The most important news that students, especially the Kingston University Student's Union (KUSU), didn’t look into at the Annual Students Meeting today was the fact that the university may have to charge higher fees next year.

Vice Chancellor Sir Peter Scott reasoned with the crowd that: “If we didn’t [charge higher fees], we would have a large hole in our budget.”

One would think that the thought of the university proposing higher fees would have a strong student reaction, but I was aghast at the overall indifference of the student body when Sir Peter made this admission, even though he said that, in his opinion, he was opposed to charging undergraduates fees.

While some in the audience inquired about the fee increases, it seemed that many weren’t here to talk about securing their financial future.

One girl in the audience said: “We just want the basics, really.”

Basic education facilities? Basic funding for courses? No it wasn’t that at all. It was better sports facilities. Any worry about higher fees was beyond the back burner for them, a mere footnote to the most important student government meeting of the year.

After Sir Peter  left the building, the worry about increased fees was the last thing on people’s mind. Rather, the audience seemed to be worried about the BNP, the military and—most importantly—a lack of sports facilities rather than having enough money for their education. None of the motions placed in the AGM mentioned student fees.

I expected the student populace, especially KUSU, to take stronger action on the issue of student fees, but the fact that the basketball team doesn’t have a court seems more important than funding one’s education. To me, and those who would be affected by fee increases, that is abhorrent.

Perhaps, instead of bickering about an issue that affects a small proportion of the student body, why not take a stand on something that affects all students?

In a recent Push Student Debt Survey, new students would expect to owe £23,000 in debt once they graduate. Let that figure simmer for a moment. I don’t know about you, but £23,000 is a huge sum to owe once university is over. I might add that those figures are before the potential doubling of fees.

It’s irresponsible for KUSU to advocate for the priorities of a select number of students and ignoring the overall picture of what was said today. Students want to know what their student union will do about fees, but I expect that they are busy planning rallies in the town about needing their Wednesdays off for sports.

People want an education, and the Student Union should make efforts. Save our Sports? How about Save our Education? The Student Union can save itself from looking incompetent by taking a stand for students that will be affected by the proposed fee increases. If KUSU can’t put priorities that affect students the most first, then what good is a student union, let alone going to university?