Glasgow

Contact details for the occupation

Their website
Email the occupiers: glasgowunioccupation@gmail.com

Contact details for the university

Occupation

Started - 8th February 2009
Ended - 11th February 2009
Where - The top floor of the Computer Science building
Why - In solidarity with the people of Gaza

Demands

Demands

1. Written confirmation that there will be no disciplinary, academic or legal repercussions for anyone involved in or supporting the occupation
2. That those involved in the occupation are guaranteed respect for their fundamental rights, including freedom of assembly, expression, and movement in and out of the occupied space
3. That the occupation is given uninterrupted access to electricity, water, internet access (including appropriate wifi passwords) and other amenities as appropriate
4. That the principal meet those involved in the occupation at the occupied space to discuss our substantive demands

Substantive

1. STATEMENT - That the University release a statement unequivocally condemning Israeli military action in Palestine, including the despicable bombing of the Islamic University of Gaza. The University should specifically denounce the attacks on civilians, the systematic obstruction of humanitarian aid and the targeting of academic institutions, hospitals, places of worship and international peace keeping facilities. The University should encourage other universities to make such statements, as well as informing the UK and Israeli governments.
2. DEC APPEAL - That the University publicise the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal for Gaza by way of a visible message on the main University website, an email to all students and staff and an announcement at all lectures on campus.
3. BOYCOTT - That the University commences with immediate effect a boycott of all Israeli goods (including goods manufactured or supplied by Israeli owned or operated companies) on campus, including in particular Eden Springs water. Further, that the University bans all companies involved in the supply of military equipment to Israel (such as BAE Systems, the Smiths Group and Caterpillar) from all university premises, specifically recruitment events.
4. DISINVESTMENT - That the University disinvests from BAE Systems, Westland helicopters, Lockheed Martin and all other firms or affiliates involved in arms research, manufacture or supply. The University authorities should instruct all financial companies managing University endowment investments & pension schemes to ensure complete disinvestment of University funds from the armaments industry. Such disinvestment is particularly important in light of the fact that these weapons have been used to massacre civilians, commit war crimes and violate international law. Investing in such companies is completely unacceptable.
5. ETHICAL INVESTMENT POLICY - That the University alter its ethical investment policy to ensure such irresponsible and indefensible investment does not occur in future, and releases a statement affirming its commitment to peaceful research and investment in the community. The new ethical investment policy should be developed in dialogue with the student community, such conversation involving specifically the SRC calling an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM).
6. FUNDRAISING - That the University hold a day of fundraising to raise money for the humanitarian effort in Gaza. We demand that the University commit to a specific date on which fundraising will take place, such efforts being campus-wide and well advertised.
7. ACADEMIC AID - That the University provide academic aid to universities and schools in the Gaza strip, in the form of:
   a) The donation of old books, computers and other surplus teaching/administrative/educational resources, with the shipping of these resources being paid for by the University of Glasgow.
   b) The establishment of a twinning programme with universities in Gaza, in solidarity with their plight
8. SCHOLARSHIPS - That the University set up a scholarship scheme which will provide full funding for at least ten Palestinian students to attend the University. The Principal’s response in this regard is unacceptable. We demand that new scholarships be set up specifically for Palestinian students, in light of the incredible difficulty in securing education in Palestine at present as a result of occupation and recent military action.
9. BOYCOTT ISRAELI ACADEMICS – That the University refuse an academic platform to all Israeli academics who have refused to speak out in condemnation of the recent actions of the Israeli state in Palestine. The University must not become a locus for the dissemination of racist ideology and must take active steps to prevent the proliferation of misinformation. In developing an appropriate policy in this regard, the documentation of the British Committee for the Universities of Palestine (BRICUP) will be relevant.

Support

11th February 2009
Noam Chomsky sends a message of support

Negotiation

12th February 2009
Sixth Press Release. Occupiers leave the occupied space after reaching a final agreement:

Please review the following points, following today’s negotiations, and sign the bottom to confirm a mutual understanding.

DEC
1. Definitely by the end of February, desirably by next week, to have an official day of collection for the DEC.
2. The University is committed to this (hopefully in conjunction with SRC)
3. A web page will be devoted to the day, with a link to the advert
4. An E-mail is to be sent out to all students and staff (1 email a few days before, and another 24 hours before)
5. The University management will encourage all lecturers to show advert in lecture theatres – this is at the discretion of lecturers and it will be their choice whether or not they show the DEC appeal.

Scholarships
1. The University will work with appropriate parties to publicise its current international scholarships within Gaza.
2. Alongside the DEC appeal, donations will be sought to support scholarships for students from Palestine.
3. The University will consider part-funding this by using a similar fee waiving scheme as Strathclyde University.
4. The University would like to work to create a Glasgow Palestine student scholarship scheme; in conjunction with all Universities and other interested parties.

Academic Resources
1. The University will make its best efforts to donate old resources
2. The University is currently speaking to other universities (such as LSE and King’s College) to work through the logistics. The University will get back to the students within 7 days.
3. The University wants the occupiers to contact the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) to work with them in organising a video conference and to put them in contact with David Newall (Secretary of Court) and vice versa, to work out what resources they need.
4. Currently surplus materials are recycled – the University will look at ways to modify existing contracts, or investigate how the companies involved could be included in the donation of said resources.

The delegates have noted that senior university management have committed to further meetings for serious, continuing discussions including the SRC. The University understands the specific and serious concerns students have regarding Eden Springs, and is willing to engage in further discussions over the suppliers of water to the University campus. These should take place no later than Friday 27th February.

Further to this we require a commitment to publish details (as transparent, full and up to date as possible) of all university investments made by the university, and all research funding received by the university, in compliance with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, in accordance with, and in the context of, the law. There will be a meeting between university management and the students of the occupation to discuss the progress that has been made after 20 working days.

With this understanding the students will bring the current occupation to an end.

11th February 2009
Fifth Press Release

10th February 2009
Third Press Release

9th February 2009
Second press release
University Response
Email to Principle
First Press Release
Principle’s response to petition

Protest