While the NUS takes action to engage a disillusioned student body, the spirit of activism was clearly still alive and well at a BNP protest in Oxford.
1,000 students – most from Oxford, but some of whom had travelled from much further afield – descended on BNP leader Nick Griffin and ‘revisionist historian’ David Irving in a display of anger and frustration aimed at both the BNP and the Union’s decision to allow them to engage in debate with Oxford Union members.
Previous visits by Griffin to Universities have also been met with fervent student debate and protest.
This is a long way from the 21st century stereotype of students as apathetic binge drinkers; students still care, and when a worthy cause presents itself, they will take action.
1. Mark
I don’t like either Irving or Griffin, but I’m not about to criticise them for taking advantage of freedom of speech. If either or both of these men were to come to Cardiff for a debate similar to the one held at Oxford Union then I would go and listen and I almost certainly wouldn’t agree with anything they say. Just what were these 1000 students protesting afraid of? That anyone who heard the words of Griffin would automatically turn into a BNP supporting skinhead? Frankly I find the implication that students are too stupid to make up their own mind or would be easily taken in by neo-Nazi rhetoric insulting.
2. chris white
And I hardly think chanting “Kill Tryl” (in reference to Oxford Union President Luke Tryl) counts as activism. More like idiocy.
3. Rasputin
But catchy idiocy.