Students at the University of Birmingham have embarked on this occupation because we believe the Government’s cuts to be economically unnecessary, unfair and ideologically motivated. We stand in solidarity with unions and seek to be active members in a broader anti-cuts coalition. The government must understand that if they continue to destroy the livelihoods of the majority to benefit the rich and powerful minority, they will face increasingly widespread and radical action.

The government is however not the only catalyst for our action. This university currently adheres to a strategy which prioritises corporate profit above the value of education. To this end we have set out an alternative budget proposal that fairly shares the burden of government cuts. If the Government and University continue with their marketisation of people’s lives this will only be the beginning.

We extend solidarity to those defending their futures from these regressive measures, which move to segregate our society by means of favouring the rich and powerful, who remain out of touch with the needs of the majority. However, we feel there exists an imperative for change within the University of Birmingham, as not only was the Aston Webb building the stage from which Nick Clegg fed the nation false promises, the financial surplus of the University of Birmingham will stand at £25million irrespective of cuts and a fee increase. The university still operating on a substantial surplus renders the increase in fees nothing more than an exercise of greed and social segregation. Furthermore, the fact that the Vice Chancellor of the University of Birmingham enjoys an annual salary of £342,000, whilst happily imposing cuts such as the 4.4% decrease to the wages of support staff paid £12,915 pa is an outrage.
We will not stand for this disgraceful behaviour in our university.
Neither should the nation for the effect these cuts will have across our society.
We support the actions of Unison today in calling a mass rally, and call upon other parties and organisations to rise up and take a stand against the exploits of our apparently liberal affected Tory government.
We demand
1. A budget of the university’s financial plans, broken down by department for the next five years be made public.
2. The “Sustainable Excellence” document, which lays out the university’s plans for cuts, to be made public for the benefit of those affected and subsequent scrutiny.
3. David Eastwood, the vice chancellor, to resign for his role in the Browne Review and his demonstrated lack of impartiality on the issue.
4. Pledge from the University to not make any preventable cuts to any courses or services.
5. For the University to criticise the Browne Review as a socially regressive plan that will limit access to education.
6. For academic and support staff at the University of Birmingham to not have their wages cut by the university.
7. The university to send representatives to the occupation to engage in open negotiations with students, providing a forum for the student body to represent their views.
8. For the university to allow students to come in and out of the building, to use the space we have occupied for 36 hours as a means for public debate and raising awareness, after which we will leave peacefully.
9. For no recriminations for the students involved in the occupation.
We call for
1. Liberal Democrat MPs to stand by their pledges made at the last election to vote against an increase in tuition fees.
2. Students, staff and workers to stand united against government cuts, working towards an understanding of each other needs and positions in order to build a broad and effective movement.