‘Nottingham Students defy the freeze to continue their fight for Higher Education’

 Despite the snow and the heating being turned off, Nottingham Students are occupying the Great Hall in the Trent Building of Nottingham University, for a second day since Tuesday afternoon. Following a general meeting at 1pm today, the students are organising a programme of alternative education, film screenings, workshops and talks, while encouraging regular classes to continue within the space. The occupiers claim that they have doubled in number over the past 24 hours.

This action is part of a larger national student campaign taking place on campuses across the country, against proposed cuts to HE funding and fee hikes. The students are demanding that their university lobby the Russell Group and the government to change their stance and to issue a statement condemning all cuts to Higher Education, EMA and the rise in tuition fees. They have also demanded that The University implement a complete open book policy with regards to existing budget constraints, and ensure no redundancies for teaching, research or support staff.  

 After an unsuccessful attempt by the campaign to have a face to face meeting with university management last week, the students decided that they had no alternative but to pursue further action in an effort to defend Higher Education and the right to education for all. Since the Registrar made a statement yesterday, no further communication from the university management has been received, despite ongoing attempts by the students to initiate a dialogue.

 They have been joined by students from Nottingham Trent University, Bilborough College, Djanogly City Academy and Sixth Form, and New College Nottingham. Tom Anderton from Bilborough College said that he is here because “I’ve received hundreds of emails from students on EMA who are afraid that without it, they will be unable to go to college and tuition fee rises to £9,000 would make it impossible to go to university.”

 Ends

Email: nsafac@gmail.com

Website: nsafc.wordpress.com

Facebook: Nottingham Students Against Cuts and Fees

Twitter: @nsafc