Five alive: Sussex 5 let off with a caution

Four of the notorious Sussex 5 who were suspended back in 2013 have been let off with a caution after facing a disciplinary hearing.

Their punishment will be a warning letter from the uni.

The 5 initially occupied the uni in protest against rising fees and lecturer pay changes

The students were suspended last term, accused of “actively organising or leading unlawful occupations and associated events” by the infamous registrar and Secretary John Duffy.

Sussex spent around £100,000 disciplining the students. The students meanwhile won the backing of human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson.

The students’ suspension caused outcry, both within the student community in Sussex and nationally.

A petition started in December against the suspension of the students received a whopping 10,000 signatures including those of MPs, and Sussex students and celebrities alike took to Twitter and Facebook to protest for the reinstatement of the students and to speak out against VC Farthing.

The recent disciplinary hearing was meant to have gone ahead in January, but was postponed due to Deputy VC Michael Davies being dubbed too biased to act as chair.

The Five’s solicitor, Simon Natas, said “My clients faced allegations which were initially thought serious enough to justify their suspension and possibly even expulsion from their university but which have now resulted in a mere reprimand.

“We hope that lessons will be learned from these proceedings and that in the future, students will be free to engage in peaceful protest on campus without fear of disciplinary sanction.”

Michael Segalov, one of the Five and our soon-to-be communications officer said “participating in peaceful protest action is something to be encouraged, and is not punishable.”