Contact details for the occupation
Contact details for the university
Vice-Chancellor. Professor Steve West
Switchboard tel: 0117 965 6261
Occupation
Started - 18th February 2009
Ended - Friday, 20 February 2009
Where - The atrium area outside of lecture theatres 2B25 and 2B20
Why - In solidarity with the people of Gaza
Demands
We demand that the University break all links with companies which supply arms and other services to the Israeli state and IDAF. In order to do this the university should:
Issue a statement condemning the presence of Raytheon on Bristol Business Park, a university joint venture
Conduct a joint audit with the Students Union to identify all investments and business link s and agree a strategy for disinvestment.
In view of the difficulty faced by students in both Gaza and the West Bank, we as students in the UK demand that the university takes steps to provide scholarships to Palestinian students and Israeli students victimised for conscientious objection by not joining the IDF as a gesture of solidarity and goodwill. An ongoing commitment should be made to facilitate the higher education of the Palestinian people.
We demand that the management of the university should issue a statement condemning the Israeli bombing of Gaza educational establishments.
University to publicise DEC advert in any way possible (including banner on the website) and put pressure on the BBC and sky to show the DEC advert.
Support a day of fundraising across campus with the proceeds going to the DEC Gaza appeal.
Immediate boycott and halt to buying any university supplies & equipment from Israeli companies.
To send a public message of solidarity to the Islamic University in Gaza, whose campus has been virtually destroyed, and publish it on the university website and distribute it to the university wide e-mail addresses.
No victimisation for those taking part in the Occupation, and free movement in and out of the occupied spaced.
What they won:
20th February 2009
They won:
- UWE has agreed to set up a conflict fund for full scholarships for students affected by conflict across the world. This is to be funded by a joint fundraising agreement between students and university, combined with partial funding directly from the university.
- In addition to this an agreement has been reached whereby the university will begin this bursary by donating an amount significant enough to provide a full scholarship, along with an agreement to underwrite the same amount for a second student should there be a shortfall in funding. This is subject to an as yet to be agreed trigger amount of funds to be raised by students at UWE.
- The University of the West of England has declared that funds held by the university are not invested in any companies or funds. The university declared that all funds are held in deposit bank accounts and therefore are not directly invested. The university simply must give evidence to the above.
- The university will present to the governors a proposal for clean investment schemes. Information of which is to be provided by students from the occupation.
- The University of the West of England will begin to support the DEC charity. This will be through a combination of supported fundraising events and university publications as appropriate.
- The vice-chancellor will send a letter of solidarity and support to the Islamic University In Gaza City.
- The Vice-Chancellor will send a critical letter to the BBC & Sky Outlining the University of the West of England’s support for the DEC appeal following the afore mentioned institutions refusal to air an emergency appeal.
- The University of the West of England will introduce a system whereby any surplus or old resources such as computers, textbooks and furniture will be donated through the DEC appeal
- The University of the West of England will set up a committee involving members of the current movement, the student president & the deputy Vice Chancellor as a vehicle to get the practical aspects of the above agreements up and running.
Negotiation
20th February 2009
The occupiers declare victory. They say the are still in ‘ongoing intense negotiations with UWE Vice-Chancellor Steve West and Deputy Vice-Chancellor John Rushforth’ but fell that ‘a significant number of the occupiers’ demands have been met’. See what they won above.
The occupiers demand a meeting with the Vice Chancellor so they can begin negotiations. He agrees to meet them at 4pm.
19th February 2009
The occupiers hold a large meeting with speakers and because attendance is so high they take over the lecture the meeting is in and refuse to vacate until their demands are met.
The occupiers post up a video
The occupiers start to promote the occupation. They are informed by security that the police would be called in. The occupation sent some delegates down to the security offices and they agreed not to interfere unless the university asked them to.
18th February 2009
During the night security Guards at the University locked the occupiers out of lecture theatre 2B25, so the students were forced to occupy the large atrium area outside the room.
Students of the University of the West of England, Bristol pass a motion of support for the people of Gaza and occupy a space at the University. They issue a press release with their demands on it.
Events
19th February 2009
The occupiers show somefilms in the occupied space. They also have some talks from film-maker Ed Hill, NUT delegate Dick North ans a teacher from the local Filton High School, Tracy Dodds which has recently suspended national curriculum for two days in order to educate its pupils on the plight of the Palestinian people and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The >a href=”http://uweoccupation.blogspot.com/2009/02/uwe-occupation-update.html”>meeting reaches over 80 people.
Support
The occupation had support from their student newspaper - Western Eye.
19th February 2009
Tony Benn send his support.
The Student Newspaper - Western Eye Starts reporting on the occupation.
Posted in Occupation.
