Cambridge

Contact details for the occupation

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Email the occupiers: cambridgeoccupation@live.com

Contact details for the university

Occupation

Started - 23rd January
Ended - 1st February
Where - The Law Faculty
Why - In solidarity with the people of Gaza

Demands

Clarification of demands

1. That the university issue a statement on the situation which condemns Israel’s action in Gaza.
   As a concrete realisation of this, we are pushing for the university to sign up to the ‘Universities UK’ statement condemning the destruction of the educational institutions in Gaza. This is not in contravention of charities regulation as it is an explicitly humanitarian rather than political statement.
2. That the university provide academic aid to universities in Gaza
   We are researching transport options for donations of equipment from the departments and colleges, and asking for monetary aid to be sent directly to academic institutions in Gaza. This is consistent with the university’s status as an educational charity.
3. That Cambridge University commit to a day of fundraising for humanitarian aid in Gaza.
   We are asking for a day of fundraising facilitated by the university, raising funds for the DEC and Interpal.
4. That Cambridge University grant scholarships to Palestinian students every year.
   Scholarships solely for Palestinians do not pose a major problem of discrimination; there are already in existence similar country or region specific funds, for example, a fund exists for students from South Africa.
5. That the university and its colleges disinvest from the arms trade.
   This is an ongoing and well-established CUSU campaign.
6. That no student will face punishment or repercussions, legal or otherwise, for participating in this demonstration. Official CUSU policy recognises occupation as a legitimate form of protest.

Their demands
Cambridge Occupation of the Law Faculty: Student Demands

1. We demand that Cambridge University issue a statement which condemns: Israel’s action in Gaza; the Israeli blockade of Gaza; and the continued Israeli presence in Gaza and the West Bank. This statement is to be issued in solidarity with international peace movements, in particular those in Israel and Palestine.
2. We demand that Cambridge University provide academic aid, particularly books, computers and financial support to universities in Gaza.
3. We demand that Cambridge University commit to a day of fundraising for humanitarian aid in Gaza within the next two weeks, as part of an ongoing commitment to financial support for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
4. We demand that Cambridge University grant a minimum of ten scholarships to Palestinian students every year.
5. We demand that Cambridge University and its colleges disinvest from the arms trade in cooperation with the existing Cambridge (and colleges) Against the Arms Trade movement.
6. We demand that no student will face punishment or repercussions, legal or otherwise, for participating in this demonstration.

Negotiation

30th January 2009
University posts up Open Letter to occupiers on their website. It is not the same letter the occupiers were presented with on the third day of occupation.

29th January 2009
Occupiers leave Law Faculty at 11am after threat of legal proceedings and intimidation.

28th January 2009
Univesrity intimidates occupiers
Occupiers told to leave by 19.00
The university offers an agreement based on the revised demands
The Law Faculty stops occupiers communicating directly with the Law students

27th January 2009
the university agrees there are some demands they will negotiate on.
The university refuses to have public discussions with the occupiers so they agree to private discussions and hold the first one.
The univsersity starts to make life difficult for the occupation

26th January 2009
The Chairman gives the occupation a statement
The Univesrity refuses to talk to the occupation

Support

29th January 2009
Dr Richard Wistreich writes to the university to complain about the treatment of the occupation
Maha Abdelrahman a Lecturer Development Studies expresses support for the campaign

28th February 2009
Dr Lucy Delap, Fellow and Director of Studies in History, St Catharine’s College writes to support the occupation
Professor Raymond Geuss: Faculty of Philosophy and Tim Cribb (English Faculty) tell the occupiers they supports the occupiers

27th February 2009
. Priyamvada Gopal and Christopher Warnes write to the Vice Chancellor to express support for the occupation Dr Richard Drayton, Faculty of History University of Cambridge, Rhodes Professor of Imperial History- elect Kings College London and Michael Hrebeniak, Fellow, Tutor & Director of Studies in English, Wolfson College also support the occupation.
Palestinian Federation of Unions of University Professors and Employees send a message of the support to the occupation.

26th January 2009
Janet Oosthuysen, prospective Labour candidate for Calder Valley writes to tell the occupation she supports them.

24th Janaury 2009
Rupert Read, Prospective MEP for the East of England sends a message of support to the occupation.

Protest