On Wednesday evening (28 January), a group of students started an occupation of a tenth floor lecture theatre in the Owen Building, where an earlier meeting on the conflict in Gaza had taken place.
Following other occupations around the country, students and workers voted to occupy the lecture theatre and democratically approved a list of demands to Sheffield Hallam University. The full list of demands can be read in their announcement on the newswire.
On Thursday morning (29 January) negotiations began with university management.
A teach-in was scheduled for Thursday afternoon and a screening of La Haine for the early evening. University administration demanded that the group leave at 9pm, threatening police involvement if not. When the deadline passed, the group resolved to stay.
After more discussions, however, the occupation now seems to have been brought to an end. Further negotiations are still taking place with university management about the demands to the university: only one of which has been agreed to: "No victimisation of students or staff supporting the occupation in any form".
The group have a Sheffield Hallam Occupation blog with the most up to date information and the group welcome messages of solidarity and support. Messages of support and mutual aid have been received from other occupations in Bradford, SOAS London, Oxford and Nottingham, as well as Sheffield Trades Council, Sheffield NUJ, South Yorkshire UCU, Sheffield Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Free Gaza and the Sheffield and Rotherham Stop the War Coalitions.
Mainstream coverage: Sheffield Star
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To the faculty
30.01.2009 01:45
Whilst the University has no connections with Gaza, and while as an individual I bear no political apethy to either side in the conflict.I wish you would take into account that innocent people are dying as a result of this conflict...not soldiers, not politicians, but normal people who want nothing more than to lead their lives.
Is it too much to ask that the university allows "No victimisation of students or staff supporting the occupation in any form", including collecting aid for our fellow human beings at the other side of the world?
Is it too much to ask that we send some of our old IT Hardware, Books, Videos or Resorces to help these people?
I am quite frankly appalled by our universitys reaction to the past few days incidents.
It's bad enough that the BBC wont show appeals for aid without the achademic institutions of this country following suite.
Throughout my time as a student at Sheffield Hallam I have been privelidged to come into contact with some of the most inspirational people (both lecturer's and students) I have ever met. It seems to me that the University is happy to promote knowledge, freedom and understanding whenever it is looking for new applicants, but once it's students begin to exhibit independent thought (and actions) it adopts a draconian approach.
I only hope that at the very least the students who are responsable for this act are not penalised, they are exhibiting the very moral fibre that this country lacks at the moment.
As for any members of the Universitys administration reading this, I would ask you to take into account that Tony Blair himself attended many CND (Campaign for Nuclear Dis-armourment) rallys. So, If in 10 years time, you truly wish to have 'Notable Alumni' please do not punish your fee paying students for standing up for what they beieve in.
Stephen
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higgy3k@googlemail.com