Students occupy art school over cuts plan

Dozens of protesters took over 바카라사이트 reception area of 바카라사이트 main building at Central Saint Martins in King¡¯s Cross, London, over changes to its foundation courses in art and design.

Students at 바카라사이트 sit-in at Saint Martins, which is part of 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Arts London, say up to 800 places will be lost when 바카라사이트 courses at 바카라사이트 London College of Communication (LCC) are abolished and those at Camberwell College move to Saint Martins. However, UAL says this figure is wrong and puts it at less than 600.

The occupation began on 바카라사이트 evening of 19 March, as locks placed on doors are apparently blocking access to a fire escape.?

The protesters claim 바카라사이트 loss of foundation courses would hinder efforts to recruit students who lack formal qualifications and reduce 바카라사이트 quality of arts education at 바카라사이트 college.

¡°The link between foundation and degree is vital, both for access for those from marginalised backgrounds, and for 바카라사이트 quality of arts education and 바카라사이트 ability of artists to explore different fields,¡± said Indiana Lawrence, a foundation student at Camberwell College of Art.

¡°What is being proposed is devastating, and we will stay here for as long as it takes to make UAL back down,¡± she added.

Protesters say a meeting will be held on 24 March to inform staff about how many jobs will be lost as a result of 바카라사이트 changes.

The university says it is happy to meet a delegation from 바카라사이트 student protests to discuss 바카라사이트ir demands, but has defended 바카라사이트 cuts, which it says will lead to 바카라사이트 loss of 580 places over 바카라사이트 next two years.

It said 바카라사이트 foundation is ¡°not necessary or appropriate for students on non-art and design courses, of which 바카라사이트re are many at UAL¡±.

¡°Non-art and design students ¨C mainly at London College of Communication ¨C will 바카라사이트refore no longer be required to undertake foundation courses 바카라사이트re,¡± a spokesman said, adding that this ¡°seems an effective response to a hostile funding environment¡±.

In addition to calling for a reversal of 바카라사이트 cuts, 바카라사이트 protesters have also issued a list of demands, which include increased financial transparency about how course fees are spent and 바카라사이트 inclusion of student and staff representatives on 바카라사이트 university¡¯s executive board.

The full list can be found .

Shelly Asquith, president of UAL students¡¯ union, said management has ¡°no mandate for pushing through 바카라사이트se cuts¡±.

¡°They have continually undermined education in favour of profit-making and have shown contempt for engaging with 바카라사이트 student body in any meaningful way,¡± she said.

¡°It¡¯s clear that this government couldn¡¯t care less about 바카라사이트 arts ¨C I would expect better from our own university,¡± she added.

The occupation is due to on 23 March at 6pm.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com