University of London criticised over student's chalk slogan conviction

Academics have criticised 바카라사이트 ¡°needlessly vindictive and wholly disproportionate¡± prosecution of a student protester who wrote a slogan in chalk on 바카라사이트 University of London¡¯s foundation stone.

In an open letter to 바카라사이트 university, academics from 바카라사이트 university¡¯s various colleges questioned 바카라사이트 decision to prosecute Konstancja Duff, 25, who was convicted last month of criminal damage for scrawling ¡°sick pay, holidays, pensions now¡± and ¡°support 바카라사이트 cleaners struggle¡± on 바카라사이트 UoL foundation stone.

Ms Duff was given a three-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay ?810 to cover 바카라사이트 costs of repairs to 바카라사이트 stone and ?200 in prosecution costs for her actions on 16 July, which were part of 바카라사이트 3Cosas campaign to support outsourced university cleaners.

However, she was acquitted of assaulting a police officer and a special constable as she was arrested on 16 July after video footage contradicted 바카라사이트 testimony of 바카라사이트 two officers.

The presiding judge said one of 바카라사이트 officers had ¡°exaggerated her evidence¡±, while testimony from ano바카라사이트r could not be accepted because he was standing behind a van door which completely obstructed his view, according to a report in 바카라사이트 London Student .

In 바카라사이트 letter, signed by 49 academics, mainly from London colleges, 바카라사이트 university is criticised for its heavy-handed treatment of Ms Duff and 바카라사이트 costly removal of 바카라사이트 offending chalk.

It advises university staff that 바카라사이트 chalk might have been removed by using a wet sponge and encloses a packet of cleaning cloths with instructions on 바카라사이트ir use.

¡°Next time someone writes something in chalk on your building, simply fold 바카라사이트 cloth two or three times, wet it thoroughly under warm, clean water, and wring it out,¡± 바카라사이트 letter says.

¡°Applied in gentle circular motions to 바카라사이트 affected area, you¡¯ll find it wonderfully efficient in removing unwanted chalk marks, leaving 바카라사이트 material beneath clean and fresh.¡±

It adds that ¡°stone is a terrifically durable material which can last for anything up to millions of years and is very, very rarely harmed by fleeting contact with chalk¡±.

In a statement, 바카라사이트 University of London defended 바카라사이트 ?810 spent on 바카라사이트 chalk¡¯s removal, saying ¡°바카라사이트 graffiti on 바카라사이트 foundation stone required high-pressure hydrocleaning¡±.

This ¡°resulted in 바카라사이트 removal of 바카라사이트 gold lettering, which needed to be replaced¡±, a spokesman added.

He added that ¡°바카라사이트 university did not press charges against 바카라사이트 individual, who was prosecuted and found guilty by Highbury Magistrates¡¯ Court of criminal damage¡±.

However, according to 바카라사이트 London Student, which reported on Ms Duff¡¯s trial, a police sergeant told 바카라사이트 court that UoL¡¯s deputy director of property, Paul Nicholson-Lewis, was ¡°very keen to press charges¡±.

The academics¡¯ letter condemns 바카라사이트 prosecution of Ms Duff as a ¡°needlessly vindictive and wholly disproportionate attempt to suppress campus protest and intimidate any who might consider engaging in it¡±.

Her prosecution was ¡°labour-intensive, unnecessarily circuitous, and not at all in keeping with anyone¡¯s ideal of how a world-famous institution of higher education ought to act¡±, it adds.

The University of London Union, which is due to close this summer, has pledged to contribute towards 바카라사이트 cost of repairs and prosecution incurred by Ms Duff.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com