The pandemic wreaked havoc on our otherwise normal life. Thousands of people lost their jobs, the world economy went down to the dogs, and the education sector was the worst hit.
Students were denied the opportunity to learn in a classroom environment and that did hamper the quality of education they received. Tia O’Donnell, an artist from London was also affected by it and she is clearly not happy about it.
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Hence, when she got the opportunity, she decided to protest against it. Tia, a fine arts student, recently graduated from Central Saint Martins College. She thinks that the pandemic ruined her education and hence, she protested to get a refund of tuition fees during her graduation ceremony.
Putting a punny and funny twist on her graduation dress, she wore a white banner in front that read ‘I want a refund’.
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Tia felt cheated for paying the full university fees over the COVID period for all the promised amenities which weren’t delivered because the pandemic happened.
“I chose to protest at my graduation ceremony because I felt that my voice and my fellow students’ voices were ignored. Having paid the full university fees over the covid period (2/3years) it felt unjust to be paying for all the promised amenities because they weren’t delivered. If I am being completely honest, I’m unsatisfied with my time at Central Saint Martins.”
In one of her many Instagram posts, she gave examples of why she is salty and seriously wants the college to refund her tuition fees.
“On the first day back of 3rd year, the tutors hailed all of the students for an online video call to tell us that our physical degree show would be canceled and moved to be online, despite covid restrictions being lifted and other universities having physical in-person shows. As you can imagine I was absolutely heartbroken.”
“Some form of compensation is deserved to all the students across the country who were forced to pay the full university fees whilst being a bedroom student. I am just one example in a sea of student loans,” she concluded.
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She also shared the video of her walking on the carpet at her graduation ceremony with the white banner in front of hundreds of students and faculty members.
The artist divulged that she sneaked in the white cloth and didn’t wear it until it was her chance to walk on the stage and collect the degree certificate, reported News18.
“I initially wanted to write something a bit more crude and a bit more offensive, but then I realised that that’s not really the right way of portraying a message. I feel like it has been completely unjust and I don’t feel like I’ve received the level of education they promised each student at the beginning of our first year.”
As per reports, Tia still owes a loan and tuition fee of around $60,000 (over Rs. 47 lakh).
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This is how people felt about her iconic way of protesting.
Not sure if she’d get a refund, but she has successfully made her point, loud and clear.