This is the statement issued by the general assembly of the Cambridge law school occupation about their imminent threat of eviction.
Over the course of the evening our discussions have been repeatedly and deliberately disrupted in order to sabotage the ongoing negotiations process. We had felt that talks were moving forward but obviously the university thought differently.
A group from the occupation left the building at 7 o’clock to go to a CUSU meeting which was due to discuss support for our protest. Immediately after they departed, the Registrary sent a letter informing us that no one who had left would be able to re-enter the building and threatening legal action against us. This included an ultimatum to leave the building within half an hour. Shorty after 9pm, the Proctors arrived to take our names (again) and took photos of us. While complying with their requests we found them throwing away the food that our catering group had prepared.
We members of the Cambridge Gaza Solidarity Occupation condemn unreservedly the disgraceful and intimidating behaviour displayed by the university authorities. This is a wholly unacceptable way for an institute of education to behave towards its own members engaged in a peaceful protest.
Throughout our occupation, the authorities have treated us with contempt and disrespect, despite our friendly working relationship with many security staff and our general goodwill.
A university which engages in intimidation without genuine dialogue is not worthy of the name. Cambridge University claims to be stand for values of freedom of expression, and these worrying actions prove this claim false and set a dangerous precedent for future student activists. We must fight against this trend of intimidation, and urge messages of protest to be sent to
v-c@admin.cam.ac.uk.
A group from the occupation left the building at 7 o’clock to go to a CUSU meeting which was due to discuss support for our protest. Immediately after they departed, the Registrary sent a letter informing us that no one who had left would be able to re-enter the building and threatening legal action against us. This included an ultimatum to leave the building within half an hour. Shorty after 9pm, the Proctors arrived to take our names (again) and took photos of us. While complying with their requests we found them throwing away the food that our catering group had prepared.
We members of the Cambridge Gaza Solidarity Occupation condemn unreservedly the disgraceful and intimidating behaviour displayed by the university authorities. This is a wholly unacceptable way for an institute of education to behave towards its own members engaged in a peaceful protest.
Throughout our occupation, the authorities have treated us with contempt and disrespect, despite our friendly working relationship with many security staff and our general goodwill.
A university which engages in intimidation without genuine dialogue is not worthy of the name. Cambridge University claims to be stand for values of freedom of expression, and these worrying actions prove this claim false and set a dangerous precedent for future student activists. We must fight against this trend of intimidation, and urge messages of protest to be sent to
v-c@admin.cam.ac.uk.
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Thank you for your email.
30.01.2009 12:18
Dawn James, Vice-Chancellor's Office
Homepage:
http://www.cam.ac.uk/international/gaza-response.html.
Very pleased indeed...
31.01.2009 16:33
I doubt if it'll include any of the achievements of non University folk?
Disinvest in the arms trade, stop doing vivisection, and take legitimate legal student protest seriously and we might start to believe you're as nice an institution as you claim to be.
You could also do no worse than apologise to Craig Murray too.
Polite responses are all well and good, but at least give them to the right people.
Disbeliever