Goldsmiths students occupied the Deptford town hall university building on Monday night in solidarity with their lecturers in the University and College Union (UCU) who are striking on Tuesday and Thursday.

Students are calling on senior management to revoke previous statements sent to staff and students via email, which attempted to intimidate those taking action against higher education cuts.

This is the first national strike in higher education for five years and will be taking place two days before the March for the Alternative on March 26th. Students support this march and hope to use the occupation as a space to organize and build for it.

Goldsmiths has a tradition of strong solidarity between staff and students. In November 2010 when students were attacked in the press after protests against rising tuition fees, Goldsmiths lecturers publicly supported with them.

University College London went into occupation hours before Goldsmiths, following other UK campuses. Students hope to see a wave of direct action across UK universities.

Students said: “We will be enforcing the strike in Deptford town hall to express our solidarity. The attack on lecturers is only the beginning – we are showing this government that we will not accept the destruction of our public services and welfare state. Strike together, march together.”

Goldsmiths students previously occupied Deptford town hall in November over the propsed cuts to education and rising tution fees.

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