Protests banned at the University of London
Is this the end of student activism in the Capital?
Imogen GroomeBosses at the University of London have banned students from protesting on its premises.
Uni managers have said they are “no longer willing to tolerate demonstrations” in areas such as the iconic Senate House. They say protests should be limited to public areas outside University buildings.
Students have been told they could be prosecuted if they protest in areas deemed off-limits.
Recent student protests have called for equal working conditions for all University of London staff.
Students have been banned from protesting in Senate House
They demanded that contract workers receive the same sick pay, holidays and pension as permanent staff.
University of London Union (ULU) president Michael Chessum slammed the new policy, calling it an “outrageous and draconian response from University management”.
In a letter to the ULU president, the University’s chief operating officer Chris Cobb said: “If this policy is not followed then the university will consider protesters to be trespassing on university property and will take all the necessary legal measures to prevent and prosecute such trespass.”
Chessum criticised the policy for “relying on legal threats and the force of the state” instead of engaging properly with the campaign”.
A University spokesperson said: “The university is not preventing student protest, we are merely trying to ensure we protect the best interests of the wider student body, the researchers and other users of Senate House.”
The news comes after a student protester was arrested for writing a slogan in chalk on the ULU building last month.
The student’s subsequent arrest was caught on camera, much to the anger of her supporters and the amusement of everyone else.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kahUH7JaFRE