Contact details for the occupation
Their website
Email the occupiers: sheffieldoccupation@googlemail.com
The occupiers would appreciate it if you cc emails you send to the University to the above address so they can see the support they are getting.
Contact details for the university
Vice Chancellor Keith Burnett
Email: vc@sheffield.ac.uk.
cc to Rowann Sharples, his personal secretary
Email: r.sharples@sheffield.ac.uk,
Occupation
Started - 16th March 2009
Ended -
Where - Two lecture theatres (5 and 6) on Floor E in the Hicks building
Why - In solidarity with the people of Gaza
Demands
17th March 2009 The occupiers post up their demands
1. Issue a statement condemning the disproportionate actions of the Israeli state against the Palestinian people.
2. Create a special programme of five Palestinian scholarships and waive all fees for current students from the occupied territories.
3. Enter into an academic partnership with the University of Gaza.
4. Donate old books, computers and other relevant equipment to the University of Gaza, and pay for the transport of these materials.
5. Publicise the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal on Sheffield University notice boards, website and via email.
6. Initiate a programme in partnership with students of divestment and ending links with the arms trade.
7. Allow those studying medicine to carry out their electives in the occupied territories of Palestine.
8. Commemorate the United Nations Palestine Solidarity Day on November 29th.
9. Echo the Occupation’s statement of support with Israeli students who have been imprisoned for refusing to serve in the IDF.
We have taken this action because we believe our university should be run democratically from below by students and staff, and not in the interests of corporate profiteering. Because of this belief, we express our solidarity with university workers and demand10.That they face no cuts in jobs, wages or conditions.
We further demand
11. That participants in, or supporters of, the occupation face no repercussions.
Negotiation
23rd March 2009
The occupiers issue a press release stating their new place of occupation and restating their demands. They have still not heard from the VC but so far he has not met with the societies yet either.
The university attempts to get an eviction notice against the studetnts in the Hicks building so the whole occupation relocates to the Jessops West building.
Students refused admittance to the Hicks building occupied the Jessops West building instead.
22nd March 2009
The occupiers read an email posted up on Matt Fox, the Union Activities Officer’s blog. The email from the VC confirms a meeting will happen between Fiona Edwards the Union Womens’ officer, Sajeev Jeganathan the International Student Officer and delegates from the Palestinian Society, the Jewish Society, the Islamic Circle and the Black Students Society. There is no mention of meeting with the occupiers. The occupiers post up the email from Fiona Edwards the Womens’ officer in which she tells them they will be involved in the negotiations.
20th March 2009
The University Management decide to restrict access to the occupation over the weekend. No-one can enter the occupation but food can be passed through the door.
The occupiers continue to hope a time frame willbe set for negotiation
19th March 2009
The Uni offers to negotiate but only with registered students, members of student campaign groups and only in the union building. The occupiers prepare to send a delegation of 10.
The Uni Management continue to refuse to allow lectures to be held in lecture theatre 5, 6 or 7 in the Hicks building. The occupiers offer to allow lectures in 5 and 6 but are not in occupation of 7 and the room is locked.
The Students Union sabbatical officers meet with the Vice Chancellor and agree that negotiations with various groups should be entered into. The occupiers welcome this move and request the meetings are held in Lecture Theatre 7 in the Hicks Building.
17th March 2009
The occupiers start a petition - you can sign it here
The occupiers plan a 7pm meeting and people congregate outside our building to attend it. The occupiers show no signs of leaving.
The building is locked down by security and people are not allowed to enter. Occupiers are given written notices that the University will seek a court injunction against then if they do not vacate the space by 9am tomorrow morning. The University threatens to seek damages for legal costs as well as the cost of paying for extra security workers.
The University Management email the occupiers informing them that they will not negotiate with them in the wake of the SU’s Exec’s statement. They state they are only willing to negotiate with the SU. The occupiers were given the letter from the Uni by Security at 4pm. The occupiers counter with the statement: ‘despite management’s attempt to unilaterally relocate all lectures (at significant inconvenience to students), dialogue between the occupation and lecturers succeeded in allowing lectures to take place in their original scheduled locations’.
The occupiers make it clear they are willing to co-operate with lectures so that they can hold lectures in the occupied space. They say:
“Our aim is to disrupt University Management, not students education.”
The Students Union Executive Committee issue a statement condemning the occupation on the grounds they are not letting lectures take place in the occupied space.
The occupiers email the VC with a list of their demands. They invited the university to open negotiations and visit the occupied space (Hicks LT6) tomorrow morning after 9am to commence discussions.
16th March 2009
Students occupy a lecture theatre in the Hicks building after the university fails to respond to their demands.
Support/Events
Sign their petition here.
23rd March 2009
The occupiers post up an example letter and ask their supporters to send it to the VC.
22nd March 2009
Events for the coming week posted up.
20th March 2009
Hilary Smith from Sheffield PSC spoke about the tactic of boycott as part of the campaign at the occupation.
19th March 2009
Statement of support from the Sussex occupation movement
Timetable of events for the day.
Message of support from National Union of Students Black Students Campaign
Over 80 people attended a public meeting which included a talk from a University Psychology Lecturer on a previously successful academics’ campaign against a publisher’s involvement in the arms trade.
18th March 2009
The Union President Dave Hurst posts up a message of support for the occupation on his official blog
The occupiers receive numerous messages of support from various groups and individuals.
17th March 2009
Kate Hudson the chair of CND sends a message of support.
Repercussions/Intimidation/Obstacles
The occupiers receive a lot of abusive messages on the blog. Some of the posts have over 60 comments so far.
A facebook group called End the Sheffield occupation and stop disrupting our education! is set up and the group writes a letter to the VC and Pro VC saying they feel unsafe on campus and asking the Uni to bring the occupation to an end. The letter is here. Jewish students within the occupation write up a statement on the occupation blog explaining that the occupation is not anti-semitic and that Jewish students should not feel unsafe as their is no threat against them.
