the student revolts - reflections on leeds university occupation.
jenny | 02.12.2010 13:43 | Free Spaces | Public sector cuts | Social Struggles
the current occupation at leeds university has recently 'voted to ban autonomous actions'. questions on the SWP and the left controlling free spaces.
The occupation of the Michael Sadler building at Leeds University seemed an opportunity for opening up space and possibilities to a number of people, many of whom were the youth marked NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training), those who would never have accessed Leeds University under the current Government or the last.
However, a series of events ensured that those very people were again excluded, and more, as the SWP - and, to be fair, others unaffiliated afraid or unsure of the potential unravelling of systems of control - seized BACK the power from the outside and the dispossessed.
The latest occupation of the Ziff building next door by about 40 individuals was seen as a threat to either the security of the the Michael Sadler building and, essentially, to the security of the Party Line. A vote to ensure 'autonomous action would not be tolerated' further excluded those who were left to resist the deathly pressure of the organised and wretched traditional left.
Some personal accounts, questions and thoughts can be found on this website:
http://reallyopenuniversity.wordpress.com/
However, a series of events ensured that those very people were again excluded, and more, as the SWP - and, to be fair, others unaffiliated afraid or unsure of the potential unravelling of systems of control - seized BACK the power from the outside and the dispossessed.
The latest occupation of the Ziff building next door by about 40 individuals was seen as a threat to either the security of the the Michael Sadler building and, essentially, to the security of the Party Line. A vote to ensure 'autonomous action would not be tolerated' further excluded those who were left to resist the deathly pressure of the organised and wretched traditional left.
Some personal accounts, questions and thoughts can be found on this website:
http://reallyopenuniversity.wordpress.com/
jenny
Comments
Hide the following 3 comments
Defence
02.12.2010 16:17
No Offence!
Correction
02.12.2010 16:46
The point of uploading the posts is to give a voice to those dissenting views within the occupation at Leeds, and to facilitate discussion within the wider emerging movement. This movement is diverse and will include ideological types: anarcho's, Trots etc as well as those alienated by those labels. It will also contain a multitude of positions on 'violence'.
The blog and ROU are not 'preaching' to anyone. They have posted some personal reflections that have been sent to them, as the post clearly states. I think the reference you are referring to is actually a Crass lyric, a very preachy anarchist band, whose politics I don't personally care for much!
Somebody
Warning
03.12.2010 12:54
Blip