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Student Occupation in York

Thomas Black | 13.02.2002 20:06

400 students occupy Heslington Hall - the admin centre of York University in protest at cutbacks compromising the safety of students on campus.

This was the first occupation in York since 1971 and occurred without the admin having any idea that it was going ahead. Most of the demands were met, although this was mostly because they were fairly realistic. There is still much which needs to be done. But today was a start. York students were stirred out of apathy for a day. Let's hope the momentum will continue.

Thomas Black

Comments

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not thefirsst time,

14.02.2002 01:25

well done all at york,however, i clearly remember back in the mid 90,s us few radical students admiring york uni for the amount of occupations they had.particculalry over hall rents.

dodgy geezer


occupy to win!

14.02.2002 13:25

There was an occupation of the Central Hall in the mid-90s, but this is the first occupation of the actual admin building since 1971. And it has had a big impact!

Update:

Today's Yorkshire Evening Press reports that University management tried to call out the fire brigade to disperse the occupation (I'm not kidding!). North Yorkshire Fire Service are NOT amused at being treated as private security, and have stated they are treating it as a hoax call.. so management are deservedly in hot water!

Here's a link to the YUSU website if folk want to send a message of support:

internationalist
- Homepage: http://www.yusu.co.uk


they did call out the fire brigrade

14.02.2002 15:42

they did call the fire brigrade. Sue Hardman, one of the chief bureaucrats, addressed us 5 minutes into the occupationa and told us that we'd made our point and that in another 5 minutes the fire alarm would go off making it illegal for us to stay in the building. We laughed at her, and despite the best efforts of our Union leaders, we stayed in the building. Two fire engines came, a couple of fire officers checked the building and then they hung about outside for an hour or so.

The admin then had the gall to threaten to charge the SU for the callout fee. I hope the university gets into deep shit for this.

Thomas Black


Occupations to support the miners strike

14.02.2002 20:48

Actually, there were - 2 - huge - occupations in the mid-80s during and after the miners strike.

Yeah, and another one in 1993 over grant cuts.

clever knowall