Press Release: Nottingham Students Plan to Keep Occupying University

A group of students are set to continue their occupation at The University of Nottingham. The group, calling themselves ‘Nottingham Students Against Cuts and Fees’, are demanding that The University stand against the raising of the cap on top up fees and defend their students against cuts to higher education.

A member of University Management has asked that the students leave but, according to Sofia Mason, a PHD student, the students are resolute:

‘We are committed to occupying the university because we believe that the time has come to stand up against the utterly unfair assault on higher education being perpetrated by the coalition government. We are encouraging lectures and seminars to continue in the room we are occupying so that we do not disrupt students’ educations. ’

The Group of 70 or so students have stated that they will continue to occupy The Great Hall of The Trent Building on University Park Campus until The University act on their demands. More and more people are joining their group and they have had many messages of support from lecturers, trade unions and members of the public.

One of the group added: ‘We are in the fight of our lives here. Not just to defend current students’ right to accessible higher education but to fight tooth and nail for the future generations of this country who are going to be hit hardest by the scandalous cuts and fee rises that they will face.’

Ends

The Demands of the occupiers are:

1. We demand that the University of Nottingham lobby the Russell Group and the government and issue a statement condemning all cuts to higher education, the EMA and the rise in tuition fees.

2. We demand that the University of Nottingham implement a complete open book policy in regards to existing budget constraints

3. We demand that the University of Nottingham ensure no redundancies for teaching, research or support staff.

4. Ensure that no victimization or repercussions for anyone participating in the occupation.

5. Allow free access in and out of the building

Contact: Matthew (on 30/11) 07745706480 or Afua (from 1st onwards) 0786457153

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Photos from Rally and Occupation

Occupied Nottingham!

University of Nottingham students are staging an occupation in the Great Hall on University campus, in order to protest against the proposed tripling of university tuition fees, and the upcoming funding cuts to education and the public sector in general. We completely reject the Browne review, seeing it as nothing more than a cynical attempt to further privatise the education sector.

The government’s proposals will render higher education more inaccesible than ever to most students, through fees hikes and the removal of provisions for access initiatives. Further they will drastically affect the quality of education future students will recieve, by the cutting of the vast majority of government funding currently recieved.

We are appalled that our very own vice-chancellor, Professor David Greenaway, has publicly supported the Browne review, neglecting the interests of his own university and it’s staff and students. Hence we have decided to protest peacefully, democratically and legally, in order to keep the student voice heard.

We welcome and encourage everybody, students and otherwise, to join or support us. We express solidarity with other students acting against these cuts, as well as other anti-cuts campaigns, including locally the Notts Save Our Services campaign. We urge students to support this campaign and others, and help protect the public services of the town in which we study. Only through fighting together, as students and workers, can we resist the attack on our society that this government is proposing.

1. We demand that the University of Nottingham lobby the Russell Group and the government and issue a statement condemning all cuts to higher education, the EMA and the rise in tuition fees.

2. We demand that the University of Nottingham implement a complete open book policy in regards to existing budget constraints

3. We demand that the University of Nottingham ensure no redundancies for teaching, research or support staff.

4. Ensure that no victimization or repercussions for anyone participating in the occupation.

5. Allow free access in and out of the building.

Email the Russell Group Vice-Chancellors

Please email the Russell Group Vice-Chancellors with the following message:

Dear Vice-Chancellors,
I am writing to express my deep concern that, as Russell Group Vice-Chancellors, you have welcomed a proposed ‘premium fee’ that will nearly treble the cost of their education for students, while removing the public support for courses in the arts, humanities and social sciences. This is associated with a ‘soft capped fee’ which will bring a significant cut in income for what you are pleased to regard as ‘non-elite’ universities. Their fate is apparently not a matter of concern, despite the evident excellence of research and teaching across the sector (as demonstrated in the RAE and National Student Survey).

Your silence over the philistinism of the Browne Report and the absence of any defence of the public value of Universities on your part is also striking. The term ‘elite’ implies leadership, but the Russell Group has failed to express anything other than self interest. In the process, you have set yourself against your students and many of your staff.

I urge you to speak out in support of the public value of universities and against the proposed privatisation of the higher education sector.

Yours sincerely,

Emails: d.eastwood@bham.ac.uk; vc.eric.thomas@bristol.ac.uk; v-c.office.online@admin.cam.ac.uk; FarnhamS@Cardiff.ac.uk; principal@ed.ac.uk; A.Muscatelli@admin.gla.ac.uk; K.ONions@imperial.ac.uk; principal@kcl.ac.uk; j.pharaoh@adm.leeds.ac.uk; Howard.Newby@liv.ac.uk; h.davies@lse.ac.uk; nancy.rothwell@manchester.ac.uk; chris.brink@ncl.ac.uk; david.greenaway@nottingham.ac.uk; andrew.hamilton@admin.ox.ac.uk; vc.office@qub.ac.uk; vc@sheffield.ac.uk; A.M.Wilson@southampton.ac.uk; Nigel.Thrift@warwick.ac.uk; provost@ucl.ac.uk; piatt.pa@russellgroup.ac.uk

The Student Revolt is ON!

All out for next Tuesday!

As we are sure you are all aware there has been action up and down the country this week against the government’s shameless attack on our education.

In Nottingham urgent action is needed to co-ordinate the campaign – a big rally on campus is one thing – but walkouts and rallies at local schools, colleges and at Trent Uni too is what is going to make this a fight we can win!

Here is how you can help:

1. Invite all your friends to the Facebook event page, and tell everyone you know about the protest (outside of Facebook too)!
2. Join us flyering – from 11:30 Friday & Monday outside the Portland building (near the cash points).
3. Pick up posters from us & put them up in your halls/local shops etc.
4. Encourage all the education workers – academics, admin, cleaners and even security to join us and take action!
5. If you are not at Nottingham Uni but want to co-ordinate some action – get in touch!

Day of Action in Nottingham

Nottingham students are joining the national day of action on the 30th of November by holding a series of events to take place at the University of Nottingham.

We demand that the University fight against:

• Student fees being tripled to £9000
• 80% cuts to HE teaching budget
• Up to 40% cuts across HE sector
• EMA, which supports the poorest students in our country, being cut
• Cuts to all public services

Follow the news on our event page, group page and Twitter.