Cross-posted from ‘Student News’:
Occupation ends after 24 hours
“An occupation by students of the Terrace Room in Bramber House ended on Tuesday evening as the students left the building. The University had asked the students to bring their action to a swift end. No direct demands were made by the students to the University and no discussions or negotiations sought by the students involved.
John Duffy, Registrar and Secretary said: “We were clear from the start of this trespass that this was an unnecessary and disruptive action. I want to thank all staff who worked to minimise the disruption caused.”
“This trespass has left damage and caused additional costs to the University which we are assessing. The Conference Suite facilities are now being cleaned and returned to proper use for our staff, students and local community.”
Consultation with the three campus trade unions on the proposal made by the University continues, as do the ongoing discussions with the Students’ Union and the meetings with the student reps.”
This is really just rubbish.
I hoovered that carpet for an hour!
Spin Spin Spin… at least we know the PR company aren’t getting paid for nothing!
Trespass?
The university belongs to US! These facilities should be for US! Not for corporate businesspeople at the rate of £36-40pp a day!
(http://www.sussex.ac.uk/conferenceservices/documents/oct2009-march2010conferencecentretariff.pdf)
“The contemporary design of the Centre incorporates integral state-of-the-art technology, including integrated controls for audio visual equipment, lighting and blinds as well as air conditioning and induction hearing loops”… whilst we’re stuck having lectures in the Russell building shack!
“staff, students and local community” my arse!
John ‘Puffing’ Duffy is the replacement for ‘Philthy’ Phil Harvey – the despised registrar and secratary who tried to close the chemistry department and make redundant two nobel prize winners(closure successfully resisted by students and staff) and makes a tidy profit on the lecture circuit instructing on how to turn universities into businesses in his spare time. He heads all of professional services ” – comprising all of the University’s support services other than Finance, the Library and IT Services.”
On his appointment last year, he said “I am very much looking forward to supporting the Vice-Chancellor in addressing the challenges that lie ahead.” (http://www.sussex.ac.uk/vc/1-1.php?id=1564). He may have been implicated in the room booking scandal earlier this year.
In an article ‘Proud to be at Sussex’ a couple of weeks ago, he said “Many colleagues have taken the time to discuss their research and teaching with me and, of course, to make suggestions about improving Professional Services. I have more visits arranged in the coming weeks and really enjoy engaging with colleagues in their academic communities.” He can be contacted at Registrar@sussex.ac.uk/exts: 3814 or 8903.
Very Very Angry, is the new teaching block opposite Bramber House, which many have complained about, going to replace the awful Russel squats?
Well done to all the students who took part in the occupation. You did not fail – you were failed by the university management and you will galvanise more students to take action in Sussex and throughout the country. Keep fighting. Solidarity from me and Irish SWP members.
“This trespass has left damage and caused additional costs to the University which we are assessing”
Let’s just assume that’s a lie – or can they show pictures, or even say what the ‘damage’ is?
best approach. no time now but the cali occupations faced enormous exaggeration of the costs involved in their first occupations…
remember it’s a PR firm managing all this for VCEG!
where are those fuckers based anyway?
Education will be one of the first targets of cuts now being advocated by all the main political parties whose leaders have all indicated the need for deep cuts to pay for bankers bailouts.
The recent announcement that there will be fewer places in higher and further education next year is only the first step of what is likely to be a savage attack on the right to education.
There will be further attacks made on the conditions and rights won by previous generations of students and workers, one of these is a right to education.
It is now up to this generation of students and workers to organise together to ensure that the rights and conditions are advanced and not lost now or in the future.
best wishes
organise now before it is too late.
Redjake
Just want to say as a Brighton resident and sometime user of the Uni library I’m proud of you for fighting back.