Hertfordshire students at tuition fee protest

THE president of the University of Hertfordshire Students’ Union has given an eye witness account of the clashes taking place at the student fees protest in London today (Wednesday).

Nica de Koenigswarter travelled to London this morning with students from the Hatfield-based university, to protest against plans to increase tuition fees to a maximum �9,000.

But the day has been marred by several clashes between police and demonstrators, with reports of protesters breaking into the Conservative Party headquarters and climbing onto the roof.

Ms de Koenigswarter said that she and the students from the University of Hertfordshire had earlier taken part in a peaceful march, and branded the violence “disgraceful”.

“We saw everthing,” she said.

“We walked past all the trouble. People were smashing windows and climbing to the top of the building. They were throwing fire extinguishers; it was disgraceful.

“The point was to unite from across the country to protest peacefully. What they (the violent protesters) are doing is wrong.

“I just hope the small minority of students that were violent don’t overshadow the thousands of students who were protesting peacefully.”