The occupation of the exhibition space of the new Jessop building ended when the occupiers came out to a lively rally in support of the people of Gaza and the student occupation. The decision to end the occupation was taken by the occupiers collectively after talks started between the university and various student groups such as Palestine society of which many members have been a part of the occupation.
These talks revealed that movement will be made on some of the demands. The University has offered to support the transportation costs of charitable donations to Gaza. It has also issued a statement concerning the recent conflict in Gaza that can be found here: http://www.shef.ac.uk/mediacentre/gaza.html The University further promised to review their scholarship programme, consider an academic partnership with the Islamic University of Gaza and publicise the DEC appeal in some format. Details of these commitments are unclear and in light of this the occupiers have agreed that if the University goes back on the commitments it has made or does not adequately pursue them more action will be taken.
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pathetic, no-one listened to you in 2 weeks
ReplyDeletehope you feel ashamed
You've done a fantastic job and can be really proud of yourselves. Just like apartheid South Africa the racist Israeli state will not tumble in a day, of course, but the more we get of this type of consciousness-raising the less Israel will be able to pass itself off as a respectable or normal entity. It is a huge tragedy that the most obvious symbol of the world's horror at the obscenities of Nazi Germany has ended up sinking into racism itself. The west bears much of the blame, seeking to dominate the region and its oil, and we must therefore continue to do our utmost for a free Palestine and an inclusive solution to the region's problems. Hats off to the Sheffield occupiers - this is the start of something big!
ReplyDeletere. the first comment, duh - you've been listening yourself, haven't you? and so have the hundreds of others who have commented.
ReplyDeleteHave you left the Hicks Building too or just the Jessop Wing?
ReplyDeleteMuch respect for the uni occupiers. I really admire your actions.
In solidarity
So let's just look at what you've 'achieved':
ReplyDelete1) Issue a statement condemning the disproportionate actions of the Israeli state against the Palestinian people. FAIL
2) Create a special programme of five Palestinian scholarships and waive all fees for current students from the occupied territories. FAIL
3) Enter into an academic partnership with the University of Gaza. FAIL
4) Donate old books, computers and other relevant equipment to the University of Gaza, and pay for the transport of these materials. HALF-FAIL
5) Publicise the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal on Sheffield University notice boards, website and via email. WIN!
6) Initiate a programme in partnership with students of divestment and ending links with the arms trade. FAIL
7) Allow those studying medicine to carry out their electives in the occupied territories of Palestine. FAIL
8) Commemorate the United Nations Palestine Solidarity Day on November 29th. FAIL
9) Echo the Occupation's statement of support with Israeli students who have been imprisoned for refusing to serve in the IDF. FAIL
10)That they face no cuts in jobs, wages or conditions. FAIL
11) That participants in, or supporters of, the occupation face no repercussions. Remains to be seen but hopefully FAIL
Well done chaps!
Well done to the Occupiers - and credit too to the university management, who have gone some way towards meeting the demands. Supporting transportation of materials to Gaza could be quite costly, and may need some political skills, so it's impressive that they've agreed to it. The other offers sound a little wooly, and may founder unless pressure - and praise for progress - is kept up on management. The people who noisily opposed the occupation, but agree that Gaza needs active support at this tragic time, now have an opportunity to step up and show us how to make a difference without needing last-resort measures such as occupation. Incidentally, if you didn't see the news today - it sounds like the UK government are simply asking Israel to investigate its own conduct during the Gaza invasion - which surely invites a whitewash. Braver organisations around the world have demanded independent war crimes investigations (which, for transparency, should of course look at conduct on both sides). I wonder what other think about this.
ReplyDeleteI think the occupation has done more damage than good.
ReplyDeleteNow unfortunately everyone is going to associate the plight of Palestine with militant student extremists, who stank out a lecture theatre.
This is a great shame for the people suffering in Palestine, I hope you occupiers are ashamed of yourselves. You have become just like the people you oppose, shame on you, shame on you all.
Wait, the occupiers, in taking over two lecture theaters and an exhibition space for just over a week, are JUST LIKE the people, i.e. the Israeli State, who are dishing out a pretty hefty whack of collective punishment on the people of Gaza by stopping food and medical supplies getting in, and not that long ago were bombing the shit out of it, even though they knew it's one of the most densely populated places on earth and the people have no where to go? Fuck me. I'd wished you'd told me earlier. If I'd have known that some students sitting in a room, holding meetings and handing out leaflets was just like occupying a country then I'd have suggested taking down a couple of bats and forcing them out. Scum. Worse than Hitler they are, damn hippies.
ReplyDeleteThat's the point of direct action, it doesn't necessarily guarantee a win, however, what it does give is a possibility of achieving a victory, something which working with the union, and "negotiating" without any bargaining powers will not get you.
ReplyDeleteTo all you cynical bastards who happen to not have a life outside of visiting occupation blogs and making snide comments on them: piss off, grow up, and get some proper politics which you have the guts to act upon. Otherwise, stay in your little dank corner and keep complaining.
Kudos to the occupation!
So let's just look at what you've 'achieved', take two:
ReplyDelete1) Draw a cock on a roof. EPIC FAIL!!
"To all you cynical bastards who happen to not have a life outside of visiting occupation blogs and making snide comments on them: piss off, grow up, and get some proper politics which you have the guts to act upon" I do have some proper politics and my political values tell me that you are a bunch of counter productive arseholes who are even more dangerous than the arseholes that you oppose. You have no respect for the democratic process and resort to blackmail when you don't get your own way.
ReplyDeleteNot even one cock :(
ReplyDeleteI feel let down by those I followed
Bastards
I agree I feel betrayed, all these promises and not one penile roof motif. Look it really isn't hard. Now get down B&Q and get some paint, or if you can't be bothered send your butler.
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"That's the point of direct action, it doesn't necessarily guarantee a win, however, what it does give is a possibility of achieving a victory, something which working with the union, and "negotiating" without any bargaining powers will not get you."
ReplyDeletewaaaaah, waaaaaaaaaah, waaaaaaaaaaaaah........mummy i can't work the democratic process so I'm going to stamp my feet and throw my toys out of the pram until i get my own way. Screw the will of the people, the will of the self aggrandising few is much more important.
You occupation people are just facists in the waiting.
ReplyDelete"Direct action"
ReplyDeleteexcuse me direct action isn't sitting in a lecture theatre making it smell bad, direct action is sodding of to Israel or Palestine or what ever you want to call it and doing something productive there.
to 10:34 and person going on about "counter productive" action, I wrote on this blog yesterday asking anyone who wants to raise money for the DEC campaign and plans fundraising events to email me, and yet you didn't, only people from the occupation wanted to!
ReplyDelete10:34 I've emailed a few volunteer organisations over in Palestine and they're halting their programs because they need aid, aid that we can raise from students!
so i'll say again, anyone that wants to start to pull something out of this for the DEC campaign http://www.dec.org.uk/item/200 email me and we can talk ideas tokattathanks@hotmail.com
Your occupation sucks. And it's counterproductive. I'm ashamed of you.
ReplyDeletewhat about that vast charity campaign by the tv stations back in jan/feb surely that raised a fair bit
ReplyDeleteAnd why not just occupy the concourse you get more sympathy than sitting in a comfy lecture theater and you don't annoy anyone
Most of the comments that dismiss the occupation are ridiculous! They're so childish. The occupation wasn't a playground game, stop trying to treat it like one.
ReplyDeletePlease stop playing at politics boys and girls. Get a backbone.
occupiers should get a backbone - they were the most childish of all, using blackmail to get what they want. (of which they got about nothing)
ReplyDeletePathetic. The occupation WAS a playground game, played by idiotic supposedly grown up people
so much for staying put until all your demands were met. aye
ReplyDeletethank you occupiers, you'v achieved very little and tarred our university with political extremism which could alienate israeli students coming to the uni or effectively stop chances for our employment.
ReplyDeleteround of applause to you all!
Do you think Palestine has been tarred with political extremism? I think it's been bombed to fuck with political extremism. Thank God there's people who speak out against genocide, where would we be if it wasn't for them who stand up for the afflicted? We'd be trampled down to the ground.
ReplyDeleteAs for Israeli students not being employed because of the Sheffield occupatin: Get some perspective!
Of course palestine has been tarred with political extremism! hamas is a terrorist organisation! and i think terrorism is extremism!
ReplyDeleteand i never said israeli students getting employed i said all students! i spoke of israeli students feeling alienated, which if you talk to the jsoc then they clearly already do!
as for achieving something, you'v brought much amusement to an otherwise boring couple of weeks.
More power to the left wing!
ReplyDeleteIn solidarity
More power to the left wing!
ReplyDeleteIn solidarity
aye, up with Stalin
why do the occupiers actually feel they have achieved something?
ReplyDeletesure they may have got talks with sheff uni and such, but have they effectively changed the situation in gaza? have they balls! stop being petty and do some proper good now!
To the person accusing the occupation of alienating Israeli students should read the occupations reponse to the JSoc's statement. It has been written by the Jewish students who were in occupation at the uni and is on this blog, just have a search through the blog archive for it.
ReplyDeleteWell we're glad its all over
ReplyDeleteand
one letter to a jewish society will not help them feel less intimidated
Intimidated by a peaceful protest? A protest against the terrible scenes we saw on our tvs in january? A protest that called on the university to aid those students in Gaza in a practical way? A protest that from the start was unflinching in its anti-racism and open to dialogue with all those who wanted to pose sensible questions?
ReplyDeleteWell done guys! Without the occupation the university would not be sitting down and discussing ways in which to help the people of Gaza. They have been forced into this. Your principles and moral outrage won out. They are just too embarassed to allow the occupation into open talks. We all know that you were the driving force behind the new dialogue over the israel/palestine question.
Solidarity!
You are a joke. You did not decide to end the occupation you had no choice. You claim to have not stopped lectures despite creating an intimidating environment for students. You have wasted the time and money of both the University and the police and courts. You have allowed a students union officer to neglect the position she was appointed to and you damaged the Gaza cause. You have not made the University sit down and discuss Gaza, they ignored you because you occupation was at best misguided. Congratulation on taking a passive aggressive stance that had no positive results. I hope you are all thrown out of the University. Next time don't bother.
ReplyDeleteBring down APARTHEID wall!!!
ReplyDelete"A protest that from the start was ... open to dialogue with all those who wanted to pose sensible questions?"
ReplyDeleteIncluding the numerous sensible questions that went unanswered on this blog?
No, no you weren't
"Including the numerous sensible questions that went unanswered on this blog?"
ReplyDeleteThere have been sensible questions on this blog? But to be honest an occupation is a very time consuming thing and I doubt many occupiers had the time to trawl through the crap that was posted on here and answer the one or two 'sensible' questions.
time consuming?
ReplyDeletesome people need a reality check, if they had answered ANY sensible questions the crap wouldn't of been here, but instead the called people trolls for disagreeing and then the funny stuff started
Bring down APARTHEID wall!!!
ReplyDeleteNever mind bringing down the apartheid wall, what about painting a lovley big willy on the apartheid roof. Thats a statement right there, the zionists would shit themselves.
ReplyDeleteNow that's an idea, there is nothing that terrifies an oppressive regime more than a proud member standing firm against their injustice and tyranny.
ReplyDeleteIf you lived in a worn torn country and there were people dedicated, in a different country, to your plight, do you think they'd really want to hear about your cock. You are being very offensive in belittling such a cause.
ReplyDeleteSolidarity to the Palestine supporters in Sheffield.
My my my we are a self important, pompous arsehole aren't we. Did you ever think that occupying a university building to make your own fruitless political point while belittling the democratic process is "very offensive".
ReplyDeleteMy my my we are a self important, pompous arsehole aren't we. Did you ever think that occupying a university building to make your own fruitless political point while belittling the democratic process is "very offensive".
ReplyDeleteshut it ashole you are a discrace for the student community. understand it
shut it you ashole(sp) you are a disgrace for mankind.
ReplyDeleteunderstand it
Bring down APARTHEID wall!!!
ReplyDeletewtf does that even mean?
ReplyDeleteBuild up the APARTHEID wall....................then paint a cock on it!!!!
ReplyDeleteNever mind the wall, build an apartheid cock!
ReplyDeleteApartheid cock?
ReplyDeleteHow would that work?
Black and white stripes?
Folks, you're going to need more than one tin of paint.
ReplyDeleteThings just gone and got technicolour
Well done Sheffield!! You did really well and we were all so proud of you!!
ReplyDeleteI am not from Sheffield but am shocked by the horrible comments on here that do not represent the widespread feeling of support for the occupation and its aims.
In future can I suggest not allowing comments? This is not a freedom of speech issue. If people want to discuss the occuption they should do so calmly and maturely on some kind of moderated discussion board/forum. But the way in which the occupation's own website has been hijacked by a minority of rude, aggressive, immature reactionaries is a real shame. And is not representative, a tiny minority have used the website to over-represent the hateful views they hold.
While I agree with you on the issue of this blog have been hijacked by a vocal minority I don't think censorship is the answer. For every ten 'draw a cock' comments you can find one legitimate question or query and those cannot be addressed or answered if they are hidden.
ReplyDelete"Well done Sheffield!! You did really well and we were all so proud of you!!"
ReplyDeleteNo, some of you were. Please refrain from using "all" in that context.
"I am not from Sheffield but am shocked by the horrible comments on here that do not represent the widespread feeling of support for the occupation and its aims."
How, exactly, do you know this?
"In future can I suggest not allowing comments? This is not a freedom of speech issue."
Denying the opportunity to reply via the same medium as the message is being distributed?
You really can't be serious. Really.
"If people want to discuss the occuption they should do so calmly and maturely on some kind of moderated discussion board/forum."
Tried that here, didn't work.
"But the way in which the occupation's own website has been hijacked by a minority of rude, aggressive, immature reactionaries is a real shame. And is not representative, a tiny minority have used the website to over-represent the hateful views they hold."
Shut up and get a cock on the roof. Seriously. Do it. DO IT.
"a tiny minority have used the website to over-represent the hateful views they hold."
ReplyDeleteCould the same not be said of the occupiers themselves, over-representing the views they hold in order to blackmail an academic institution?
That's the thing with opinion. For everyone who agrees with you, we know someone who thinks you're a knob.
A cadre of wanna-be politico half wits occupy a building, then complain when their blog comments get occupied by those with a penchant for penile roof art.
ReplyDeleteyou see how that works don't you?
Now when are we going to see an enormous erection engraved on the eaves of an educational engineering establishment?
Who are the Sheffield Occupiers? No one identified themselves. Exactly how are you supposed to negotiate with a group of people that failed to identify themselves, therefore not gaining human sympathy. All we got were messages from a high directive telling us what they thought. Who and where are these people from? Where do they receive their funding? Who are the stakeholders? Are they all Students or were there outsiders involved? Were Union Sabbatical officers involved? Why has no one come forward?
ReplyDeleteIf you believe seriously in a campaign, at least put your face to it? Were students worried of potential setbacks of disciplinary action by the university? If so, why bother with the occupation. If you feel so strongly about a situation, no matter what it involves, you don't have a voice nor a platform to speak from until you sign your name, otherwise the concept of petitions would fail to work.
Perhaps if the occupiers had presented a motion to Union council and had it voted on by the student body, a more democratic but less efficient way, but has been done before with the Woman's officer referendum last year.
Who am I? I'm a former and soon to be again student at Sheffield, I worked for the Union and with the International Student Committee. I have been proud of the Sheffield Union system and how it contrasts to many different university's and unions that I have seen (I'm at my 4th University now), but the lack of transparency and openness with this 'occupation' screams 'ME TOO! I wanna be a politico, but only for a week' - be political if you want, but at least make an effort.
Nate Adams
yeah what he said, except with more hot, hot, hot, cock on roof action
ReplyDeleteNate Adams - well said
ReplyDeleteCould I be so bold as to suggest one small addition to your manifesto?
If you were to lend your backing to the "cock on roof" movement, I think you would gain a much greater share of the popular vote.
Some kind of abolition/beating of hippies wouldn't go amiss either, but we shouldn't try and run before we can walk.
I'm confused. What exactly is this cock on roof movement trying to achieve. Is it this http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.19622846.jpg ?
ReplyDeleteCock on roof as seen from above
ReplyDeleteGood riddance!
ReplyDeleteI say, have you bounders not furnished these fine gentlemen with roof mounted man stick murals, poor show you cads. What would the bishop say?
ReplyDelete
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oh dear cock on roof fail
ReplyDeletewankers
ReplyDeleteWell done occupiers for disrupting education that people have paid for. I can only hope you went to protest in London the other day and got a taste of fully-justified police force.
ReplyDeleteGood riddance you dreary fucking cunts.
ReplyDeleteIf the next Sabb team has half a brain cell between them, they'll push for anyone who pulls this kind of occupation stunt crap again to be thrown out of the Union.
ReplyDeleteYou've made Sheffield look so immature and extreme it's unbelievable. I was almost ashamed to be a student here.
I have to echo the above comment.
Good riddance, and PLEASE... don't come back.
這麼好的部落格，以後看不到怎麼辦啊！！.................................................................
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