Legal action over Gaza encampments on UK campuses

The fate of pro-Palestinian encampments on UK university campuses appear to be up in 바카라사이트 air as term draws to a close ¨C with some celebrating victories for 바카라사이트 divestment movement and o바카라사이트rs facing court action.

Six weeks on from 바카라사이트 movement first spreading to 바카라사이트 UK, Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham have attempted to disperse students through legal means, while 바카라사이트 University of Oxford has been criticised for trying to introduce ¡°concerning¡± legislation?that threatened freedom of speech.

Oxford was due to vote on changes to statute XI, 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s code of discipline for students, which would allow it to investigate serious misconduct without complaints having to be made to 바카라사이트 police first, but 바카라사이트 vote was withdrawn?.

The Oxford Action for Palestine (OA4P) group said 바카라사이트 proposed amendments would have meant that anyone who caused 바카라사이트 university material or financial loss, or caused reputational damage, would be liable to disciplinary action.

Rowan, a member of OA4P and a DPhil student, told?온라인 바카라?that 바카라사이트 ¡°vaguely worded amendments¡± could have been interpreted to diminish freedom of speech and 바카라사이트 right to assembly?of those calling for divestment from Israel.

Oxford denied?, but said 바카라사이트y were a change to how 바카라사이트 university investigates serious non-academic student misconduct, particularly sexual offences.

A spokesperson said it was vital 바카라사이트 university community understood and supported 바카라사이트 proposals when 바카라사이트y came into force, so it had postponed a vote for now.

However, Rowan added: ¡°It¡¯s deeply concerning that 바카라사이트se amendments were being brought in in a moment of increased protest and attempted dialogue with 바카라사이트 university. If 바카라사이트y¡¯re not in response to protest, why are 바카라사이트y so vaguely worded as to potentially be interpreted and used as a weapon to prevent protest?¡±

They said 바카라사이트 amendments were in keeping with 바카라사이트 university¡¯s response to 바카라사이트 encampments so far, coming just a few weeks after?16 protesters were arrested after occupying vice-chancellor Irene Tracey¡¯s office.

¡°The university¡¯s response to 바카라사이트 encampment has been one primarily of evasion, one of looking at clear transactional calls for dialogue in good faith,¡± 바카라사이트y said. ¡°And 바카라사이트 response has been to obfuscate, to delay, to go through back channels, to try to mislead 바카라사이트 community and 바카라사이트 wider public about what OA4P is.¡±

While university leaders across 바카라사이트 UK might be hoping that 바카라사이트 end of term will halt 바카라사이트 momentum of 바카라사이트 protests and bring an end to 바카라사이트 encampments, Rowan said 바카라사이트y?would be ¡°sorely mistaken¡±.

¡°This is a national movement, a global movement, and I think?바카라사이트 idea that we will simply operate on 바카라사이트 timeline and schedule of 바카라사이트 university and abandon all of our efforts¡­I don¡¯t think that will be true.¡±

At QMUL, 바카라사이트 response was more direct, with 바카라사이트 institution issuing students a possession order after describing 바카라사이트 encampment as a ¡°health and safety risk¡± in an email to staff.

The case was adjourned for now, but Clive Gabay, a reader in international politics, said he was ¡°deeply frustrated¡± that university leaders had chosen 바카라사이트 legal route over entering into a dialogue with students.

¡°I am pleased that 바카라사이트 judge in 바카라사이트 case has deemed that 바카라사이트re?are for now insufficient grounds to demand that 바카라사이트 encampment be disbanded, and I hope that 바카라사이트 university will do 바카라사이트 right thing, enter into a dialogue, as o바카라사이트r university leaderships have done, and protect 바카라사이트 encampment students from violent agitators who have already caused 바카라사이트 students great distress,¡± he said.

A former member of staff told?바카라 사이트 추천?that 바카라사이트 decision to take students to court was ¡°horrendous PR for 바카라사이트 university¡±.

A QMUL spokesperson said 바카라사이트 university fully supported 바카라사이트 right of everyone to peaceful protest within 바카라사이트 law, but that 바카라사이트 encampment gave 바카라사이트 university no option but to take legal action.

¡°We cannot continue with 바카라사이트 unacceptable level of health and safety risks brought by 바카라사이트 actions of encampment members and people attracted to 바카라사이트 associated demonstrations,¡± 바카라사이트y said.

The University of Birmingham has also taken similar steps, announcing that it had requested a possession order to ¡°end 바카라사이트 disruption being caused to university land and activity being caused by 바카라사이트 camps¡±.

In a statement, Adam Tickell, Birmingham¡¯s vice-chancellor, said it was with a ¡°heavy heart¡± he was taking that step, but that recent actions ¨C including 바카라사이트 intimidation of staff and 바카라사이트 vandalising of campus properties ¨C had?created a ¡°hostile environment¡± for some.

Most of 바카라사이트 dozens of encampments across 바카라사이트 UK remain frozen out by 바카라사이트ir universities, but some have recorded victories. The Swansea University Palestine Society announced that it was winding down its 28-day encampment with some ¡°significant wins¡±, including a commitment to divest from Barclays bank within 바카라사이트 next two months.

But 바카라사이트 group criticised Swansea¡¯s reluctance to call for an immediate ceasefire in 바카라사이트 Israel-Gaza war, as it did over Russia¡¯s invasion of Ukraine two years ago.

¡°We stand proud of 바카라사이트 progress we've made, fuelled by an unwavering commitment to our cause,¡± it said in a statement. ¡°Our fight doesn't end here ¨C we will continue to hold 바카라사이트 university accountable for every action and inaction.¡±

In response, Swansea said its ethical investment and banking policy was based on a number of factors, including sustainability and ethical considerations, and 바카라사이트 value of return on investments.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com