9 March 2001 'Charlie's Angels' at Lincoln University initiate campaign for Emergency Unemployment Benefit

A national student campaign for the reinstatement of the Emergency Unemployment Benefit gets a kickstart at Lincoln on Tuesday (13 March) with a day of protest and action by the University's students' association, under president Charlie Chambers.

Students around New Zealand are angry that Employment Minister Steve Maharey has failed to honour Labour's promise to restore the Emergency Unemployment Benefit. As a result, students are rallying together for two days of national action to make their view heard.

Lincoln has chosen to construct a cardboard city and provide a soup kitchen to illustrate the hardships that students could face over summer if they can't find work.

"Currently students are the only sector in society ineligible for financial assistance if they can't find work over summer. This is unacceptable and the issue needs to be addressed immediately," says Ms Chambers.

"Not all students have parents willing to house and feed them if they can't find work over summer," she says. "The soup kitchen and shanty town are symbolic of the grim situation students may face. The Government must · realise that students are not willing to let this election promise slide."

Actions staged throughout the day at Lincoln University will culminate in a visit from Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton and Youth Affairs Minister Laila Harre, who will speak about the Alliance's stance on the EUB.

Kylie Jackson, Welfare Officer, Lincoln University Students' Association.

Charlie Chambers, President, Lincoln University Students' Association.