Skip to content or view screen version

Bradford Uni occupation for Gaza a success!

bradford student | 28.01.2009 13:44 | University Occupations for Gaza | Palestine

At midday today an agreement was reached with the university management, ending negotiations and the occupation. We thank everybody who has contributed towards this success; the students for taking part, the staff for their friendly comments, our MP for his support and the university management for their prompt willingness to meet with us.

Following an intense but mostly amicable 24 hour long occupation of the university boardroom, the university agreed to join the students in condemning violence and to take various practical steps in solidarity with the Palestinians. There was agreement regarding twinning with the Islamic University of Gaza, ethical investment, financial support/scholarships for Palestinian students, fund-raising, and raising the issue of Interpal with Lloyds TSB, the university's bank amongst other things.

See  http://occupied-bradford.blogspot.com/ for more info.

Solidarity with the other occupations!

bradford student

Additions

full text of the agreement

28.01.2009 17:19

Here is the full text so people can judge for themselves:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The University of Bradford and Gaza

1. The University of Bradford Student Union and an ad hoc group of students have articulated their concerns over recent events in Gaza in two submitted documents.
2. I had the opportunity to hear their concerns in a meeting which was also attended by the Chair of Council and the DVC.
3. The University reiterated that it has already:
a. Sent out a message of sympathy to all staff and students at the University who might be affected by recent events in Gaza together with information on getting support from University offices
b. Informed UBU that it has no investments in CAT
c. Communicated a statement about the strong ethical guidelines that inform our investment strategy.
d. Set up payment facilities for disaster relief to Gaza within the University
e. Agreed that the food and drink task force should consult with staff and students about the ethical status of products sold on campus.
4. Following discussions with the student meeting the University will:
a. Write to Lloyds Bank to seek an explanation of policy regarding banking facilities for Interpal.
b. Include the on-going issue of revisions to our ethical investment policy at Investment Committee
c. Provide a list of companies for whom we hold shares in our investment portfolio to UBU for comment and discussion
d. Explore the feasibility of a twinning link with the Islamic University of Gaza subject to the usual due diligence that has to be done by any UK University in formalising such links.
e. Consider a range of forms of support (financial hardship grants; scholarships) for students in financial difficulty as a consequence of the events in Gaza.
5. The University joins with the students in condemning violence wherever it occurs and wishes to express its commitment to the principles of peace, justice and the rule of international law.

Mark Cleary
Vice Chancellor
-----------------------------------

paster

Comments

Hide 3 hidden comments or hide all comments

superb!

28.01.2009 14:13

well done everyone involved!

soas

Hidden Comment

This posting has been hidden because it breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.

IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

What?

28.01.2009 14:50

"the university agreed to join the students in condemning violence and to take various practical steps in solidarity with the Palestinians. "

Errrr. The university condemned *all* violence, and it said that it would *explore* the feasibility of twinning, and *consider* a range of forms of support.

You seriously claiming this as a glorious victory?

Cynic

Hidden Comment

This posting has been hidden because it breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.

IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

victory

28.01.2009 16:07

Yes-I agree, not a victory at all.
Spotty leftie students just wasted their time supporting hamas and terrorism.

The University will actually do nothing apart from getting the admin staff write a few letters - and is having a big laugh at
the leftie students who wasted their time sleeping on the floor. Still, it gave the spotty students something to do!

citzen2009

Hidden Comment

This posting has been hidden because it breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.

IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

F*&%king trolls!

28.01.2009 16:52

dude cynic, you weren't even there and then you go off interpreting this as your tiny little mind sees fit.

a. the university has agreed to condemn all violence against civilians in israel palestine, with a specific focus on the disproportionate nature of the violence the IDF has been perpetrating. sorry that this was not made clearer in the post above.

b. the word "explore" that you use was never in the original post. we have actually gotten the university to start the twinning process with the university in gaza. no ifs or buts or maybes!

c. similarly you are delusional in your use of the word "consider" as this word is also not in the original post. we have managed to get a written and signed agreement that the university will open their books on their investments and that we shall have a say via membership to the investment board as to continuing these investments.

now go back to your cave you duly refuted cynical troll.

someone that was acutally there

Fantastic

29.01.2009 10:16

As an ex- bradford uni student this makes me kind of proud :-)

lottie

Hide 3 hidden comments or hide all comments