RESISTING THE CORPORATIONS
Sussex staff and students resist
Staff and students at Sussex University have come out in force against proposed cuts by management that could see 115 jobs axed and a number courses dropped or significantly scaled down. The management's cut throat tactics are part of their 'new strategic vision', a decidedly corporate approach to running a university that involves pouring money into building projects and commercial partnerships at the same time as cutting jobs, courses and key campus services such as the crèche and sexual health centre.
In response, staff in the Sussex UCU voted to come out on strike on 18th March, whilst students occupied senior management offices as part of a national day of action on Wednesday 3rd March. The occupation, which began as peaceful protest, soon turned sour after riot police with dogs arrived, arresting two protesters in the ensuing scuffles. University management reacted by suspending six students who took part and obtained a high-court injunction against further protests on campus after claiming occupiers held them 'hostage'. Not deterred by the fat cats' intimidation tactics, the students answered back on March 12th by occupying one of the main lecture theatres on campus, demanding the reinstatement of the suspended students. Management, having had their bluff called, were forced to back down but would only let the students back under stringent conditions including a caveat that could have effectively banned the six from talking to other people on campus! The students didn't budge however, and continued to occupy, organising teach-ins, discussions, films and workshops whilst pushing for their fellow students' unconditional return. After a week of occupation things came to a head on March 17th with both the university senate passing a motion against the suspension and the student union passing a vote of no confidence in the senior management. On the following day as staff and students were out en masse on the picket lines, university bosses bit the bullet and released a statement announced the students right to return. The impressive actions at Sussex are part of a UK wide wave of resistance against governments cuts to higher education, the latest of which – £950m – were announced on 1st Febuary. Westminister, Aberdeen and London College of Communication have all recently seen occupations in protest against budget cuts and job losses. Links: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/8571716.stm
www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/03/446985.html Website: http://defendsussex.wordpress.com/
In response, staff in the Sussex UCU voted to come out on strike on 18th March, whilst students occupied senior management offices as part of a national day of action on Wednesday 3rd March. The occupation, which began as peaceful protest, soon turned sour after riot police with dogs arrived, arresting two protesters in the ensuing scuffles. University management reacted by suspending six students who took part and obtained a high-court injunction against further protests on campus after claiming occupiers held them 'hostage'. Not deterred by the fat cats' intimidation tactics, the students answered back on March 12th by occupying one of the main lecture theatres on campus, demanding the reinstatement of the suspended students. Management, having had their bluff called, were forced to back down but would only let the students back under stringent conditions including a caveat that could have effectively banned the six from talking to other people on campus! The students didn't budge however, and continued to occupy, organising teach-ins, discussions, films and workshops whilst pushing for their fellow students' unconditional return. After a week of occupation things came to a head on March 17th with both the university senate passing a motion against the suspension and the student union passing a vote of no confidence in the senior management. On the following day as staff and students were out en masse on the picket lines, university bosses bit the bullet and released a statement announced the students right to return. The impressive actions at Sussex are part of a UK wide wave of resistance against governments cuts to higher education, the latest of which – £950m – were announced on 1st Febuary. Westminister, Aberdeen and London College of Communication have all recently seen occupations in protest against budget cuts and job losses. Links: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/8571716.stm
www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/03/446985.html Website: http://defendsussex.wordpress.com/
Download