Wednesday 25 March 2009

This Mornings 'Roundtable' Discussions

Today a group of students representing the Islamic circle, Palestine Society and the Black Students Committee meet with pro-vice chancellor Paul White in the student’s union. The meeting was held after students from Sheffield University have occupied university buildings for more than a week. The fact that the Occupiers were not represented is very unfortunate, and furthermore, undermines the strength of the movement for an acceptable university policy on Palestine. It is clear that these talks would not have taken place were it not for the occupation, given that the university ignored our previous requests for a meeting and that demands have not been met at any university where an occupation has not taken place.

The fact that the occupation was not represented also meant that demands could not be discussed in the context of an ongoing occupation, and that the bargaining chip was effectively taken off the table. The so called “roundtable discussions” were an opportunity for the university to show itself in a good light, seemingly willing to discuss issues that they blankly ignored a week ago.

The pro vice chancellor did, on behalf of the university promise to bring the concerns raised in the discussion back to the Vice chancellor and open up for talks on several of the demands. He promised to make the case to the VC that the university should align itself with the already existing Union policy on Palestine, and state that the university deplores any aggression against educational institutions. The issue of scholarships will also be raised together with the possibility of the university funding the transport cost of sending equipment such as old books and computer to the occupied territories.
The University is currently entering into a program of corporate social responsibility, and the group responsible for this is having their first meeting tomorrow. Paul White stated that he would try to get the issue of the university twinning with the Islamic University of Gaza on the Agenda.

Due to pro-vice chancellor White’s lack of knowledge around the issue of the arms trade this particular demand could not be addressed properly. However he was notified of the fact that the groups in the meeting could not accept his grounds for not making political statements, when taking the decision to work with arms companies is of a highly political nature.

The Occupiers would like to make it clear that we welcome the commitments to address the issues we have raised. However, if the promises made are empty more direct action will be taken.

113 comments:

  1. "It is clear that these talks would not have taken place were it not for the occupation, given that the university ignored our previous requests for a meeting and that demands have not been met at any university where an occupation has not taken place."

    That is very specious reasoning.

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  2. they shouldn't talk to you. by talking to you they'd be giving you power. you lost in a democratic vote, you've had your chance to make your point

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  3. Did they even loose a democratic vote. I'm not convinced they even tried democracy. The Sheffield union election results are at http://www.shef.ac.uk/union/student-voice/elections09/ and clearly show the candidate who stood. Did the occupation field any candidates? This question need answering! If not I will hold your protest in even deeper contempt. Name your candidates and proove you at least tried democracy, because if you didn't then you are just lazy militant fascists.

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  4. nothing like a good bit of Nazi propoganda is there.

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  5. "The fact that the Occupiers were not represented is very unfortunate"

    Maybe they saw you were busy doing other things?

    Diaries full of protests are difficult to accommodate

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  6. "The meeting was held in spite of, not thanks to students from Sheffield University occupying university buildings for more than a week"


    Fixed

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  7. If you're drunk and can't make it home, can you go and sleep in the Jessop building with the occupiers?

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  8. "He promised to make the case to the VC that the university should align itself with the already existing Union policy on Palestine, and state that the university deplores any aggression against educational institutions"

    That's you lot fucked then.

    "Due to pro-vice chancellor White’s lack of knowledge around the issue of the arms trade this particular demand could not be addressed properly"

    You arrogant shits.

    "if the promises made are empty more direct action will be taken"

    Like what? You can't even draw a cock on the roof!

    You're pathetic.

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  9. "when taking the decision to work with arms companies is of a highly political nature."

    no its not. Its about money.

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  10. i hope you all get kicked out, and replaced with palestinians your so eager to help educate! useless gobshites!

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  11. HAVE YOU EVEN TRIED DEMOCRACY?

    http://www.shef.ac.uk/union/student-voice/elections09/

    NAME YOUR CANDIDATES!

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  12. Ok, I've just been to watch your 'Rally'...

    There were all of 40 people (at most) and it was over by 15:10. Now if that is your idea of representing the 'Student Body' i think that you need to re-evaluate your ideas.

    Frankly i'm embarrassed with the VC for even holding talks with you due to your stunt.

    All you have managed to achieve is a loud shut to any group which feels like it wants something more - all you've got to do is sit in a lecture theatre and the uni will fold.

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  13. 50 people doing this sit in, and 379 against it on facebook group. I'm not sure, because having to move tutorial rooms this past week has disrupted my maths knowledge, but I think 379 is greater than 50? This clearly not a representation of the student body's wishes, just the noisy minority. GTFO.

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  14. It has been realised and concluded that this is a farce and a joke, and you have completely cocked everything up. You need to go home now with what little dignity you have left. If 40 people out of 25000 turn up to support u, thats not majority support, thats hardly even support.

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  15. I still wanna know if I can go and sleep in Jessop when I'm too drunk to get home tonight? It'll make a change from the I.C.

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  16. Lol, your 'rally' made me chuckle... through your occupation you have turned a very serious issue into something people now assocaite with your childish antics and you are been laughed at.

    Good show.

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  17. anonymous at 15.29

    do you mind posting the anti occupation group link on facebook so i can join it please

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  18. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=60170581533

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  19. If you'd drawn that cock when we told you, there would have been a massive turnout

    Dont say we didnt try

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  20. Can the occupiers please comment on the whether or not they really think they are representing the students of sheffield? And whether any student elections were held? And the massive opposition they have faced? If people dont want it, and you want to be democratic - u have to stop. End of.

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  21. 'However, if the promises made are empty more direct action will be taken.'

    Where will it end? Can't you accept that your continued alienation of the student populace is only devaluing your cause?

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  22. Still waiting for you to name the candidates in the elections

    http://www.shef.ac.uk/union/student-voice/elections09/

    cos at the moment it looks like you where to lazy to even bother attempting to get a democratic mandate.

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  23. "It has been realised and concluded that this is a farce and a joke, and you have completely cocked everything up."

    They haven't even managed to draw a cock yet.

    Fail. GTFO

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  24. But theyre not lazy, look how much effort they put into .... sitting in a building







    oh

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  25. i don't understand why your doing it in such an idiotic fashion the union or city hall are both far better places to get your message across without disrupting everyone else's education that we both paid a lot for and work hard. Your giving rally groups a bad name you should be ashamed at yourselves

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  26. May I ask if you occupation people can at least be honest with yourselves!!!

    You occupiers didn't leave the Hicks building because of the round table talks but rather because the university had just been granted an eviction notice for the occupied rooms!!!!!!

    If you occupiers really believed in what you stood for and really beleived your actions were legitimate and legal you occupiers would be prepared to defend them
    in a court of law?

    However as true to form deep down inside you guys know that your protest is in reality illegal.

    What I really find amazing is how you guys think that occupying a lecture theatre is a peaceful form of protest?
    Granted you may not be looting buildings and setting them on light, but illegally occupying lecture theatres disrupting fee paying students from all over the worlds education is certainly highly inconsiderate annoying and a form a passive aggression.

    Protesting on the concourse is fine but an invisible line of decency was crossed when you invaded the Hicks Building, enforcing your politics on thousands of people. It is ironic how indeed you occupiers are becoming just like the people you are campaigning against.

    Lets face this movement isn't really concerned with peace, all you guys want to do is wave a flag and use a conflict between a big guy supported by the US (capitalists) and a small guy Palistine (underdog) as a vehicle for extreme left wing politics.

    Once upon a time our would be oppressors wore army uniforms, now they sport dread locks and a Che T-shirt.

    Thank you

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  27. "Once upon a time our would be oppressors wore army uniforms, now they sport dread locks and a Che T-shirt."

    That was beautiful!

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  28. I note an earlier comment I left has been removed.
    So much for free speech then, you wasters.

    I re-iterate;
    If you're so keen on Gaza, go to the nearest International Airport.

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  29. Nothing new with the moderation on here; links to the opposition petition have been consistently removed from the blog for several days. I believe the justification was 'it's our blog so there', which is rich seeing as no one bothered to ask the students whether they wanted to be occupied in the first place.

    But then what do I know? I'm a narrow-minded twirp obsessed with his own immediacies, like everyone else who's not sitting around in an attempt to blackmail the Uni.

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  30. 17:08 - you might have noticed Gaza's currently under a siege imposed by Israel. If even food and medical supplies aren't being allowed in, and seriously ill people aren't being allowed out to receive urgent medical help, then I hardly think it's likely that any members of the occupation at Sheffield would be allowed in!

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  31. more's the pity

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  32. the point being made at 17.08 is not just about going to gaza, it means do something constructive such as aids/charity work instead of sitting in a warm building being a nuisance

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  33. Nothing changed because of the occupation-the fact is it was an overreaction to the fact that the VC was when it started, two days late to replying to a letter, and instead of asking for a reply, or clarifying why it could have been late (the VC being in Dubai for two weeks perhaps have something to with it) you occupied. The negotiations as they continued are a continuation of the original campaigns demands (i.e. before the occupation), with the people Fiona wrote her letters on behalf of in the first place.
    This whole thing has been about attempting to legitimise and justify the tactic of occupations as a form of student action, and not only have they failed in that receiving virtually no support from students; but by making it more about the tactic than the demands, possibly hurt the potential positive outcomes of those demands.

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  34. This afternoon just before 5:30pm, I decided to take up the occupiers invitation and head down to the Jessop building to talk to them and pose some of the questions they refuse to answer here.

    However, the exhibition space was completely empty. Does anyone know anything about this? Have they finally realised how pointless it was and left?

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  35. I was talking to a friend in the IC who said she saw a large group of unhappy-looking people heading away from Jessop around 5ish, but I assumed this was a rally or something. Has the Uni broken the Occupation? Here's hoping!

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  36. It amazes me that every time you 'maintain-the-status-quo-ers' want to criticise student activists for trying to bring about a positive change, you're so quick to point out that because less than a majority is represented, the process is undemocratic and even(to quote one of the earlier posts) fascist.

    Anyone who knows their history knows that Hitler and the Third Reich were democratically elected, just like the governments which implemented apartheid in South Africa, and the segragationist governments in America.

    Just because it's the majority doesn't make it right. So learn from history before you criticise. Those who have the vision and the strength of conviction to bring about change sometimes have to go against the grain.

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  37. Maybe so, but this I don't think that was the case here. These people were trying to get peace in the Middle East by sitting in a lecture theatre in Sheffield.

    Cookoo!

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  38. To A True scholar,

    Eat shit and die

    Cheers

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  39. So people who don't believe in invading buildings and illegally occupying them disrupting the learning of fee paying students are quote

    'maintain-the-status-quo-ers'

    This just goes to show how out of touch with reality you militant occupiers are.

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  40. "There were all of 40 people (at most) and it was over by 15:10. Now if that is your idea of representing the 'Student Body' i think that you need to re-evaluate your ideas."

    This is so unbelievably factually incorrect it beggars belief. There were a lot more people than that and the really went on for at least an hour, involving a sit in on the steps of Firth Court. The University management were invited to address the protesters but instead hid behind security guards and locked doors.

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  41. 'Sitting on the steps of Firth Court'

    all you bloody lot do is sit about! how work shy is that??

    'It went on for at least half an hour'

    Wow, iv been on the toilet longer than that!

    and as a matter of fact there was about 40-60 people which is itself a tiny number.

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  42. "These people were trying to get peace in the Middle East by sitting in a lecture theatre in Sheffield."
    Hardly. If you give money to Oxfam, it's not as if you believe you'll end poverty in Africa just by paying £2 a month. I'm pretty sure no-one in the occupation thinks their actions alone will bring peace.

    "So people who don't believe in invading buildings and illegally occupying them disrupting the learning of fee paying students are quote
    'maintain-the-status-quo-ers'"
    No. There are lots of reasons you could oppose the tactic of occupation, and if you've thought about the issues and come to the conclusion that you're against it, fair enough.
    Maintain-the-status-quo-ers are the ones that criticise anybody who opposes oppression, injustice etc. out of hand, without having any reason for it.
    Examples coming to mind would be people who, rather than addressing the argument, reply with choice phrases like 'Eat shit and die'...

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  43. "all you bloody lot do is sit about! how work shy is that??"

    And what should have been done instead? Start punching guards? So you can call us thugs? Face it there would be nothing that could have been done that would have made you happy here.

    "and as a matter of fact there was about 40-60 people which is itself a tiny number."

    There were a lot more than that. I'd like to see your organise a better rally.

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  44. Its fair enough that you are trying to make a difference but like i said above it would be far more appropriate to rally at the union or in front of city hall the university can't take a side in this conflict they are not a political entity in that respect stop feeling hard done by and go to do something that will work better

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  45. A rally? Is that what you call it - get more people at a house party.

    You truely are pathetic , give it up you failed miserably. Good luck with your explusion. I'll be there to wave bye bye to your university life

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  46. did you fuckwits stand it the fucking student fucking elections or fucking what?

    answer the question cunts

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  47. what a shame the occupation is over- what will the same 6 or so saddos who have devoted the past week to commenting negatively on this blog do? looks like its back to playing world of warcraft and commenting on youtube videos.

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  48. The occupation isn't a formal political organisation with fieldable candidates, douchebag - it's not an entire political stand on SU governance in itself. It's a single-issue Palestine Solidarity campaign, which does not involve itself in SU elections.

    For douchebag's information, at a head-count there were at least 120 people on the demo at it's high point, and it lasted for an hour and 40 minutes.

    Gotta be some sad bastard kids here spending their entire time bitching about the lack of democracy of an occupation they're simultaneously claiming is irrelevent. As for those who're posturing about 'being there to wave bye-bye' to the university lives of any students who may potentially face disciplinary action, kindly show yourselves to me in person and I'll gladly wipe the floor with your spotty faces.

    Politically speaking, of course.

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  49. "This afternoon just before 5:30pm, I decided to take up the occupiers invitation and head down to the Jessop building to talk to them and pose some of the questions they refuse to answer here.

    However, the exhibition space was completely empty. Does anyone know anything about this? Have they finally realised how pointless it was and left?"

    They were probably on the roof with a tin of paint following sensible advice for once

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  50. 50-odd comments so far here, almost all anti- the occupation, the majority using aggressive language, a noisy minority gleefully wishing expulsion on the protesters. Assuming these comments come mostly from people within the university community, seems that within Sheffield Uni there's really not a lot of interest in, or compassion for, the victims in Gaza. Which is frankly depressing, when you consider that, among other outrages, hundreds of children died there recently. If I'm wrong - wonderful. Debate it here, and if you do care, get behind the demands (even if you don't support the occupation). Let's sidestep the misguided time-wasters who are boringly interested in simply posting hostile diabtribes.

    Incidentally, hostile posters, what action might you be willing to take in future if there's an issue that affects you directly, and once again the VC won't listen? Doubling student fees, for example? Think about it. While you're busy taking gleeful pot-shots at the occupiers, you may also be shooting yourself squarely in the foot.

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  51. why do you people assume that just because we are against the illegal occupation of Uni buildings that we are against helping those in need?

    It has been said many, many, many times on this blog that people are against the methods of blackmailing a University, not against helping some poor dudes in need.

    Try reading it all and i think you will find a lot of the bad lanuguage is being used by the protesters who refuse to answer anything, call them saddos as above, tory boys in other posts.

    Your occupation is utterly pointless, has come to nothing and you are being ridiculed from all sides, especially the University management

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  52. "did you fuckwits stand it the fucking student fucking elections or fucking what?

    answer the question cunts"

    ha ha ha ha ha ha.
    i think this highly intelligent comment pretty much sums up what a joke all you negative bloggers are.

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  53. yet the questions remain unanswered

    how about what a joke all the protesers who, who have achieved the princely sum of nothing, apart from a court order and ridicule

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  54. "why do you people assume that just because we are against the illegal occupation of Uni buildings that we are against helping those in need?"

    What are you doing to help those in need?

    "Your occupation is utterly pointless, has come to nothing and you are being ridiculed from all sides, especially the University management"

    This is wrong, it has not come to nothing. Find out what came out of the meeting held this morning, (which would not have happened without the occupation) then you may comment. The occupation has raised awareness of the issue, gained tonnes of support, inspired future campaigns, started negotiation meetings, brought politics and political discussion into the daily lives of the generally apolitical students at sheffield and made a lot of students realise we should not have as much blind faith in the useless excuse for university management that we are paying so much money to. The occupation has shown that we care.

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  55. The question is not unanswered.

    "The occupation isn't a formal political organisation with fieldable candidates, douchebag - it's not an entire political stand on SU governance in itself. It's a single-issue Palestine Solidarity campaign, which does not involve itself in SU elections."


    To quote from an answer given on a facebook discussion to a question similar to one that is being repeated here, about occupiers standing for election...

    "A fair few people stood or were elected for the Students’ Union executive committee who agree with and are active participants in the occupation. Fiona Edwards and Al Hussein Abutaleb are both prominent in student politics, with the former on the Union’s executive committee as women‘s officer, and both have spent nights in the occupation. Also I believe Laurie McCauley stood for Union president. But, most people voted on the basis of whether or not the candidates were ‘tall’ or had a familiar British brand logo as part of their advertising campaign."

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  56. Pray tell me my good man did thee or thine compatriots stand for election to the office of that most august body that is the students union. For to have not stood and yet to make claim to some form of legitimacy would be knavery of the worst kind. I implore you to furnish me with the moniker of thine candidates so that I may check the veracity of thine assertion by examining the record kept by that fine institute.

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  57. so thats the talks which were already going on before the occupation started, the talks that you have been excluded from?

    your occupation has achieved nothing but ridicule for you

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  58. Dear Occupiers,

    Rather than bitch about the ruder, more ignorant commenters (which unfortunately appear to be the majority, why not address the comments that attempt to engage you on an intellectual level?

    I never got a full reply to a comment I left yesterday. If you want the support of the student body, why not talk to us? I'll give you another chance, here is my comment as it was posted yesterday...

    ---
    "10)That they face no cuts in jobs, wages or conditions."

    If you are such strong supporters of democracy and unionism as you claim to be, why not let university staff fight for themselves through their own unions? Or do you think you know better than them?

    Furthermore, as has already been said by others you can't claim a democratic mandate simply because you held a vote within your own group. Show pride in your union and ballot its members, then see whether you get the democratic backing of real students.

    Finally, if you want to attack University links with the arms trade, then that is a separate issue and lumping it in with other, more complex issues (like Israel/Palestine) that the University as an institution has no control over, is a suicidal error when there would have been full support for such a cause.
    ---

    I got a reply to the last paragraph that said the arms trade issue was central to the Gaza issue, and I responded that that only illustrates that the issue of uni investment in arms manufacturers needs to be addressed on its own, rather than in the context of a single (and highly complex and politically charged) conflict.

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  59. "If you are such strong supporters of democracy and unionism as you claim to be, why not let university staff fight for themselves through their own unions? Or do you think you know better than them?"

    It's hardly like the occupiers are stopping them fight for themselves. From what I heard some of the occupiers were having a chat with some of the porters and security staff and they said the were facing job/wage cuts, to which the occupiers went, wow that's pretty shit actually, if you take any actions with regards to this then you have our full support. Adding that to the demands was a sign of solidarity with the workers not them thinking they know better. Criticise them for what ever else but saying they would stand by the university workers if they face any unfair dismissals/jobcuts and decide to take union action is, to my mind, one of the more positive things the occupiers have said.

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  60. Some assorted points that have already probably been mentioned:

    1. Do you not agree that you could have spent the past week far more productively raising money on the concourse (or wherever) to send directly to Gaza? If your occupation does fail, you have spent the best part of 14 days just alienating a whole swathe of the student body, instead of actively doing something to help the people you apparently care most about (and occupation is a wholly passive means of protest).

    2. Re: demands for scholarships for Gazans - Why should students from Gaza get preferential treatment? I like to think that my university chooses students on the basis of academic potential, regardless of background. There is already financial aid available to those who are less well off.

    3. Occupation IS in effect extortion. Unless you believe your end justifies any means, you are setting an appalling precedent for student activism. What is stopping another group of students doing exactly the same as you to get your demands repealed (should they ever be implemented)?

    4. Universities themselves are apolitical bodies and your demands are far from apolitical. If you want a representative body to make take a political stance against Israel, it should be the Union, which is a wholly democratic institution. Did you go down this route before resorting to blackmail?

    5. It does look like you're all just jumping on the university occupation bandwagon that seems to be sweeping across the country. Matt Fox commented above that although you attempted to correspond with the VC before occupying, you were neither patient nor insistent and seemed to be waiting for the first opportunity to do just like all the other students across the country. Can you really, honestly say that you have so little faith in the University's management that you don't think they would talk to you unless you illegally occupy their property?

    6. Re: divestment from the arms trade - It is my opinion that if you disagree so vehemently about the University's involvement with BAE that you should have researched this prior to joining the Uni. You pay £3,000 p/a - take your money somewhere it won't be invested in the company you think is so evil. Some of us disagree and even apply for jobs with such companies.

    More to follow as and when they occur to me...

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  61. In my experience of speaking to people at the university the overwhelming majority of people are against the tactics of your Militant occupation.

    Most people will agree that your occupation is

    1) Illegal

    2) Pointless (The University is not a Political Organization, it is however a sanctuary of learning where people of all religions and political persuasion can come and study in peace, without having the politics of the few rammed down their throats)

    3) Aggressive (disrupting the learning of students)

    4) Hilarious

    If anything you have done the people of Palestine a miss service as many people now will associate your childish tactics with their plight.

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  62. I'm not an occupier but thought I'd respond (you do all realise the occupiers aren't just sat there waiting for your messages right? That's why you aren't getting replies):

    1. Sending money to Gaza is pretty pointless right now considering nothing much is actually being allowed through by the Israelis. Money in particular won't be much use, what with there being hardly any food etc there to buy.

    2. I completely agree

    3. It's not really setting a precedent, Sheffield was the 30th (?) in this current wave of Gaza related occupations. In the past occupations have been used for a variety of issues - one can only presume the reason people keep falling back on them is because they are in fact effective, as can be seen from those universities who recently got some or all of their demands. Incidentally, legally it is not extortion, perhaps you could say blackmail but it is certainly not extortion.

    4. The Union already passed something condemning what is happening in Gaza, by 2095 votes to 133, so yes, people did follow democratic channels on that one. Whilst the University perhaps could not be expected to condemn the Israeli state, condemning the bombing of another educational institution for example, or the breaking of UN resolutions is not taking political sides. More over, I believe some Universities already have which would suggest it is something they can do.

    5. I partially agree. However I think people are forgetting, many (all?) of the occupiers believe passionately about trying to help the Palestinians in Gaza. Their letter did not receive a reply - maybe he did have good reason not to but they gave him over a week and weren't to know he was away - and thus presumed he had broken off communications. Considering the fact that other occupations had forced those unis' VCs to talk to the people involved, it's not a huge leap in logic to think that maybe if they were to do so also then he would be more inclined to talk to them. Whether or not you think the occupation was a good idea, you can certainly see the logic behind it.

    6. I personally did not even know who BAE were when I started uni, I presume many people didn't, so you can't expect people to have researched thoroughly into something like that. However, I'm not happy with what BAE do and I'd rather the uni divested in them. I don't think the choice should be 'shut up whinging or go somewhere else', people can ask the uni to divest, it's not like it's a tiny group of hardcore politicos on this one, the union policy on the arms trade which includes 'to lobby our University to divest itself of shares in arms companies' was passed by 2,116 votes to 675. You may disagree that they should divest, evidently many people disagree with you also.

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  63. Bit disappointing to see a couple of people who are apparently from the Occupation talking down to or insulting the 'negative bloggers'.

    Doing what you're doing, you are going to have to expect and deal with abuse and people doubting what you're doing. You should respond with good grace and respect people's differing opinions - as it is only what you are asking for yourselves.

    Tom x

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  64. And PLEASE listen to the voice of the people and get a cock painted on the sodding roof

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  65. "Find out what came out of the meeting held this morning, (which would not have happened without the occupation) then you may comment."

    yes it would. The negotiations started before the occupation and have nothing to do with you.

    Clearly you are an idiot and its a good thing you were not at the negotiations so that people did not have to deal with your rather limited intellect.

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  66. Just to clarify is the occupation over then?

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  67. Look

    It really isn't fucking difficult

    Read the instructions

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  68. Is it true you actually left hicks because the VC gave you an hour to do so or you would have all been expelled?

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  69. Dear hilariously pointless Occupiers

    you are so utterly wrong if you think -

    - hey, what am I doing WRITING this? They're in the building round the corner. I don't need to write this at all - I just need to go and speak to them. And since I'm not on an ego trip I don't need to swear and insult them when I speak to them.

    Hey - maybe I'll even learn something useful. And maybe THEY'll learn something useful.

    But -ah. Since I'll be SPEAKING to them I won't be able to hide behind my treasured anonymity.

    Now where was I?

    'Dear hilariously pointless Occupiers - you are so utterly wrong if you think...'

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  70. Not everyone is hiding behind anonymity and not everyone is just around the corner from Jessop West able to pop in. There are some valid comments on here which the occupiers have not answered, except to whinge "why don't you come and see us." That is not an option for some people so why not treat the genuine people on here with the respect you insist we treat you with?

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  71. Does anyone actually have any respect for the (former?) occupiers any more?

    Couldn't even paint a cock ffs

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  72. I saw the rally pass by the IC at 4 and I counted 60 people and there were double that that I didn't bother counting, lots of support it looked like.

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  73. this blog started with actual criticisms of the occupation and now had loads of insulting.
    this shows how more and more you occupiers are alienating people and refusing to answer questions. you claim any one anti occupation is anti palenstine which is a complete farce.
    the majority of students are incredibly passionate about peace throughout the whole world, however this will simply not happen. most people are sensible enough to know this occupation is so out of touch it should just end with dignity now.

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  74. most people voted on the basis of whether or not the candidates were ‘tall’ or had a familiar British brand logo as part of their advertising campaign."


    does this make votes invalid or show great politcal advertisement?

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  75. did you fuckwits stand it the fucking student fucking elections or fucking what?

    answer the question cunts"

    ha ha ha ha ha ha.
    i think this highly intelligent comment pretty much sums up what a joke all you negative bloggers are.



    Selective blindness, and yet still not answered the question... your argument is as good as the occupation.

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  76. I've talked to lots of the occupiers and they don't believe tha anti-occupation is anti-palestine, dont be ridiculous! Where did you read this? We should all work together, whether agreeing with that tactic of occupation or not (its now over, so lets move on), to raise money for people rebuilding their lives in palestine, fundraising events, collections on the concourse, at both universities, etc. my email is tokattathanks@hotmail.com if anyone has any ideas, without sounding too soppy i'm sure together we can pull something good together.
    If you're not interested in this idea don't waste my time attacking it please, we've had enough of this from both sides.

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  77. Just fuck off and go home. Thank you.

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  78. sorry tasha, i meant anti israel, not anti palenstine!!
    but i must admit i am glad this farce of an occupation has ended. anyone getting expelled then?

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  79. Now that the occupation is over, I am sure all the people on here who claim to be supportive of the cause but not the tactic will be involving themselves with the Palestine movement on campus. I look forward to seeing you all there.

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  80. Tasha, read the comment made from other occupiers and you will see how they say that anyone who is against this occupation does not care at all for gaza citizens! this is simply not the case and shows how out of touch the occupation is/was with other students. thanks, will let you know if i can think of any.

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  81. Now that the occupation is over, I am sure all the people on here who claim to be supportive of the cause but not the tactic will be involving themselves with the Palestine movement on campus. I look forward to seeing you all there


    depends what the next tactic is. and depending on the weather of course!

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  82. "Just paint the cock, fuck off and go home. Thank you."

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  83. We've got our building back!

    now we've won that and look set to win varsity, who else can be we beat? (that one that calls himself joe?)

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  84. look i'll get you started what abouot an asci art cock on a blog

    00=======D

    that wasn't hard, was it?
    Now get one painted on a building

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  85. Have the stinking hippies gone then?

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  86. If you're being anatomically correct, an ascii art cock is going to be more like

    8==D

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  87. 8===O - - - --- -

    oh he likes you...

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  88. maybe some kind of avian motif

    |   <0)
    |   ( \
    |   x
    8=======D

    oh penis bird, you always brighten up my day

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  89. Is it true you actually left hicks because the VC gave you an hour to do so or you would have all been expelled?

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  90. Re: OLB

    That is not true.

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  91. Protest was legal, cops went there and said they cant do nothing as no criminal activity was happening, turns out trespassing is legal as long as its not doing anything malicious.

    There are about 400 on the against face book group yes...however there is also well over 700 on the for facebook group, I guess your maths really was interrupted.

    The Rally lasted till 4:30 and the VC locked himself & a large security detail inside furth court as the 100+ students walked a full loop around it chanting. A huge success. So whoever said there was 40 people at the march was wrong.

    The occupation started at 17, by the end there was over 80 people occupying...this does not include supporters of which are numbered above 1000.

    The university did not force them to leave the hicks building, OLB, fail smear attempt, if that got them out of 1 building they wouldn't have gone to another. It was vacated as security prevented anybody visiting the free and open space, this was contradictory to the entire point, so they relocated to a space where more freedom could be obtained...as a counter the university was forced to double the security staff used 2 suppress the occupation members.

    "Have the stinking hippies gone then?"

    They wernt hippies...*sigh*...They wanted justice for the international laws broken, hippys want full out peace everywhere.

    "sorry tasha, i meant anti israel, not anti palenstine!!
    but i must admit i am glad this farce of an occupation has ended. anyone getting expelled then?"

    Dont think so. It would be a bad move on their behalf+get them bad press which is exactly what they dont want. "Farce", A meeting was held between the management and groups involved (barring the occupation), without the pressure it would not have happened. Its a common tactic used even by major government's to pressure entire countries.

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  92. comment on

    They wernt hippies...*sigh*...They wanted justice for the international laws broken, hippys want full out peace everywhere.

    and who is going to give that justice the mighty University of Sheffield. Get real, if you want justice go to London or even better Israel and protest there. Causing disruption to students isn't going to help the cause of Palestine. To be honest it appears to most people that you occupation guys are just picking a fight with the nearest authority figure which happens to be big old soft University of Sheffield, you should go do this in Israel if you have any real conviction.

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  93. Hmmmm Facebook eh that's not really sticking it to the man is it now

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  94. marching round a building is great success?

    WTF - you have achieved nothing, at all. The people you want to listen to you locked themselves away to avoid you.

    you failed

    at everything

    And they are talking to people who did things properly - which happened BEFORE the occupation

    your propoganda is quite pathetic and using facebook group numbers as a popularity contest is really childish.

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  95. 'Its a common tactic used even by major government's [sic] to pressure entire countries'

    You mean MPs sit in the other countries' lecture theatres till they talk?

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  96. Anything pro Palestinian attracts lying Zionists who twist the truth.

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  97. Gah rumbled already. Is it that obvious?

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  98. "your propoganda is quite pathetic and using facebook group numbers as a popularity contest is really childish."

    Using facebook numbers was in reply to someone who opposed the occupation using facebook numbers. You're right, it is childish, but they were in fact pointing out to the anti-occupation person who'd (childishly) used facebook group numbers that even if one were to (childishly) use facebook group number then they still had more support than the opposing group.

    They clearly didn't fail. And what would be the point in going to Israel? That's up there in terms of 'lamest come back ever used', pretty close to 'if you like it so much why don't you marry it!'. They could go and protest in Israel, or they could raise awareness for it over here and help get the uni to agree to do all the stuff they agreed to at the meeting.

    Incidentally, this whole 'omg! all the negotiations were, like, going on before and if anything the stupid hippies just made things worse' bollocks is getting old - the original demands which were sent by Fiona to the VC, the ones that the meeting discussed, they were written by people who were inside and outside the occupation, the occupiers and the 'good, legal, going through democratic means, not annoying the students blah blah blah' method - they are both two sides of the same coin. Or do you really think a group of random hippies who'd never had any input into the movement just woke up one day and thought 'you know what'd be really fun? Sleeping on the floor of a lecture theater for a week. Sounds like a right laugh, lets invite everyone.'?

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  99. "Or do you really think a group of random hippies who'd never had any input into the movement just woke up one day and thought 'you know what'd be really fun? Sleeping on the floor of a lecture theater for a week. Sounds like a right laugh, lets invite everyone.'?"

    Nail > head

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  100. RE: They clearly didn't fail

    They clearly did, doing what they did had no impact at all on anything, generally called a fail

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  101. Your actions worked counterproductive. Please think in advance next time. But I guess it was never really about Gaza. Just about rebelling against the system... That's a nice hobby (I must admit I like it in some way), but please don't (ab)use Gaza as an excuse...

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  102. There are about 400 on the against face book group yes...however there is also well over 700 on the for facebook group, I guess your maths really was interrupted.


    but if you read the comments on the facebook groups.. the 400 are all sheff uni students
    the 700 are loads of sheff uni students taking the piss and loads of students from other unis!! so its not exactly representative!

    ps. is anyone getting expelled for this?

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  103. Whilst I'm against the occupation and think there are much more effective things those people could have been doing with their time, this schadenfreude at the thought of them getting expelled is kind of sickening. Yes, the whole charade was utterly pointless, I'm sure a lot of them are beginning to realise that now that it's over, but hoping that they get expelled?

    All they did was sit in a room, they kept it tidy and gave the porters/security staff a heap load of over time, it's hardly deserving of getting expelled now is it? It's a shame that those who oppose the occupation have decided to express themselves in such a way as it's not very likely to win the occupiers over to your way of thinking now is it? It's much more likely that they'll now feel the need to do something else to prove the people posting abuse wrong.

    Being a twat to someone and calling them names because they are doing something you disagree with is as likely to change the way they think and occupying a lecture theater is to changing the situation in Gaza.

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  104. i do believe it is a question, not a statement wishing people would be expelled.

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  105. attempting to blackmail the Uni is an expulsion offence, as these students will soon find out.

    And what do you think the occupiers were shouting at the Uni management? Or at Isrealis?

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  106. yes, but elsewhere people have wished them to be expelled, amongst other things. I really doubt the university is going to expel them, I'd like you to show where exactly it says that blackmailing is an expulsion offence, but if so then who exactly are the university going to expel? Every person who was in the occupation at any point? Over the course of the week that's got to have been over a hundred people, even if it's just the people who stayed over that's still, what, 40? 50 people? It's not like they took names so any expulsions would be entirely arbitrary.

    Equally, the university evidently does not consider it blackmail, neither did the police as blackmail is a criminal offence, one which the police could actually have done something about. As it was, the duty officer who spoke to the occupiers said that as it was a civil issue they could not do anything about it. So there we have it, was it blackmail? The police say no it wasn't.

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  107. meet our demands or we aren't moving

    yeah - thats blackmail

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  108. right, so you're saying you know the law better than the police? legally speaking it was not blackmail, that is a fact. If it were then the occupation would not have lasted 2 minutes as those involved would have all been arrested. They did not commit any criminal offence, the duty officer said that, they were only committing a civil offence, ie. squatting, that's why the university couldn't just get the police to come and drag them out rather they had to take the through the courts and get an eviction order.

    Blackmail is a criminal offence - the occupiers weren't committing any criminal offences - therefore they weren't committing blackmail.

    unless of course the police are just totally wrong on this one in which case I'd suggest you call them up on it, who knows what other crimes they are failing to notice. Though of course, the police are known for being tolerant towards lefty hippie types, so maybe that's it...

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  109. or it could be the police have much more important stuff to deal with than a hippy drum circle!

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  110. Well done Sheffield!! You did really well and we were all so proud of you!!

    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.

    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.

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  111. Ah, you posted that bollocks on more than one page.

    Still, on the 2nd read, it still makes no sense.

    Try not to parade your stupidity so openly - no good will come of it

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