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Here's How Students Feel About The Upcoming EU Referendum

Here's How Students Feel About The Upcoming EU Referendum

All voices count.

Josh Teal

Josh Teal


On June 23rd this year, the British people will decide whether they want to stay or leave the European Union. In our running coverage Oi, Ref! we've gone over everything from the lads holiday to psychopath politicians. But, for whatever reason, we've managed to avoid students, even though every non-student loves them. Why? I'm not quite sure.

Recently, the NUS (National Union of Students) declared their support for the remain campaign, so I went to talk to a few students in Manchester, to see if the consensus was true. Pot luck landed me with a Brexiter.

"At the moment I think we could be stronger out than in," MMU student Luke told me, when asked about his current stance. "I'm a business student so my mind fluctuates between the two, really. I am worried about trade but at the same time our position in Europe is a strong one.

"There was a poll I saw in France and Germany and the consensus was that they thought the perception of the UK wouldn't change so I think it's more of a fear factor. In the wider picture I think there'd be more benefits to being out."

Students gathering to tell people off. Credit: PA

I asked if he had taken into consideration the risk of it downsizing teaching staff from the EU. "Teachers will still be able, and will want to, come work in the UK," he said. "I still feel like we'd have the position in Europe where we could attract such people.

"Before I do vote I'll look into it more, but right now I'm leaning towards leave. My mates are all pro-leave with the odd exception. And they're a bit more politically in-tune, too."

Luke was good to me. Others, not so much. I had to trough through a lot of "I dunno, to be honest" and "Vote IN/OUT!" among other terse punts before sourcing a chunk of that NUS influence.

Architecture student Ryan made no bones about his plan to remain, saying "There's not many things I agree with David Cameron on but I think this is above party politics. For me personally, I think that it's not worth risking the funding British universities get from the EU. They give us huge amounts of money every year and we should be grateful for that, regardless of whether you're a student."

Students gathering to tell people off, back in the day. Credit: PA

Martina, an Italian student of social geography, shared the sentiment, although for different reasons. "I would like to stay in, of course. Not just personally but I think it'd better for the UK. I can't imagine Italy leaving the EU. But who knows what will happen?

"If Britain decides to Brexit, then maybe it's an indication that people don't like the Europeans being here."

While immigration is no doubt a hot topic in this referendum, the students surprised me in their focus towards the things that you'd think wouldn't bother them at this stage of their lives. Stuff like law, trade, investment, national security. No-one brings this up over a NOS whip-round.

Except marketing student Jenni, who says she's against "globalism, creeping or blatant."

She said: "I'm not necessarily against the EU as a sort of monetary union. It's the social elements and never-ending bureaucracy I don't really like. I feel like there;s just so much wasted potential. And potential for corruption, too."

Is she worried universities won't be affected by a Brexit, especially given that she's a first-year student?

A student saying "Peace!" Credit: PA

"Oh they will be. I'm not too sure how. But they will be. Everything'll be effected. Your job, your family's. Everyone."

Jenni told me she assumed the people I'd met would have been overwhelmingly 'In.' She was more than surprised to see it was acutely-balanced.

"Ah, that's interesting. I mean, we're least likely to vote so we may not matter either way. David Cameron won last year so well for a reason. The internet isn't the UK and the people thought it was. The whole social media bubble thing. It was a shambles.

"The average British person is what, 40? Silent majorities are a thing."

So what's the crack? Polls continue to show a Remain lead. I personally see a lot more fervent shouts of 'Out' than anything else on the ol' Web, which means that bubble could have possibly switched.

I suppose the jury's still out on this one, and probably will be til June 23rd.

If you haven't registered to vote, there's still time. And you can do it right here.

Words by Josh Teal


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Topics: EU referendum