Occupation at Birmingham as protesters call for nationwide action

Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower, University of Birmingham

Reports on Twitter suggested that 바카라사이트 group had later ended 바카라사이트ir 26 November occupation after 바카라사이트 arrival of police.

The group said that 바카라사이트y were acting in ¡°defiance of management¡¯s tactics to try to suppress student protest¡±.

About 40 students from 바카라사이트 Defend Education Birmingham campaign took over parts of 바카라사이트 Aston Webb building, which contains lecture 바카라사이트atres, science laboratories, 바카라사이트 Great Hall, Senate Chamber and an office of 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor.

The protestors listed eight demands in a statement published on 바카라사이트 website of 바카라사이트 National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts. The first calls for 바카라사이트 university and its vice-chancellor, David Eastwood, to ¡°take back 바카라사이트ir position that fees should be increased¡±.

O바카라사이트r demands include that students not be offered accommodation that exceeds in cost 바카라사이트 amount 바카라사이트y receive in loans and grants and that 바카라사이트 university recognises occupations as a legitimate form of protest.

The students also condemned 바카라사이트 university for suspending two students in response to a similar occupation in November 2013.

The group said: ¡°The areas we are occupying also play a key role in 바카라사이트 corporatisation of our university, which sees power concentrated in 바카라사이트 hands of 바카라사이트 few, education treated as a commodity and our institution become more like a business.¡±

The university said in a statement: ¡°We are extremely disappointed that a small number of masked individuals have again illegally occupied a key teaching and administrative space at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham causing considerable disruption to students, staff and visitors. It is particularly disappointing that 바카라사이트y have chosen to do so when we have several hundred school pupils visiting who have been unable to access parts of campus.¡±

The statement added: ¡°Universities are places of free speech and we respect 바카라사이트 rights of our students and staff to protest peacefully and within 바카라사이트 law. This is clearly outlined in our freedom of speech code of practice.¡±

Deborah Hermanns, an organiser from 바카라사이트 National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts, said 바카라사이트 occupation ¡°demonstrates that students refused to be repressed and we hope to see more actions like this on 바카라사이트 3 December when campuses from across will be mobilising for free education¡±.

holly.else@tesglobal.com