aren’t even interested enough to turn up.” This would be preferable to what the truth actually is. The fact is that students would be interested if they had knowledge of events but they don’t even possess that. They worry instead who’s going to be kicked out next on Celebrity…Dancing with Talent Big Brothe’.

It’s not even necessary to be a stereotypical activist either. The days of sit-ins, boycotts and heckling unsuspecting politicians have ceased to be the way they were during the ‘60s (although thankfully they are not completely banished). There is no big student movement which can claim to represent everyone. However, showing up at a meeting here and there would go a long way towards achieving what all students want: more.