Sheffield’s statement to staff and students

Sheffield have released this statement to staff and students at the university:

As we are sure most of you are now aware, on Monday 16th March students and activists from the University of Sheffield and the wider community occupied lecture theatres 5 and 6 of the Hicks building to show support and solidarity with the peoples of Gaza after the Israeli government’s attack which resulted in the deaths of 1,400 Palestinians (including 430 children).

Various student groups had been looking to negotiate with the Vice Chancellor of the University in order to get the University to release a statement in condemnation of the actions of the Israeli state, to give 5 scholarships for Palestinian students, to divest from the arms trade, and to send old books and computers to universities in Gaza amongst other demands.

The Vice Chancellor cut off negotiations and as a result students and activists decided to occupy – a decision that was not taken lightly. As a result of this direct action, negotiations are now taking place on Monday 23rd March. ‘The occupation’ was initially invited to provide 4 delegates for the negotiations along with delegates from the Palestine Society, University of Sheffield Islamic Circle, and the Students’ Union. The offer to open talks with the Occupiers has now been withdrawn, and it looks like delegates from the occupation will not be able to express their point of view.

We would also like to reiterate that the decision to move all lectures was not that of the occupation, we have clearly expressed from the very beginning that we will allow lectures to continue. However, the university management, in an attempt to discredit the occupation, made the choice to move them. In addition, we apologise to any students who were forbidden to use the labs. We have not occupied any lab rooms, and again it was the University’s decision again to forbid students from using those lab rooms.

We encourage all students and staff to continue to support the occupation but also to step up pressure upon the Vice Chancellor to open up negotiations with us. Email him on: vc@sheffield.ac.uk

For more information:

Email Us: sheffieldoccupation@gmail.com

Our Blog: http://www.sheffoccupied.blogspot.com/

Facebook: “Support the Sheffield University Occupation!”

In solidarity with the peoples of Palestine,

The Sheffield Occupation