Dundee University students hector 'Hester'
A group of Dundee University students imagined meeting a bank boss to highlight what they claim is the "injustice" students and staff are facing through public spending cuts.
RBS has a branch at the Dundee University Students' Union.
- By Grant Smith, education reporter
- Published in the Courier : 23.03.11
- Published online : 23.03.11 @ 11.26am
Their scenario saw them supposedly greeting Stephen Hester, chief executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland, on the campus green at an alternative economics workshop on Tuesday.
RBS, which has a branch at the university, is majority-owned by the UK Government following a bail-out.
Kimberley Ellis, of Dundee University Anti-Cuts Action Network, said, "Our university is facing a funding cut of around £7.1 million. To put this figure into perspective, Stephen Hester is in line to earn a total of £7.7 million for 2010.
"We want students to engage with the issue and to learn how wider factors in society affect their own education, job prospects and lives.
"Our event highlights the responsibility of RBS for these cuts. The bank received £45 billion from the tax-payer — more than half the amount of the government's four-year cuts programme.
"It's time to reconsider the values of our financial system. RBS is 83% owned by the taxpayer. The amount of money spent on bankers' bonuses makes my chin drop.
"Our money should be invested into the education, health care, public services — not into villas, yachts and luxury holidays for a few fat cats at the top."
The university is seeking almost 200 voluntary redundancies and is facing a 10% cut in its teaching grant for 2011/12. RBS lost £1.1bn last year, although that was well down on the previous year's loss.
05.22pm - 27.03.2011 Norman - Dundee, Scotland Report This
DUACAN should be sent to live in pre-1990's Soviet Union. With socialism and no incentive to perform, society and students would stoop to the level of DUACAN fiddlers. Grow up kids. World has been like this before you were born and will be so after. Amuse yourself if you wish but stop misguiding!!!
09.05pm - 27.03.2011 Louise - St Andrews, Scotland Report This
Defo, look at the vandals in the London protests. Makes you sick that there's lots a confused people out there waitin to give vent to their worthlessness by blaming someone else. Do something useful for society. Each gets what she deserves. So do you or DONT!
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