Friday 20 March 2009

100 Hours Update:

We’re currently under lockdown again; University management have taken the decision to remove access to the building for the weekend. Today we selected our delegates to the meeting with University management and we’re currently waiting for the Vice-Chancellor to respond to our correspondence and schedule a meeting. We had a successful meeting today, in which Hilary Smith from Sheffield PSC spoke about the tactic of boycott as part of the campaign. Shortly after this the university put the building on lockdown and here we are. People are no longer allowed to enter the building and we’re only able to receive food parcels at the door.

The occupation rolls on!

62 comments:

  1. ZZzzz zZZzz zZzz zZZ have you left yet?

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  2. This is ridiculous. People cannot claim that the occupiers are disrupting learning at the university!
    1. The occupiers would gladly let lectures take place in the occupied lecture theatres. Management are needlessly relocating them.
    2. Since the lectures are being relocated by the management anyway, you cannot claim that they are being disrupted or cancelled.

    TL;DR STFU

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  3. "disrupted

    1. To throw into confusion or disorder
    2. To interrupt or impede the progress, movement, or procedure of"

    Idiots

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  4. System up with the top down
    Got the city on lockdown
    Drive by in the low ride
    Hands high when we fly by

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  5. Where's Maggie when you need her?

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  6. stay strong http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qNDon9_82U

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  7. Contrast the hitherto dignified conduct of this protest with the loud mouthed, ranting idiots screeching their bile against the parade of our troops in Luton. We certainly do have genuine "multiculture" in terms of the character of protest in this country, if in nothing else.

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  8. Locking yourself in a lecture theatre and spending 4 days arguing with yourselves over something you don't understand is about as dignified as sleeping in a pool of your own piss

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  9. "where's Maggie when you need her?"

    Dunno? Dying somewhere?

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  10. How long will you last with out your comfey heated lecture theatre with internet and films. Occupation? More like massive sleepover.

    If the Uni had any sense they would cut the power and the net this weekend. You'd be out in hours

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  11. 'Locking yourself in a lecture theatre and spending 4 days arguing with yourselves over something you don't understand is about as dignified as sleeping in a pool of your own piss'
    so what is your incredible insight and intelligence that you alone understand more than a group of 30 who have spent months debating these issues.

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  12. who said we understand more? however it is quite clear these students have no idea what is going on, comflicting messages coming out and using is as some pathetic attmempt to push out their political points.

    They are all pathetic and if they think sitting in a lecture theatre acting the cunt will make any difference, grow up and get a grip on reality

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  13. "so what is your incredible insight and intelligence that you alone understand more than a group of 30 who have spent months debating these issues."

    you sir are an idiot. your argument is vaguely similar to saying majority rules. your majority is thirty people, whilst the real majority do not give a toss. To claim that you have more insight into this issue, because you have had a stoned chat about it is utter utter bull. Who the fuck have you talked and debated about it with? I'm guessing ill informed marginalised socialists. maybe throw an anarchist in for good measure. from outside, you seem to think of yourselves as heroes, saviours. Really you are just unapointed, uniformed and reactionary.

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  14. "We’re currently under lockdown again; University management have taken the decision to remove access to the building for the weekend.

    Shortly after this the university put the building on lockdown and here we are. People are no longer allowed to enter the building and we’re only able to receive food parcels at the door."

    The department is ALWAYS closed for the weekends!!! Only a person with an out-of-hours and fire training is allowed.

    So stop creating an impression that you are lock-downed on purpose. You are not locked THE DEPARTMENT IS !!!

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  15. Fingers crossed the keys get "lost" over the weekend

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  16. ... and "we’re only able to receive food parcels at the door."

    ...as opposed to being hand-delivered by waitrose? whats so wrong with receiving food parcels at the door? some uni 'occupations' (i think newcastle for example) were banned from receiving food. come on, do it properly.

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  17. "The department is ALWAYS closed for the weekends!!! Only a person with an out-of-hours and fire training is allowed." Yes but the rest of the university buildings (Bartolemé House for example), which are normally open on Saturdays for various groups to use were locked down, and I quote directly from a security guard "due to student protesters". I was denied entry to the Hicks building even to meet my mother who was working there out of normal office hours. While yes, the University may be locked on weekends, security are being overly paranoid right now.

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  18. Probably in case any other tedious shits get ideas about 'occupying' some other buildings

    Maybe in some inspired attempt to have the corpse of Lenin brought back to life and installed as Prime Minister, or maybe to demand the Chuckle Brothers get a primetime Saturday night TV slot

    Unless we can safely assume all of Sheffield's fuckwits are safely tucked away already, in which cass security can probably relax

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  19. The above statement (posted 17:46) completely proves what 'occupiers' have being trying to deny all long, that they are not disturbing students. Yes they are! It may be the university's choice to 'lock down' buildings, but only 'due to student protesters'.

    It's about time they realised they do not speak for the majority. By reading these daily posts, it becomes extremely clear that a large group of students do not agree with or support the protest. And please, noone take that out of context, as I know you love to do, and say I am arguing the majority rules etc etc.

    As for "overly paranoid". Pah. Quite frankly, I think they have every right. I do not wish to wake up on monday moring to find yet more middle class non-conformists lounging around on facebook in yet another university building.

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  20. This is unbelievable - a local school has seemingly managed to make the news by getting its pupils to produce personalised messages to send to the occupiers.

    Cheap publicity stunt if you ask me - one kid is apparently busy making 30-odd carbon copies of her message so each of the the occupiers can have one

    Touching when you think about it

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  21. yes, im sure the those children are well educated and have formed very rational opinions on the situation. hmmm.

    and i hope they recycle those 30 copies. im sure those occupiers must be fighting the case for global warming too. if not, there's your next band wagon.

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  22. @18.00 That kids has a mouth on her...

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  23. continued from the last post....not that im undermining the seriousness of either gaza or global warming. im just saying you love a good protest

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  24. Swearing is funnier than protestors. FACT.

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  25. Any food preferences? I may be able to donate some sandwiches.

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  26. Cyanide and tomato - wholemeal bread, obv.

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  27. As Palestinians die in their thousands, English people are giving us hope

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  28. Just read the comments from this nasty minority of anonymous authors above and on previous pages and ask yourself, who you would rather spend an evening with?

    I'd pick the protesters. Notice how they don't react with the sort of language you small group of hyperactive blog filling shits deserve. I think that gives them the moral high ground.

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  29. I like the way that the people slagging off the protestors make points such as "don't you have anything better to do?"
    what do you have to do other than sit and watch the blog all day and make your own caption competitions?
    And don't suggest that I am the same... this is my first post!

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  30. Anon 18:56 - thanks.

    I am not currently inside the building because it has been locked down and I have not been able to return. However, I have been involved throughout the week, and we have always made it very clear that we are willing to discuss concerns of any nature in a fair, reasonable and mature manner. I can't speak for eveyone involved, but I think most of us recognise the controversy that our actions would generate. We are happy to have these conversations with people, but generally not in a format which is inevitably going to involve inflammatory language and abuse. I don't think that would reflect well on anyone.

    I have seen a lot of lazy stereotyping on these pages, and rather than respond in kind I think it is best that we respect each others positions and are able respond to each others' concerns without resorting to the kind of language seen in some of these comments.

    Thank you for all the messages of support here as well.

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  31. when I was a student we occupied against apartheid south africa. we didn't bring down that horrible racist state, but we helped create an atmosphere in which it became impossible for our governments to continue supplying arms and other support to the racists. since then, nelson mandela and others at the heart of the conflict there have made strong comments in support of the anti-apartheid movement in the west. this is *exactly the same*: so congratulations to the occupiers, keep on keeping on, and be sure that what you are doing is a fantastic contribution to the struggle against oppression and inequality. and ignore the snide comments - they're only jealous of having some meaning, some hope and some community in their lives! change is coming, the old ways don't work any more, and the sooner the start the better it will be.

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  32. you are calling this the same as apartheid? errr ok

    you didnt do anything, except give students a bad name which continues to this day.

    get the fuck out of the building, just making yourself look stupid now

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  33. An occupation by nature will disrupt normality. Lectures will have to be moved. Extra security deployed. The vice-chancellor (obscenely overpaid) will also have to write a few more emails than he's used to.
    The very fact that the occupation is riling a few (how do we know 'anonymous' is not just one hack) who disagree with our university aiding the displaced and war-torn people of Gaza suggests that as a tactic it is working.
    Sooner or later they'll have to negotiate a settlement.
    Viva Palestina!

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  34. Arabs are treated as second class citzens in isreal, Isreal 'security' wall annexes some 80% of Palestinian water supplies and as a byproduct of it's placement makes basic services such as refuge collection and sewege services all but impossibly.

    Palestinians drive on different roads, live in different streets, have different number plates on their cars. This is apartheid.

    The disagree with the sentiment that the situation in Palestine is the same as the situation in S.Africa however - it's worse! Palestinians are annexed by 20ft, concrete, barbed wire laden walls, are shot at when they congreate from Israeli watch-towers and of course face the worlds last settler-colonial state on their doorstep.

    The occpation stands in solidairty with the Palestinian people against the aggression and expansionism of their racist neighbour state. Good luck to them.

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  35. at the start this apparantly wasn't about politic but about aid, now it's about politics apparantly.

    A university isn't a political institution so has no placed being used by a despicable bunch of two faced liars

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  36. "How long will you last with out your comfey heated lecture theatre with internet and films. Occupation? More like massive sleepover.

    If the Uni had any sense they would cut the power and the net this weekend. You'd be out in hours"

    Most of them dont have computers there, they are blogging off a computer already in the lecture theatre. So most are without internet. Also heating is only on during lecture times...Its gets cold in there at night, especialy with our energy efficient university refusing to invest in double/tripple glazing, something that would reduce its bills hugely.

    Maybe if they did this they could actually pay their workers their full salaries ect.

    So i guess both your points are invalid.

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  37. No the poster didn;t say the situation was the SAME as apartheid. Read his piece.

    The poster clearly implied that Mandela gave support and gratitude after apartheid ended to those in the west who campaigned against it. Mandela did not say that the boycotting of s.african goods took down the racist regime. But he acknowledged the positive role played by those in the west.

    Today people across the world who are disgusted by disproportionate bombing and killing of the palestinian people over the new year, before and since then. The movement of solidarity is obviously very similar!

    I have been in the occupation and must say i was very impressed by the resolute commitment to bringing practical aid to the palestinians. This is not a publicity stunt. Other uni occupations worked. Material benefit was won by their actions.

    To the detractors: Do not walk by on the other side of the road. Help your friend. Help your fellow human. If you do not agree this is the way to do it then fine. But i suspect many of you who disagree with the tactic of occupation as a matter of 'principle', 'democracy' or being against 'blackmail' are actually against the university helping out gaza. If that is the case say it. Come out with it.

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  38. 'A university isn't a political institution so has no placed being used by a despicable bunch of two faced liars'

    Most ridiculous comment i've ever heard. University isnt a political institution?! My friend read some history books.

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  39. they do pay their workers full salaries, get your facts straight

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  40. REMost ridiculous comment i've ever heard. University isnt a political institution?! My friend read some history books.

    why read a history book, this is present day and Universities are not political institutions

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  41. against the university being BLACKMAILED and BULLIED into helping.

    Should make up its own mind as an organisation what it wants to do, if you disagree with it, leave and go somewhere you would be more happy. You have that choice

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  42. Isn't it a very political act to refuse to send aid to a people absolutely devastated by the actions of a far more advanced militarised nuclear state? Isn't not helping gaza university with practical help and assistance very political? Silence speaks a thousand words.
    In decades to come the decision of universities in britain to sit by silently will be condemned. Those who spoke out about apartheid and other wrongs in the 20th century, amidst all the nonsense the reactionaries spouted, have been vindicated.
    Those who speak out today will also be, with time.
    Good luck with the occupation guys!

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  43. Actually universities are political today. At my graduation at sheffield they closed with singing 'God Save the Queen'.

    Also, the amount of money the bigwigs gets compared to the lecturers and other staff are not really logical. The contemporary system of capitalism (only a few hundred years old - when actually universities began in the middle ages) implicates the university as being 'political'.

    To say that universities.... private corporate funding of buildings, arms shares in the university, under representation of large chunks of our society in the student body, government asking the lecturers union to be vigilant on islamic extremism by observing activities of 'asian looking students' and rising cost of tuition fees and uni accomodation... are not political?

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  44. clearly people need to start posting with a name so that discourse can actually be had here. I propose, if you are for the occupation of Uni then call you self Alfred. If you are against it, call yourself Jay.

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  45. "at the start this apparantly wasn't about politic but about aid, now it's about politics apparantly.

    A university isn't a political institution so has no placed being used by a despicable bunch of two faced liars"

    I heard no such claim about it not being political.

    And the university is political when it invests in countries that are waging wars. Its actually rather hard to not be political in this day and age.

    What have they lied about? Nothing...Ive been back and forth there allot, all ive seen is what they advertise, a safe place to go say your bit, debate, ect. No lies there.

    They could be allot less mature if they wanted, certain people have been much less than mature towards them. As an example, People have been urinating against the side of the university building in protest against the occupiers (for the record-LMAO), now that's immature.

    Another example is members who claimed to be from the Jewish society hurling heated abuse at some of the Jewish members of the occupation, abuse that included accusations such as "traitor to Judaism and Israel", its my firm believe they dont represent the entire society and most definitely not the Jewish community but such is the immaturity the occupation ignores (especially after the Jewish society's reasons for denouncing the occupation) and continues to act politely. Its also questionable why these individuals wish to associate their religion with acts of genocide, its like when Christians bragged about the Spanish inquisition and their witch hunts.

    Just because you hold religious views does not force you to agree to the actions of any state just because they have the same main religion. Simple as. Outcasting people at a religious level just because they disagree with the actions of a state, that my friend is racism...in this case against their own religion.

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  46. "Where's Maggie when you need her?"

    That comment alone means I now fully support you. Any protest that supports the rights of an oppressed people and annoys tory boys has my 100% backing :)

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  47. "An occupation by nature will disrupt normality. Lectures will have to be moved. Extra security deployed. The vice-chancellor (obscenely overpaid) will also have to write a few more emails than he's used to.
    The very fact that the occupation is riling a few (how do we know 'anonymous' is not just one hack) who disagree with our university aiding the displaced and war-torn people of Gaza suggests that as a tactic it is working.
    Sooner or later they'll have to negotiate a settlement.
    Viva Palestina!"
    +1

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  48. For all occupiers with laptops, and who can't access the University's wireless connection:
    The encryption key to the "guest" network is "416E563D77" (no spaces, no quotes). This gives quite high-speed, unlimited internet and I was using it from outside the building last night.

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  49. Get out of our building, loosers!

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  50. Keep up the good work guys. I will join you all once I finish the unreasonable workload I have at the moment!

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  51. It seems a bit strange that people seem to think the idea of not being the majority is important. Minority groups standing up for things isnt exactly a strange idea. Also, one of the most important things that the occupation has done is to create a stir and get people talking and thinking about the issue. For that reason alone i think it has had some sucess no matter the results on the demands. Good luck guys.

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  52. "Get out of our building, loosers!"

    LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL...If you cant be bothered to think before you post I wont bother thinking of a substantial reply to it.

    "It seems a bit strange that people seem to think the idea of not being the majority is important. Minority groups standing up for things isnt exactly a strange idea. Also, one of the most important things that the occupation has done is to create a stir and get people talking and thinking about the issue. For that reason alone i think it has had some sucess no matter the results on the demands. Good luck guys."

    This.

    Remember, you guys have quadrupled your numbers, a clear sign of direct support. Yet more people indirectly support you.

    Also, without this occupation the VC would never have talked to any group related or not related to the occupation...now its talking to you all, yet another victory for solidarity brought to you by the occupation.

    Regardless of if you like the tactic they used its the only working tactic that can be used against the VC. There's only so many lengthy emails of lies and propaganda he can make.



    In regards to the VCs email, finding content in his text is like finding a needle in a hay stack, he talks to some propaganda and lies between not streams, but rivers of content-less text.

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  53. "Actually universities are political today. At my graduation at sheffield they closed with singing 'God Save the Queen'."

    thats patriotic not political. if you sang "god save the labour party" then i think you'd actually have a point".

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  54. Patriotism is politics.

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  55. thats patriotic not political. if you sang "god save the labour party" then i think you'd actually have a point".

    political =/= party political

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  56. Sorry to not add anything worthwhile - but do you actually know what 'tl;dr' means? I'm presuming not.

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  57. There is nothing party political about sending humanitarian aid to Gaza.

    On your logic you'd help no one in the world who needed assistance on the grounds it might be seen to be too 'political' or shows impartiality. You may retort that a university is an institution and has no right intervening in humanitarian issues.

    On moral grounds alone i find that distasteful. The university could and can help. It is a question of whether or not it will. A question of whether it has the stomach to fight a battle against humanitarianism.

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  58. I encourage all opponents of the occupation to take the opportunity to email the Vice-Chancellor (vc@shef.ac.uk) to lend your support to the University's stance against these selfish protesters.

    Note to the protesters: Student activism can be a great thing, but only so long as you don't infringe upon the right of other paying students to study in peace. Camp out on the concourse, occupy bar one, or lay across Hanover Way for all I care - but occupying lecture theatres is simply unfair on the rest of us.

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  59. "Student activism can be a great thing, but only so long as you don't infringe upon the right of other paying students to study in peace. Camp out on the concourse, occupy bar one, or lay across Hanover Way for all I care - but occupying lecture theatres is simply unfair on the rest of us."
    Because of course the university would take any kind of notice of people camping outside or lying across a road which isn't theirs.

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  60. "do you actually know what 'tl;dr' means?"
    RTFM luser

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