A poll carried out by The Student suggests a lack of majority support amongst University of Edinburgh students for the ongoing occupation of Appleton Tower.

Whilst the anonymous survey showed that almost 80 per cent supported the ongoing student demonstrations against government cuts to the funding of higher education, many respondents were concerned that occupying university buildings would have an impact on their education.

A similar number portion of the students surveyed also supported the marches – both in London and Edinburgh – which took place in November.

When responding to questions about the occupation of university property, one response said they agreed with the principle behind the occupation but disagreed with the possibility that “students’ and lecturers’ schedules [were being] disrupted.”

Most respondents to the survey who supported the occupation said that they thought they knew what the demonstrators stood for but others thought that the message was unclear.

One response said, “It’s crucial that students have the right to voice their opposition to coalition policies, but as no one has come up with a coherent, realistic alternative up to this point, I’m struggling to understand what protesters want the government to do about it. “So while I support their right to protest, I won’t be going on any myself.”

A student suggested that the protests had lost direction, “It seems as though what started with a protest about fees has developed into a greater attack on the government and capitalism in general.

“It’s hard to know why people are protesting and what about, everyone who loves a protest just seems to have jumped on the bandwagon.”

Others were clearer about what the motivations behind the campaigns were. The survey demonstrated that students felt that the campaigners were seeking to put a stop to the planned tuition fee increase and unregulated rest-of-UK fees in Scotland.

There was also an understanding that those occupying Appleton Tower were doing so to support public sector workers striking on Wednesday 30 November.

Some responses suggested that they felt the goals of the protesters were unrealistic. One passionate student said, “There are portions of the population who are being affected far more seriously than students.

“The hike would not prevent working class children with an academic interest like me from applying – your fees are paid for you and you only pay them back gradually once you can afford to.”

In spite of the criticism, there was also some vocal support for those occupying Appleton Tower with some who answered the survey calling for a more high profile occupation of administrative spaces at the university.

Responding to the survey results, Charlie, a fourth year Social Anthropology student and student occupier said, “The occupation here in Appleton tower is largely to help draw attention among students towards the strikes on Wednesday.

“As students, we wish to show our solidarity with workers on strike and that we are prepared to take radical action in order to promote the interests of the people that make our education possible.

“We are sensitive to the issue of teaching disruption, and as such are keeping teaching spaces free during our occupation, with the intention that no classes be cancelled.

“It is really great to hear there is widespread support for demonstrations against the government’s unjust austerity program.”