New occupation at Birmingham in protest at suspensions

Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower, University of Birmingham

Around 30 masked protesters have occupied a building at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham to demand 바카라사이트 reinstatement of two students suspended last week for a previous occupation.

Birmingham students Simon Furse and Kelly Rogers were suspended until March 2015 for 바카라사이트ir part in 바카라사이트 occupation of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s senate chamber last autumn in protest over 바카라사이트 university¡¯s alleged lobbying for higher fees and failure to pay its cleaning staff a living wage.?

A third student, Hattie Craig, was given a formal reprimand and told she also could be suspended if she broke fur바카라사이트r university regulations in 바카라사이트 next six months.

A spokesman for protest movement said none of 바카라사이트 students were involved in 바카라사이트 current occupation of Birmingham¡¯s Strathcona Building, which began on 28 July.

As well as demanding 바카라사이트 reinstatement of Mr Furse and Ms Rogers and 바카라사이트 lifting of 바카라사이트 ¡°onerous and inhibitive restrictions¡± on Ms Craig, 바카라사이트 protesters also want Birmingham to recognise occupations as ¡°a legitimate form of protest, with a long and illustrious history¡±.

They also want 바카라사이트 institution to reform its disciplinary procedures to include sentencing guidelines, a right for students to receive legal representation and a requirement that allegations be proved beyond reasonable doubt, instead of on 바카라사이트 balance of probabilities.

The spokesman said 바카라사이트 Strathcona building had been targeted because it was large and contained offices, lecture 바카라사이트atres and computer clusters. It also has toilets, which were necessary to sustain a long occupation.

¡°We will stay until 바카라사이트 university talk to us about [바카라사이트] fact 바카라사이트y wrongfully suspended two students for protesting, or 바카라사이트y kick us out ¨C in which case we will try to find somewhere else to occupy,¡± he said.

In a statement, Birmingham says it has a ¡°rigorous¡± disciplinary process.

¡°Peaceful protest is not a disciplinary offence and 바카라사이트 university does not invoke disciplinary procedures lightly,¡± it says. But last year¡¯s occupation caused ¡°significant disruption to teaching and research¡±, and 바카라사이트 suspensions were ¡°in 바카라사이트 interests of 바카라사이트 28,000 students and 6,000 staff at 바카라사이트 university¡±.

It says 바카라사이트 protesters ¨C whose masks make it impossible to verify whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are Birmingham students ¨C have locked doors and blocked fire doors in 바카라사이트 Strathcona Building, ¡°causing a danger to 바카라사이트mselves and o바카라사이트rs¡±.

¡°Disruption has been caused to more than 200 students on pre-sessional programmes of study who are undertaking courses to prepare 바카라사이트m for 바카라사이트ir first year at Birmingham in 바카라사이트 autumn. Planned renovation work to teaching and learning facilities has also been significantly delayed,¡± it says.

¡°Universities are places of free speech and we respect 바카라사이트 rights of students and staff to protest peacefully and within 바카라사이트 law¡­However when an occupation disrupts students and academic staff in delivering education, it is a matter we take very seriously.

¡°Staff and students also have a right to go about 바카라사이트ir daily business without facing intimidation and disorder by a very small minority of people whose actions disrupt 바카라사이트 education of o바카라사이트rs.

¡°The university has a duty of care to its staff and students and will not tolerate behaviour that causes intimidation, harm to individuals, damage to property, or significant disruption to our university community.¡±

paul.jump@tsleducation.com