Details of Newcastle College UCU picket lines / Strike solidarity meeting / NCAFC fringe meeting with Education Activist Network network speaker. [Read more...]
URGENT: Solidarity needed for the UCL 13!
March 25, 2011 By 2 Comments
• twitter.com/defendUCL13
The Management of University College London has launched High Court proceedings against 12 students and 1 member of staff for participating in a peaceful three day occupation in support of striking lecturers and in protest at the anticipated rise in tuition fees to £9,000.
The 13 protesters, apparently singled out at random from amongst the dozens of students who had been occupying the University Registry, have been told by management that they face thousands of pounds in legal costs on a scale that could put them into bankruptcy and end their university careers.
The student union, UCLU, has voted in a mass general meeting that occupation is a legitimate form of protest against management’s fees and cuts. UCU, the lecturers’ union, supports direct action by students against the cuts.
What is clear is that UCL management are cynically attempting to remove those who question their authority on campus and intimidate others into silence.
UCL Management were given ample opportunity to negotiate with the occupation. It was repeatedly made clear to them that if they promised not to victimize occupiers, the Registry would promptly be vacated. Instead they chose to escalate their threats to protesters instead of quickly reopening the registry, and to take 13 people to court.
Noam Chomsky supports Aberystwyth occupiers
March 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Occupiers at Aberyswyth University have received a message of solidarity from Noam Chomsky. Aberystwyth University went into occupation on February 22nd in protest against the ongoing marketisation of higher education in the UK and the lack of transparency and political engagement of senior management at Aberystwyth University specifically. The full message can be read below:
“The attack on public education in the US and UK — higher education in particular — may bring short-term benefits to small sectors of concentrated wealth and power, but it is a very serious blow to the population at large, and to prospects for a decent society in the future. The protestors [sic] in Aberystwyth — like those in Tahrir Square, Madison Wisconsin, and many other parts of the world — are in the forefront of global struggles for basic rights, freedom, and democracy, and merit full and committed support.”
http://aberoccupied.blogspot.com/
Fb: Occupied Aberystwyth
Aber Students Against Cuts
Royal Holloway occupiers launch Anticuts Space in Bedford Square
February 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment
On Thursday 24 February, activists at Royal Holloway University in Egham, Surrey, occupied the Arts building on their campus. The next day, having issued a set of demands to university management, the occupiers travelled to central London to transfer the occupation to an RH building in Bedford Square. They have now been joined by activists from other London universities and colleges, creating an ‘Anticuts Space’ for use by the broader anti-cuts movement, workers as well as students. [Read more...]
Aberystwyth Re-occupied! Day 5
February 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment
We have occupied Hugh Owen A12/A14 in opposition to the decimation of higher education in the United Kingdom. We act in solidarity with all those facing the barbaric and unnecessary cuts across society. We reject the idea that the cuts are necessary and recognise that they are motivated out of political choice rather than economic necessity.
We recognise that the space we occupy is ours and as such we have made it a place where critical thinking and dialogue occurs, involving all in the university and the general public. As part of this we are committed not to disrupting the ongoing lectures happening. We occupy in solidarity with future generations, fellow occupiers and movements across the globe.
We recognise a burning need for participatory democracy within the university, and many students feel marginalised by the management. We feel this occupation raises awareness of our campaign not only to students, but to senior management. We believe that in the spirit of academia the university management should engage in open and public dialogue and debate willingly. This will ensure that the students see the university management as acting in their interests and not following the government in market-driven policy.
We reject the idea that “we’re all in this together” when the ideologically driven cuts will affect the poorest and the vulnerable the hardest, while large corporations and the rich avoid taxes successfully.
We reject the idea that knowledge is a commodity, and believe these austerity measures are neither progressive nor just.
Please send messages of support and solidarity to aberstudentsagainstcuts@gmail.com
Befriend us on Facebook: Occupied Aberystwyth
Find us on twitter: http://twitter.com/AberUncut
24 February: Hull University occupation calls for wave of occupations!
February 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment
The occupation at Hull University has issued this call. [Read more...]
Nowhere to hide: Aaron Porter chased again in Glasgow
February 12, 2011 By 4 Comments
We have just received the following report from anti-cuts student activists in Glasgow. [Read more...]
‘Teenage Riot’ Part I
February 1, 2011 By 1 Comment
VICE’s TV production arm VBS.tv have put together a new film about the student protests entitled Teenage Riot. In the 
film VBS followed the progress of the largest period of civil unrest in England since the 80s, available in 5 parts all this week, the full length film will be available next week at VBS.tv. Check it out here
Hundreds of students chase Aaron Porter through Manchester
January 29, 2011 By 16 Comments
National Union of Students President Aaron Porter was unable to speak at the rally of today’s NUS/UCU demonstration in Manchester, after hundreds of angry students chased him off the streets. [Read more...]
