Tuesday 10 February 2009

Third Press Release

DEMO FOR PALESTINE

WEDNESDAY 11th FEBRUARY

IN FRONT OF THE OCCUPIED COMPUTING SCIENCE BUILDING, GLASGOW UNIVERSITY

11am






We, Glasgow University students, have been occupying the Computing Science Building at Glasgow University, in solidarity with the people of Gaza and against our University’s investment and research links with arms companies, for approximately 24 hours.

At approximately 9.30 am this morning we met with two representatives of the Universities management team, Susan Stewart (Head of Corporate Communications) and David Newall (Secretary of the court) and a representative of University Security, Jim Kane. We again reiterated our demands, including the basic demand for freedom of movement and assembly for people into and out of the occupied space. The University management were reticent to agree to any of our demands. At the meeting we were given a guarantee that two people at a time would be allowed to leave the space in order to pick up food and supplies and would not be barred from re-entering. 10 minutes after this agreement was made two students leaving for food for the occupation were told that they would be not allowed back in. This has led to a break down of trust between we, the occupation and the University management and has undermined our ability to compromise.

At 11 am a rally of support, of some 60 students, took place outside the Computing Science Building. There will be another rally and demonstration at the same time tomorrow.

At 12noon the management responded via email to our demands. The University, by refusing entry to the occupied space to anyone, is clearly restricting the right of the press, legal representatives, and other students to hear our demands and discuss the occupation. The University have yet to meet any of our demands and the Principal, Muir Russell, is refusing to meet within the occupied space despite denying us freedom to leave and re-enter.


Contacts:

glasgowunioccupation@gmail.com

glasgowunioccupation.blogspot.com

David Lynch: 07838661699

Raymie Kiernan: 07920403766

Eileen Boyle : 07884345731

3 comments:

  1. I see no reason why you should have freedom of movement. You can feel free to walk around outside, but this building has nothing to do with you.

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  2. As Julie said, it's private property. You can have freedom of movement on the street outside - but frankly you're currently engaged in criminal trespass.

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  3. "The University, by refusing entry to the occupied space to anyone, is clearly restricting the right of the press, legal representatives, and other students to hear our demands and discuss the occupation."

    In relation to the press and legal representation being allowed access to your 'occupied space', since when were non-students allowed to roam the University buildings unchecked? Since never, because it's private property. And believe me, all the other students can hear you courtesy of that idiot you've got on the megaphone.

    You've all got mobile phones, laptops and wifi (the latter being courtesy of the University of course). Doesn't seem like your communication is very restricted to me...

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