Updated: Edinburgh University building occupied in RUK fees protest

Student activists at the University of Edinburgh have occupied a lecture theatre in protest at the university's decision to raise tuition fees for Rest-of-UK students to £9,000 per year.

Around 50 activists entered the George Square Lecture Theatre on the university's central campus at around 12:45pm on Friday 16 September, in what was described as "a general protest against the fees."

Edinburgh University Students' Association president Matt McPherson, who was present outside the lecture theatre alongside NUS Scotland depute president Graeme Kirkpatrick, said that "it tells the university a lot that students are willing to do this."

As with previous actions by campus protest groups, a university spokesman said: "The university attaches great importance to freedom of speech as long as points of view are put across in a safe and lawful way."

As of 5:30pm, around 30 students were still in the building, and said that they intended to remain there "until we've made our point." University security personnel are currently preventing further access to the building, although EUSA sabbatical officers have been acting as mediators between the occupiers and university authorities.

Amid concerns that the cordon was preventing food and supplies from reaching the occupiers, Mr McPherson told The Journal that "as a students' association, student welfare is our absolute concern.

"The politics of it will follow," he added.

At the time of writing, no demands had been issued, but sources inside the occupation say that the group will shortly release a statement formally condemning the decision to raise fees. A spokesman also told The Journal that occupiers intend to call on the university to pay all staff "a living wage", to promise no changes to terms of employment. They are also likely to ask for a pay cut for university senior management.

NUS Scotland are understood to have expressed solidarity with the occupation, but are yet to make a formal statement.

Update - 17:45

The University of Edinburgh occupation have now released their demands, in the form of the following statement:

"We demand immediately from Edinburgh University:

• Freedom of access
• No legal or academic repercussions for anyone involved

We demand of the Scottish government and Scottish Universities:

• Withdrawal of the proposed 36k fees at Edinburgh University
• Withdrawal of all fee rises at other Scottish Universities, and no future proposals without meaningful student consultation.
• That they uphold the basic principle, inherent in the Scottish education system, of free education for all.  Scotland should actively oppose Westminster policies challenging that principle.
• An explicit rejection of any future proposals that seek to change the status of Scottish Universities from public educational institutions to privately funded enterprises.
• No privatisation of education and no privately funded courses.
• No cuts to courses or compulsory redundancies in Scottish universities.
• Full and open consultation between management, staff and students concerning fees.
• A living wage for all workers at Scottish universities including those subcontracted.
• University senior management must take the average salary of university staff, or resign."

Update - 18:45

Negotiations are ongoing with the university, specifically University Secretary Dr Kim Waldron. Administrators to switch on the heating inside the lecture theatre. A EUSA source tells The Journal that the university "don't want to make [the occupiers] comfortable" or "facilitate" the protest.

One occupier told The Journal that "people are freezing in there," and that they were "demanding that the university recognise our right to protest in the face of extortionate fees."

EUSA have released a statement expressing tacit support for the protest. Mr McPherson said that "while this non-violent protest was organised outwith the students' association, [our] role in the days to come will be critical. We'll be speaking on a regular basis directly with the occupying students and with officials at the University of Edinburgh.

"Edinburgh University needs to listen to its students, rethink its degree costs by reducing the fees and increasing its bursary package," he added.

Update - 22:00 

The university has emailed students to inform them that all lectures scheduled on Monday are to be relocated, suggesting that they fear that the occupation will continue into next week.

Sources inside the occupation would not confirm earlier this evening how long they intended to continue the protest.

Update - Saturday 16:00

The occupiers have now indicated that they will end their protest at midnight tonight, after 36 hours in occupation to represent the £36,000 degree cost at the University of Edinburgh. Sources said they have plans for "regular rolling occupations".