Students Against Cuts protest at open day

Massey Students Against Cuts member, Romany Tasker-Poland, held up a banner in front of potential students this morning at the Wellington Open Day opening ceremony.

In a press release to Massive, the organisation Students Against Cuts (SAC) said it would be holding protests at Massey Wellington and Victoria University today to express their anger at staff and course cuts at their universities.

Students would be holding demonstrations and spreading posters and leaflets around their campuses to express their “frustration at the disparity between the images presented by university advertising and the reality of tertiary education for students”, said the press release.

Tasker-Poland said, “Massey University and Victoria University see prospective students as dollar signs, and Open Days as an opportunity to sell their brand.”

“We have a different view. We see Open Day as an opportunity to raise awareness about the attacks that are happening at universities across the country, and to encourage current and prospective students to stand up and demand better.” 

An art piece in the block 2 glass box was covered in fabric and chia seeds the night before open day, but the morning of, three squares had been cut out to reveal posters.

Before and after the reveal of art work protesting the job and course cuts. Photo / Sammy Carter

While similar posters were taken down in Tussock Cafe before 8am, the posters in the glass case were not.

One of the artists said the chia seeds will hopefully grow to show a lush art piece, symbolising new growth.

Posters at Victoria University saying “Staff are the heart of VUW” were taken down from noticeboards.

Two students also protested at the Manawatū Open Day on the 2nd of August by chalking “save our papers” outside the library and science buildings. 

The students were given a verbal trespass and followed off campus.

One staff member was also trespassed and escorted off campus for watching and recording the interaction with security. 

Massey University declined to comment.