Bradford

Contact details for the occupation

Their website
Contact the occupiers:
Email: bradford4gaza@gmail.com

Contact details for the university

Vice-Chancellor and Principal - Professor Mark Cleary
Tel: +44 (0)1274 233011
Fax: +44 (0)1274 233003
E-mail: VCP@Bradford.ac.uk

Senior Secretary to the Vice-Chancellor and Principal
Tel: +44 (0)1274 233012
Fax: +44 (0)1274 233003
E-mail: h.l.hague@Bradford.ac.uk

Occupation

Started - 27th January 2009
Ended - 28th Janaury 2009
Where - University board room, adjacent to the vice chancellor’s office
Why - in solidarity with the people of Gaza

Demands

Their demands

1. Condemn violence and express its commitment to the principles of peace and justice and upholding international law.
2. Ask the Islamic University of Gaza if they are interested in twinning and:
   • Write to the Islamic University of Gaza laying out what the University of Bradford may be able to offer in terms of teaching and research links, and emphasising solidarity and rights to education.
   • Draw up a list of resources that may be useful in assisting the University of Gaza in rebuilding its infrastructure.
   • Find out (with help from other organisations) how they can logistically transport education related aid into Gaza.
   • Assign an individual or working group to gather information about the specific challenges of twinning with a university under occupation and draw up an action plan, which could involve teaching and research links.
3. UoB must pledge to provide additional financial support for Palestinian students. UoB to investigate whether to do this through scholarships, fee reduction, home fees or bursaries. This is in reference to all Palestinian students, not just current students. New scholarships must make a particular focus on Palestine and other stateless individuals.
4. Empower the food and drinks task group to make decisions about the ethical nature of products being sold on campus. In support of this, we the students, alongside the UBU, resolve to raise awareness and promote debate about products being sold on campus.
5. Write a public letter to Lloyds TSB, asking for clarification on their policy regarding Interpal. The university must also publish their reply.
6. Expand its ethical investment policy, to specifically exclude any investments that involve arms trading or oppressive regimes. This should be done with the utmost urgency, and with continued engagement with university staff and students.
7. Support non-violent actions taking place on campus making people aware of the issues, with no repercussions for any participants.
8. Recognise the efforts made by staff and students in pressuring the government to support any inquiries looking into war crimes etc. It is now time for the university as an institution to add to this by calling on the government and other universities itself.
9. For some of these actions to be taken over time and these to be monitored and reported back to students via the Union’s negotiation framework.

Support

Negotiation

29th January 2009
12pm the occupiers, the Vice Chancellor and the Chair of Council finalized the negotiations and the VC gave them a final statement from the university:

The University of Bradford and Gaza
1. The University of Bradford Student Union and an ad hoc group of students have articulated their concerns over recent events in Gaza in two submitted documents.
2. I had the opportunity to hear their concerns in a meeting which was also attended by the Chair of Council and the DVC.
3. The University reiterated that it has already:
a. Sent out a message of sympathy to all staff and students at the University who might be affected by recent events in Gaza together with information on getting support from University offices
b. Informed UBU that it has no investments in CAT
c. Communicated a statement about the strong ethical guidelines that inform our investment strategy.
d. Set up payment facilities for disaster relief to Gaza within the University
e. Agreed that the food and drink task force should consult with staff and students about the ethical status of products sold on campus.
4. Following discussions with the student meeting the University will:
a. Write to Lloyds Bank to seek an explanation of policy regarding banking facilities for Interpal.
b. Include the on-going issue of revisions to our ethical investment policy at Investment Committee
c. Provide a list of companies for whom we hold shares in our investment portfolio to UBU for comment and discussion
d. Explore the feasibility of a twinning link with the Islamic University of Gaza subject to the usual due diligence that has to be done by any UK University in formalising such links.
e. Consider a range of forms of support (financial hardship grants; scholarships) for students in financial difficulty as a consequence of the events in Gaza.
5. The University joins with the students in condemning violence wherever it occurs and wishes to express its commitment to the principles of peace, justice and the rule of international law.
Mark Cleary
Vice Chancellor

28th January 2009
The occupiers first move location and then end the occupation.
Early in the morning - the occupiers continue negotiations with the VC and a representative of the student union.

27th Janaury 2009
15 people occupy the building over night to put more pressure on the VC.
Lengthy negotiations with the VC start.
The occupation starts about midday.

Protest