Contact details for the occupation
Visit their website
Email the occupiers: mmuoccupation@gmail.com
Contact details for the university
Contact the Vice Chancellor Professor John Brooks through Jen Anderson on:
Tel: +44 (0)161 247 1559
Email: j.anderson@mmu.ac.uk
Occupation
Started - 22nd January 2009
Ended - 23rd Janaury 2009
Where - The Geoffrey Manton building
Why - In solidarity with the people of Gaza
Demands
Students issue their demands on 22nd January 2009
- Issue a public statement condemning Israel’s attack on Palestinian educational institutions, including the bombing of the Islamic University of Gaza, and encourage your colleagues in the other Universities to issue a similar call.
- Establish an emergency fund for Palestinians students from Gaza and waive their tuition fees to support their efforts to acquire an education.
- Waive all application & tuition fees from students coming from Palestine and create scholarships specifically available for Palestinian students.
- To build links with Palestinian universities.
- Divest MMU funds from all firms contributing to the Israeli war effort.
- To create a proper memorial to Tom Hurndall, a MMU student murdered by the Israeli Occupation forces in Gaza.
- To sever all academic links with Israeli institutions that don’t oppose the continued occupation of Palestine.
- That the Students’ Union should allow political posters to be displayed on its windows/noticeboards/walls.
- That no military recruiters should be allowed on campus.
- That the University should boycott Coca-Cola and stop the sale of it in all its outlets.
- That there should be no repercussions for anyone involved in the occupation of MMU buildings.
Negotiation
23rd January 2009
- The occupation ends at 5pm
- At 9am Vice Chancellor John Brookes and the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Ann Holmes entered the occupied space and although they appeared very friendly they accused the occupation of being comprised of none Manchester Met students and of not being peaceful.
- MMU Management puts checkpoints in the building and check student I.D. cards. The occupiers discover that the security guards are organised by GMB and contact them to ask the union to support the occupation advise their members not to allow a second night without food and water.
- Staff who support the occupation bring the occupiers biscuits, fruit, coffee and tea.
- At 1.30am the water dispenser and vending machines are turned on
22nd January 2009
- Occupiers send an email to the VC. All lectures usually held in the occupied space are relocated despite occupiers asking that they continue as normal.
- 19 of the occupiers stay the night. The management lock down the building and refuse to let food in. Only students and staff who show their ID are allowed entry.
- Security attempts to lock students out and place a siege on those remaining in occupation but student managed to get back into the occupied space and continue the occupation
- Students occupied the Geoffrey Manton building and issued their demands to the University.
Support
26th January 2009
- Dr Kamalain Sha’ath the President of The Islamic University of Gaza sends a message of support.
- Students of An Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine send a message of support
- ISM sends message of support to all occupations
23rd January 2009
- At 11:45am Geoff Brown - Secretary of Manchester Trades Council and Dr Aziz - Vocal Muslim Association of Britain member talk in the occupied space.
22nd January 2009
- Occupiers receive food and messages of support from supporters and Unison attempt to negotiate with the staff here at MMU on their behalf.
- Mark Krantz from Manchester Stop The War attends a meeting the occupiers are holding.
Protest
There will be a protest about the undemocratic changes the Student Union has made on Wednesday 4th March at 12:30 outside mmunion. This demonstration will be followed by a march in solidarity with the University of Manchester Occupation at 2pm.
