Occupy Essex!
The Spectre | 02.12.2011 15:12 | Occupy Everywhere | Education | Free Spaces | Public sector cuts
Essex University is occupied!
Students at the University of Essex have occupied a lecture theatre, in solidarity with the millions of public sector workers on strike on N30. Over 70 individuals visited the occupation on the first night; 35 stayed until the early hours and 20 stayed the night.
Students at the University of Essex have occupied a lecture theatre, in solidarity with the millions of public sector workers on strike on N30. Over 70 individuals visited the occupation on the first night; 35 stayed until the early hours and 20 stayed the night.
We aim to establish a social space in which discussions can take place about our alternatives and solutions to education cuts. In addition to this, we hope to have external speakers come in to talk to us, screen films to encourage discussion, and form work groups to begin creating material to promote the cause.
On our first full day of occupation we held a general assembly in which we voted on the aims of our occupation. We then held a shorter meeting later in which the demands were finalised and further plans were made.
The aims and demands of Occupy Essex are as follows:
Accommodation
We call for the reduction of rent prices for University of Essex accommodation
We call for the restoration and improvement of services in accommodation, namely
Landline telephones in rooms
24-hour heating
Restoration to cleaning services in accommodation to at least last year’s levels
Opportunity for students to confer with management and cleaners regularly
Improvements to Internet connection and the return of in house connection
We oppose the backdoor privatisation of Essex Accommodation
We call for the abolition of Essex Commercial Services
Education
We call for free education for all, and the Vice Chancellor’s support in promoting this idea
We advocate the freedom of expression on campus and oppose the censorship of ideas in accommodation and throughout the campus
We oppose the Government’s White Paper and call for the Vice Chancellor to condemn it
We oppose the cancellation of courses and call for the reversal of recent cancellations
We call for the Vice Chancellor to stand by his lecturers and oppose the unfair reforms to the USS pension scheme and to make a public statement declaring his support
We demand that staff be paid a living wage
No persons involved with activism or occupation on campus should face disciplinary action
We stand with our brothers and sisters around the country and the entire world, occupying universities and institutions. We marched with the public sector workers on N30 and we will march again.
Keep up with events at the Essex occupation here:
http://occupyessex.wordpress.com/
On our first full day of occupation we held a general assembly in which we voted on the aims of our occupation. We then held a shorter meeting later in which the demands were finalised and further plans were made.
The aims and demands of Occupy Essex are as follows:
Accommodation
We call for the reduction of rent prices for University of Essex accommodation
We call for the restoration and improvement of services in accommodation, namely
Landline telephones in rooms
24-hour heating
Restoration to cleaning services in accommodation to at least last year’s levels
Opportunity for students to confer with management and cleaners regularly
Improvements to Internet connection and the return of in house connection
We oppose the backdoor privatisation of Essex Accommodation
We call for the abolition of Essex Commercial Services
Education
We call for free education for all, and the Vice Chancellor’s support in promoting this idea
We advocate the freedom of expression on campus and oppose the censorship of ideas in accommodation and throughout the campus
We oppose the Government’s White Paper and call for the Vice Chancellor to condemn it
We oppose the cancellation of courses and call for the reversal of recent cancellations
We call for the Vice Chancellor to stand by his lecturers and oppose the unfair reforms to the USS pension scheme and to make a public statement declaring his support
We demand that staff be paid a living wage
No persons involved with activism or occupation on campus should face disciplinary action
We stand with our brothers and sisters around the country and the entire world, occupying universities and institutions. We marched with the public sector workers on N30 and we will march again.
Keep up with events at the Essex occupation here:
http://occupyessex.wordpress.com/
The Spectre
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