Morale is good. We have been holding regular occupation meetings, and reaching decisions in a democratic manner. Earlier, however, the security were trying to isolate and intimidate members of the group in order to weaken our solidarity. We held strong.
A general history of the occupation:
Over the last week we have been collecting petition signatures (which can be accessed in electronic form at the bottom of this post) which on Thursday we handed to University Management to be in turn handed to the Principal. We received a wholly inadequate response to these petitions, and thus decided to enter into occupation and reassess and reassert our demands.
We decided on initial demands, such as freedom of movement, amnesty from repercussions,an and access to amenities. We received no response from these. Then we drafted our occupation demands and sent them in e-mail form to the Principal, the Secretary of Court and the Student Representative Council. We received a generic statement from the University management, although it was not issued on University headed paper, nor was it signed. The statement can be read here: http://glasgowunioccupation.blogspot.com/2009/02/university-response.html
We remain in occupation as it appears the University is unwilling to negotiate at this stage. We will remain in occupation until our demands our met. The University Management appear to be promoting the view that we are uninterested in negotiation. We have made it quite clear that we wish to engage in serious discussion, however we feel this discussion must be open, democratic, and transparent. We feel this has been undermined by the lack of action taken by the University so far. We will only accept as a response a written statement issued and signed by the Principal Sir Muir Russell or direct contact with representatives of the Court. We do not wish negotiations to be conducted through the medium of University Security staff.
In Solidarity,
Glasgow University Students in Occupation
Petitions:
"As it is, we are occupying a non-teaching room on the top floor of the computer science building, and it is unlikely that this will disrupt any classes. Therefore any disruption to University life would be the fault of the University itself."
ReplyDeleteInteresting comment - the amount of noise you lot are making is disrupting any studying anyone is trying to do in any building in the vicinity of the one you have occupied. Great work guys - the biggest effect you're having is to p*ss off large sections of the student body.
Guys, just give it up and leave. Nobody gives a toss that you're upset, certainly not anyone in the Israeli government. All you're doing is annoying rational people who otherwise might agree with you.
ReplyDeleteAs for your 'demands'. Freedom of assembly does not extend to assembling on private property, and the owners of the aforementioned property (aka Glasgow University) have every right to bar you from entry.
Similarly, the university will have no interest in boycotting Israeli academics, they have nothing to do with their governments actions - you could equally well refuse to speak to anyone at the uni - after all, our government did go to war illegally in Iraq.
There are terrible atrocities going on in the world, but you're helping no-one. If you care so much, why not hold a peaceful fundraiser and donate the money to charity, don't inflict your opinions on others.
And ditch that tosser with the megaphone, he's pissing me off.