The occupation of University of Manchester buildings is ongoing, with students having moved from the John Owens building (where they occupied administrative corridors and also the main post room) to the Simon Building. The students leading the occupation have said that they will continue until the demands given to the Vice Chancellor are met.
The Politics Society was able to gain access to the occupied building and in the video below, Katan (one of the leaders of the occupation), explains the occupation from his perspective.
The Vice Chancellor, Alan Gilbert, and General Secretary of the Students’ Union have been asked to comment on the occupation but have yet to respond.
Following yesterday’s emergency Union General Meeting many students are occupying the University’s John Owens building. The students occupying the building have said that they are doing so in solidarity with Gaza and have issued a series of demands to the University, calling for support of the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The occupation has now entered its second day and the University has issued a demand for the occupiers to leave the building by 5PM or the building will be locked down. So far, students have been able to come and go as they please.
The John Owens building is on Oxford Road, in the main quadrangle, and houses offices such as that of the Vice Chancellor, Alan Gilbert.
The demands that the students have issued (none of which have been met by the University so far) to the University are as follows:
- University of Manchester should issue a formal statement condemning Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip, acknowledging particularly the effects on educational institutions such as the bombing of the Gaza Islamic University and expressing concern about war crimes allegations.
- Support a day of fundraising across campus with the proceeds going to the DEC Gaza appeal.
- University to publicise DEC advert in any way possible (including banner on the website) and put pressure on the BBC and sky to show the DEC advert.
- All furniture & surplus supplies from buildings that are being renovated to be sent to Gaza on the Viva Palestina convoy.
- Join the BDS movement through stopping sales of Israeli goods on university premises, the University should also stop buying any campus supplies from Israeli companies.
- That the university divests from all companies directly involved in the manufacture of weaponry. We also demand that the university takes the issue of transparency in their investment seriously.
- That the university publicly supports its students’ right to protest, such as occupations. That in line with this, the university will provide its facilities for a “Students for Palestine” conference, second week of April 09.
- To send a public message of solidarity to the Islamic University in Gaza, whose campus has been virtually destroyed, and publish it on the university website and distribute it to the university wide e-mail addresses.
- To give at lease five scholarships for Palestinian students as well as providing at least five scholarships for Israelis who refuse to serve in the IDF.
- That the university make a module on the history of Palestine available as an optional module for any University of Manchester student.
- That home fees apply to Palestinians students wanting to study at the University of Manchester.
- No victimisation for those taking part in the Occupation, and free movement in and out of the occupied spaced.
The students plan to remain in place until at least some of the demands are met.
The occupiers have posted a blog with occupation updates at http://manunioccupation.wordpress.com.
The emergency General Meeting on the Gaza Crisis last Wednesday saw hundreds of students gather to discuss the recent Israeli occupation of the territory. The meeting, held in the Academy One building, failed to reach quorum and instead comprised of a informal speeches on the motion that pledged solidarity with Gazans and the Palestinians in general. The meeting finished with Sara Mahmoud, one of the motions advocates, calling for a march on the BBC to protest against the corporations refusal to broadcast a humanitarian aid appeal in the wake of the Israeli actions.
Hecklers disrupted the meeting when it became apparent that quorum had not been reached. Union Chair Jonty Prior was faced with chants of “We need to vote” from the audience. There were accusations that members of the Jewish Society had blocked entry to the meeting. Protestors congregated around the building holding Palestinian flags and shouting chants.
The motion called for “fundraising for humanitarian relief for Gaza” along with pressure on the university “to send surplus academic supplies to the students of Gaza” and “send a message of support to occupations around the country that have shown solidarity with the people of Gaza.” Mohamed Ghalaieny, speaking in support of the motion, criticised the actions of the Israeli government, claiming it had caused “the loss of innocent Palestinian lives” in its recent offensive. Seconder Sara Mahmoud strongly criticised the BBC’s stance on the Gaza aid appeal and invited audience members to “march in solidarity with the people of Gaza.” Her call was met with shouts of “Viva Palestine!” from the audience.
The motion was criticised in a speech by Oliver Worth, who argued that the motion had failed to address the role of Hamas in the Gaza crisis. He accused the organisation of “using civilians as human shields” and claimed it was the barrier to peace in the region, rather than Israel.
Today saw the launch of the government’s controversial ID card scheme, with all foreign students who apply for a visa extension now being required to apply for an ID card.
To coincide with the launch, protests were were held outside Home Office immigration centres across the country, including Reliance House in Liverpool, the closest centre to the University of Manchester. Many Manchester students who are opposed to the scheme made the trip to Liverpool to take part in the protest.
Continue reading ‘Manchester Students Protest at Launch of ID Cards’
Yesterday, the Politics Society hosted ‘Student Question Time’ which saw student representatives of political parties from across the spectrum clash in a spectacular war of words.
Speaking on behalf of the Labour Party was Michael Joslin, likewise for the Conservatives was Rob Largan and the Liberal Democrats by Chris Jenkinson. Also present were the Socialist Workers Student Society (SWSS) spokesperson, Dave Sewell and the Greens were represented by Justine Hall.
Unsurprisingly, with the global economic slowdown, and the strains placed on the banking sector, the economy was the major topic of the day. Many allegations were levelled at Labour for the government’s inability to deal with the banking crisis as Rob Largan noted the need for ‘fiscal conservatism’. This earned a stalwart, if not slightly predictable ‘defence of the Labour realm’ retort from Michael Joslin who talked of steering clear of ‘change’ for change sake, and emphasised fears that without Labour leadership, the country would go into a ‘deeper recession’.
Continue reading ‘Student Question Time Roundup’
The Politics Society’s Environmental Question Time got off to a controversial start on Friday when Phil Woolas, Minister for Immigration, had a cream pie thrown at him. The pie was thrown by a member of the No Borders group which is vehemently opposed to his recent comments on immigration caps in the UK.
Protestors from the No Borders group staged a demonstration at Woolas’ comments on immigration outside the event, holding signs reading “only if you’re British”. A spokesperson said the group objected to the “essentially racist immigration policies” of the government and accused Woolas of “playing right into the hands of right-wing extremists”. The start of the event was delayed by around ten minutes as a result of the protest.
Around 100 students attended the event, which featured six panellists. The Liberal Democrats were represented by Chris Davies MEP, the Greens by Peter Cranie and the Conservatives by Farraz Bhatti. UMSU Communications Officer Robbie Gillett and Gayle O’Donovan, a member of Camp for Climate Action also attended. Politics Society Chair James Maskell chaired the debate.
Continue reading ‘Controversial Environment Question Time’
On Thursday night, the Challenging Orthodoxies Society (COS) welcomed Kenyan expert Kiruja Micheni and Dr Sarah Bracking from Manchester University’s Institute for Development Policy and Management (IDPM) to address the pressing question of democratization in African countries. With last year’s electoral dilemma, overshadowing Kenya and Zimbabwe, the shakiness of African democracy has come to its fore. The controversial issue of colonial interference by the West to build stable democracies attracted considerable interest; about 70 people attended the event in Lime Grove next to UMSU. Students engaged in a lively 60-minute Q&A session and reached a general consensus that there is still much to be done to achieve substantive democracy at the grassroots level.
Continue reading ‘Colonialism in Africa Debate’
UMSU Womens’ Officer Jennie Killip today helped to lead a small protest in Piccadilly Gardens as part of a Riveters and Feminist Fightback campaign to get abortion rights for women in Northern Ireland. Some protesters tied themselves to railings, a reference to the suffragette protests that took place in Britain 100 years ago, whilst others held up signs with slogans such as “Defend Our Rights”, and “Abortion Rights for Northern Ireland”.
Abortion is currently largely illegal in Northern Ireland (except where the mother’s life is in danger) as The Abortion Art 1967 applies only to England, Scotland and Wales. Each year between seventy and eighty abortions are carried out legally in Northern Ireland (comparatively low when compared with the rest of the UK) and as many as 2000 Northern Irish women pay up to £900 to travel and have an abortion in England and Wales (source).
Continue reading ‘Abortion Rights for Northern Ireland Protest’
