In week 12, the demonstration newsletter is published instead of the regular weekly newsletter.
Mass demonstration newsletter – get your hands off the student financial aid!
Student organisations will arrange a mass demonstration in the city centre of Helsinki at 1pm–3.30pm on 20 March 2013. Decisions on the future of student financial aid will be made in connection with the government spending limits discussion on 21 Mar. The Finnish state budget is tight and now it unfortunately seems that student financial aid will be one of the saving targets. The government parties disagree on the development of student financial aid and all options ranging from restrictions to the usage period of student financial aid to loan-oriented student financial aid are possible.
Join the demonstration! Each participant is important in order to make the students’ message loud and clear to decision-makers!
AYY has asked the rectors and deans to cancel lectures during the demonstration so that as many people as possible could come to protest. Many AYY’s associations go to the demonstration together and organise banner workshops, so now is a good time to be creative!
Technology students have been granted the permission to use the student cap in the demonstration between 1pm–3.30pm.
Schedule:
1.00pm Assembling at Senate Square (Senaatintori)
1.15pm Speech of the chairpersons of student organisations
1.30pm Demonstration procession begins marching towards the Parliament House
2.30pm Grilling the politicians at the Parliament House
3.30pm Free concert on Citizens’ Square (Kansalaistori)
3.30 DJs, 4pm Manna duo, 5pm Risto
The demonstration route:
Senate Square – Aleksanterinkatu – Mannerheimintie – Parliament House
Further information:
www.opintotuki.fi
http://www.facebook.com/opintotuki2013
Demonstration event on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/events/478850868828955/
Näpit irti opintotuesta! mass demonstration is organised by national student organisations
the Union of Vocational Students in Finland SAKKI, the Union of Students in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences SAMOK, the Union of Upper Secondary School Students in Finland SLL, the National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) and the Finnish Student Alliance OSKU together with student bodies and student unions.
In addition to the metropolitan area, dozens of busloads of students will come to the demonstration from Tampere, Turku, Oulu, Jyväskylä, Rovaniemi, Mikkeli, Seinäjoki, Vaasa, Lahti, Lappeenranta, Hyvinkää, Riihimäki, Porvoo, Nurmijärvi, Järvenpää, Kerava and Tuusula, among others. In addition, the train leaving from Oulu at 5.20am includes a carriage which is reserved for students who will participate in the demonstration. Passengers in ”the student financial aid train” get prepared for the demonstration by making banners and signs, for example.
How to achieve a successful demonstration
1. Read more about the issue (see the links).
2. Invite your friends and find out if your organisation goes to the demonstration together.
3. Craft your own signs or banners.
4. Dig up whistles, rattles and megaphones.
5. Make sure to wear warm clothes.
6. Decorate yourself with overalls, a cap or other student-minded equipment. (NB! More info about the cap user permission above)
7. Gather your friends and leave together for Senate Square.
8. Arrive at Senate Square at 1pm, in order to hear the instructions and have time to join the procession.
9. March in a loud procession to the Parliament House.
10. Press the parliament.
11. In social media, the common hashtag is #opintotuki.