The Law Faculty occupation continues...

As commented upon in another article, an arrangement seems to have been arrived at between building security staff and the occupiers, whereby any visitors are required to show photo ID and their name will be noted on a list that students keep, not security.

However, there does seem to have been a notable absence of non University activists in the last day or so. Whether this is down to the 'checkpoint' feel of the entrance requirements (an ironic situation for Free Palestine protestors to be in), or due to some other reason is uncertain.

When I did visit last night, there seemed to be only a few people there (I may have come along at an 'off peak' time, when people were out on errands), and the atmosphere on the whole was a very chilled out, quiet one. I spent quite a while circulating and chatting to people there. But, because of the fact that I am not a Cambridge University card carrying student (I am a card carrying student, but not for THAT University), I did not feel that my presence would have been welcome there overnight or even for more than a few hours by the building security staff, even though students themselves made me feel welcome, so I left early.

I even had a Proctor say outright to my face that 'technically you're trespassing' (although as I understand it, no such notion actually exists in law), which doesn't exactly engender a sense of wanting to stay in a place for any length of time, when you're presented with that kind of 'them and us' mentality.

I have visited this very same building before for lectures and film screenings open to the public (and may do so again in the future) and no one has batted an eyelid.

This may be something that those students who are staying there for any length of time should perhaps address, as this could prove to be problematic for any community outreach activites they have planned.

There was also some minor confusion between staff and occupying students regarding whether or not photos could be taken inside the building. However, while I was negotiating this point with staff and students, I couldn't help noticing a press agency photographer wandering about inside taking photos, even as a University staff member was telling me I couldn't take pictures inside!

However, several students assured me that it was OK to take pictures.

I will be going back at some point this weekend, but once again will not stay for too long until I am confident that there is no risk of my presence there being a concern for building security.

I should emphasise that it's very good and constructive that there's clearly an ongoing dialogue between the occupying students and the building staff,but I can't help thinking that due to the somewhat Orwellian attitude of some of the staff there, this could be quite offputting for other visitors who are not members of the University.