Sussex students storm university in week of confrontation

Hundreds of demonstrators defied a high court injunction at Sussex University last week to protest against funding cuts and demand the reinstatement of six suspended students.

The students were suspended due to their involvement in the first set of demonstrations following the announcement of budget cuts.

An agreement by management to modify the terms of the suspensions, which would allow the students access to the campus for academic reasons, was rejected by the protesters.

Following speeches in support of the ‘six’, by fellow students and staff, around 400 protesters stormed Bramber House, before occupying a lecture theatre in the arts building.

One of the demonstrators who wished to remain anonymous, spoke to The Journal from inside the lecture theatre.

“We are aware that the suspensions have been modified, but we are demanding the unconditional reinstatement of those suspended. There is an injunction in place to prevent such demonstrations but the police have not been called this time. I think this is a climb down by management.”

The six students had been deemed by vice-chancellor Michael Farthing to be ‘leading participants’ in a demonstration at the University on 3 March when 80 students occupied Sussex House in support of lecturers who had voted for strike action.

Simon, one of the six suspended students, told The Journal: “We occupied Sussex House in solidarity with UCU member and handed out leaflets telling those inside that they were free to go and that they wouldn’t be intimidated by students. 

“The police were called and 16 cars and vans turned up. They had dogs, tazers, gas and batons, and threatened the students.

"Two days later, I received an email telling me that I was suspended, under special powers of the vice-chancellor.”

Another suspended student, who did not wish to be named, also told The Journal: “We have been suspended without any solid accusations against us. The email I received claimed that I was a ‘leading participant’ but there are no leaders in the campaign.

"We have had no opportunity to state our case, and have been suspended personally by the vice-chancellor.”

A statement issued by Sussex University read: “In suspending these students, the university has taken into account the students' involvement in a deliberate and illegal trespass; the physical force used by protesters, which led to two arrestsand the intimidation of staff, rifling through and theft from offices; and the refusal of those involved in occupation to comply with requests to leave the building from both senior university staff and the police.”

The vice-chancellor, professor Michael Farthing, said: "I will not stand by and condone breaches of the law, nor will I accept aggressive, confrontational and intimidatory behaviour towards members of staff. We are seeking to maintain the normal running of campus in the interests of all our staff and students.
NUS president Wes Streeting spoke out against the measures taken by the university against the protesters, highlighting the force used in removing them from the premises.

"I want to condemn in the strongest possible terms the heavy-handed tactics deployed against students protesting against cuts at Sussex University. That six protesters face sanctions without any form of disciplinary process being followed is totally unacceptable.

“These students must be given the opportunity to answer the charges against them and should be allowed to return to their studies immediately. It beggars belief that a university, which has a legal obligation to promote free speech on campus, would also seek to silence students obtaining an injunction against student protest.”

Tom Wills, president of the university’s student’s union, said: “It is outrageous that the vice-chancellor has used his power to suspend students without ‘assigning reason’ and they should be re-instated immediately and no sanctions should be issued without due process.”

Fellow student George Lindsay-Watson dismissed reports of aggressive behaviour during the protest: “The mood in the demonstration outside the occupation was fun, we had music, people were dancing and singing.”

Third year English student Hannah Pini condemned the decision to call the police and also the tactics used, commenting on the fact that “the vice-chancellor called riot police to the scene, armed with pepper spray, tasers and dogs.”

A spokesperson for Sussex Police claimed the response was proportional.

“An appropriate response was made a disturbance during a protest at Sussex University.

Local Labour MP David Lepper confirmed that he has met students, union representatives and university management. 

Mr Lepper told The Journal: "Some students have contacted me about events at the university last Friday and I have taken up the issues they have raised with the vice-chancellor."

A spokesperson for the UCU said: "We believe that the summary suspension of students is a disproportionate response, serving to inflict significant harm to the education of the students concerned and restricting their civil liberties.

“We urge the vice-chancellor to lift the suspensions with immediate effect so as to enable the students to continue their studies.”

The protests in Sussex come at a time of global student discontent, with similar protests and sit-ins taking place at Westminster University and the University of California.

The Journal understands that the suspended students intend to meet to discuss whether to accept the terms of the modified suspension.