International
Students in occupation in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rican occupiers injured by police
Strikes planned in California
Students go on hunger strike at UC Berkeley
Protestors in Greece try to storm parliament
*BREAKING NEWS* University of Vienna lecture hall occupied

If you have any links to recent news stories about fees, cuts, or general dissent, please comment below and we’ll add them.

In response to the planned closure of Middlesex Philosophy the students have occupied Mansion House on Trent Park campus. Today we announce the opening of an experimental and communal space for educational presentations and conversations at the interface between philosophy, theory, activism and art. Transversal Space is an alternative educational experience in which the boundaries between disciplines and the relations between students and teachers are blurred. Relationships and ideas are explored in an open and collective way continuing the ethos of our philosophy department and its series of events.
A program of events for the weekend (7-9/5) is now being set up. Please come and join us on the beautiful Trent Park campus. A free shuttle bus will take you here from Oakwood station on the Picadilly line (penultimate stop in Northern direction). Let us know if you have suggestions for the program & join us at any point during the weekend.
Contact us on this email and on savemdxphil@gmail.com, or call Josefine 07863565557 or Vijak 07825109703

TIMETABLE (Do check back for updates!)
Friday, 7 May 2010
2.00 p.m. – Middlesex Philosophy student Pavel Khazanov will be giving a paper entitled ‘Psychoanalysis and the Ethical Cogito’
3.30 p.m. – A close reading of the Introduction to Being and Nothingness by Middlesex Philosophy students Lord Johann Vadseth Holby, Maria Louise Rosbech, and Shanna Caughey
5.30 p.m. – A seminar on Lacan’s ‘Ecrit’ “The Function and Field of Speech and Language in Psychoanalyis” by Middlesex Philosophy research student and tutor Tom Eyers
Also planned today:
- ’Spinoza for Everyone’ seminar given by Knox Peden, a big name in French philosophical scholarship. We are lucky to have him!
- An open mic: songs, stories, spoken word
Saturday, 8 May 2010
5.00 p.m. – Alex Callinicos, Professor of European Studies at King’s College London will be giving a talk. (whoop! time for some DEBATE!)

–
From the student occupation committee:
Some people have been asking us about things to help us with our occupation, so here are a few ideas:
-Banner materials (sheets, poster paper, paint, markers, etc.)
-Media (Cameras, videos, stereograms, carrier pigeons)
-Bedding (Blankets, pillows, sleeping bags)
-Foodstuffs
Remember, our goal here is to present an alternative form of education, as an environment in which we are learning together. Transversal Space is Creative Space.
Looking forward to seeing all of you here!

—
Open letter to Mdx staff, faculty and students

Dear Middlesex University staff, faculty, and students,
We are writing to clarify our intentions and the purpose behind occupying The Mansion Building at Middlesex University.
Last week we were shocked at the news that the administration intends to close the Philosophy Department, including the world-renowned post-graduate programmes. While saving the philosophy department is our primary aim, we realize that this specific closure is evidence of a much broader trend in higher education. We want to be absolutely clear that we are doing this not out of self-interest, but to advocate for you, the students, faculty and staff of Middlesex University, as well all of those who care about the future of humanities in the UK.
As Terry Eagleton put it at a teach-in at Kings College London in March, what we are currently experiencing is a move towards a model of “education for the economy versus education for society.” The university administrations are using the current financial crisis as an excuse to restructure their institutions, opting to close or severely cap any programmes that are not sufficiently “economically viable” according to their criteria. With a slew of cuts and redundancies, our universities are in danger of becoming vocational training centers that churn out a highly skilled, yet intellectually and culturally impoverished work force.
Here at Middlesex, the History department was closed in 2006. Now it is Philosophy and Sonic Arts. With the plans to close Trent Park and Cat Hill, it is realistic to anticipate more closures in the humanities. We are here to communicate that your jobs, your studies are not safe. We are here to communicate that we will not take these closures lying down.
Our protest and occupation is peaceful. The administration has called the police out to Trent Park twice; both times they left within a half hour, having decided that no laws were being broken and their presence was not necessary. The occupation has not interrupted the studies of any students and we encourage you, whether you are officially tied to Middlesex or not, to join or visit us here. This is an open, safe space and everyone will be warmly welcomed. We are organizing various cultural, political and academic events over the weekend. You are all invited to participate. Information about this can be found at: savemdxphil.com.
Universities are not businesses, and education is not a commodity – it is a human right and a public service. Education did not cause this crisis, and must not be sacrificed to pay for it. Anonymous messages of support continue to come in from staff and we stand united against management’s program of slash and burn.
In solidarity,
The Occupation

—
6 May
Meeting with management

From the student occupation committee:
At 2pm, a student delegation met with Margaret House (Deputy VC), Waqar Ahmad (Deputy VC of Research and Enterprise) and Edward Esche (Dean of Arts and Education).
After the management panel refused to reconsider the decision to close Philosophy, the meeting ended without resolution.
The occupation continues.

Chants of “Workers and students unite and fight” and “They say cut back, we say fight back” from the street outside could be heard in the board room. All ‘charges’ against Simon were promptly dropped.

The lesson, as with the Sussex Six, is that solidarity can win.

The following is a report from Mark B, an activist from Revo (www.worldrevolution.org.uk)

Middlesex Philosophy department has entered its second night of occupation. The occupation began on the 4th May in response to the closure of all the BA, MA and PhD programmes at the department. The closures were announced on 28th April by the Dean of the School of Arts & Humanities, Ed Esche. Ed Esche called a Q&A meeting with students for the 4th May to discuss the closure. He cancelled the meeting at the last minute and refused to show. In response the students decided to go ahead with the meeting and discuss what action they would do to secure meaningful talks with management and try and halt the closure.

They decided the best course of action was occupation and proceeded to occupy the Dean’s office in the Philosophy department. Students locked themselves in the Dean’s office while others occupied the corridor, demanding that the Dean show up and face students. They held the office all day. A discussion took place as to whether they should leave at 6pm, or continue the occupation. Undergraduate students came out strongly in favour of this and following discussion they decided to continue the occupation overnight.

The next day the students tried to hold a department social which they had planned several weeks before, to be held in the opposite wing of the building. In a spiteful act management cancelled the social. In response students staged a solidarity demonstration outside the building. The occupiers then decided to extend their occupation to the whole of the Philosophy Department building. While the crowd outside made noise the occupiers forced their way past security guards and into the rest of the building. Security then gave up and retreated to a side building where they remain. The entire philosophy building is now under the student’s control.

The occupation has organised openly and democratically. After the closure was announced a committee was formed of students to coordinate the campaign. Since the occupation began all critical decisions have been taken collectively in mass meetings of the occupiers, by voting. The occupiers are currently demanding talks with management to discuss the future of the department. A meeting is scheduled for 6th May with the VC.

The management’s reason’s for closing the department display the brutal market logic which is corrupting the higher education system and leading to the destruction of courses and jobs. The management claim that because the department only contributes 53% of its gross income to the central administration, rather than the required 55% it is ‘simply financial’ sense for the closure to take place. The management argue they can make more money by transferring the funds they spend on Philosophy to other areas.

Alongside this the Dean said that the department made no ‘measurable’ contribution to the University, despite being the highest research-rated subject in the University. 65% of its research activity is judged ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’, and it is now widely recognised as one of the most important centres for the study of modern European philosophy anywhere in the English-speaking world. It was awarded a score of 2.8 on the new RAE scale in 2008 which guarantees it significant funding for several years. The university administration is cynically abusing funding rules which mean that it can close the philosophy courses, but as long as the department remains open, even in name only, the university can still claim the funding and simply divert it elsewhere. This is the result of the the business logic driving the administration, attempting to maximise income while reducing costs.

There are ideological reasons behind the administrations disregard for the department, as one of the PhD student occupiers Hammam said, “the university as a business is part of a political economic system, high capitalism, and this is a department which handles and develops theory which challenges this system.” It is little wonder the management do not consider it contributes anything.

With the profit motive as the main motivating factor for decisions under capitalism there is little room for a radical philosophy department which critique and challenge the status quo and call into question the whole system we live under. During the recession, as public spending is cut and education is slashed and burned we will only be able to maintain these courses if we are willing to fight for them. Middlesex students have shown they are willing to fight for their education. We must learn from them, follow their example, extend the struggle to every campus in Britain and show we are willing to fight for ours.

Join the protest: 1pm, Friday 7 May, University of Westminster Regent Street campus
www.westminster.ac.uk/about/how-to-find-us/regent-street2

Facebook event here.

More details from Westminster activists below…

***

We’ve just had some shocking news…

Simon Hardy has suddenly been called into a management meeting on May 7th at Westminster University.

He has been summoned to a “preliminary investigation” tomorrow at Regents at 2pm concerning his “conduct during the occupation”.

He has been accused of trespass and threatening behaviour as well as refusal to follow orders given by a member of staff.

He says: “Anyway would be great to bring as many people as possible to Regents, I know it is in the middle of exams (I have one tomorrow morning so I certainly did not need this!) but if they get one of us then it gives them the green light to persecute us next year.

“Would be good to meet at 1pm somewhere near Regents to plan what to do. I am allowed to take in one other person with me, but we should think about tactics on the day

“Hopefully see you tomorrow!”

This is utterly unacceptable behaviour from management; we need to stop this in its tracks.

We have made amazing ground at Westminster and they clearly want to squash it, stifle us and our message ..

we say… NO FUCKING WAY!@!!

Join us tomorrow…

savemdxphil.wordpress.com

The student occupation at Middlesex University now covers the entire Mansion Building at Trent Park campus. The occupation was extended earlier this evening in light of continued management refusal to meet us and discuss our opposition to their plans to shut down Middlesex’s world-renowned philosophy department.

Our occupation is in protest at this abrupt, unjustified and unacceptable decision. We want it reversed. Students have been occupying the executive boardroom at Trent Park since yesterday morning. Today, management again refused to meet our representatives or enter discussions with the students affected by their decision to close the philosophy programme.

We affirm that the university is a site for education, not for profit. It belongs to the people who study, teach and work here, not to those who view the institution as a mere instrument for making money or for furthering their careers. As such, we see the extension of our occupation as a restoration of the university to what it should be, and a reversal of what it has become.

We invite everyone to come and visit the occupied Mansion Building at Trent Park and show their solidarity – not just with our campaign, but with all other struggles against education cuts. We view our occupation as an integral part of a wider movement of student protest, and we are proud to have representatives of these other campaigns with us.

We want this site to become an open hub of culture, politics, thought and creativity. We will be organising a cultural programme and a philosophy teach-in, details of which will be released shortly. Everyone who supports our vision and struggle is welcome here.

More information and messages of solidarity: 07799 156 481.

Jade Baker, Vice President Education-elect of University of Westminster Students’ Union, says: about a dozen students joined 25 lecturers on the picket lines at the Regents Street campus; the number of workers picketing was a big increase from the last strike at Westminster. There was also a picket line at Titchfield Street. I think the support we’ve given lecturers in the anti-cuts struggles and during our recent SU election campaign has been a boost. A lot of students had exams so went in, but generally sympathetic; we also had a lot of discussions with members of the public and our effigy of our VC Geoff “Job Slasher” Petts got on ITV!

***

Rowan Rheingans of Newcastle Free Education Network writes: Students joined UCU members at Newcastle University today for a day of action against planned cuts, including stalls on campus. (We also work regularly with the university Unison branch.) We got a lot of interest, particularly because management has just proposed cutting combined honours degrees and replacing with them with more joint honours. 100 students do combined honours every year; 600 apply! The university has not consulted students or staff.

***

UCU activist Colin Waugh reports from College of North West London: All three sites (Willesden, Wembley and Kilburn) were successfully picketed and there seems to have been little sign of anyone other than the usual people crossing picket lines.

The branch banner was taken on the central London demonstration, and the branch secretary, Indro Sen, spoke at the rally, explaining the struggles in which the branch is involved, which include against compulsory redundancies and management’s attempts to impose a worsened contract, plus the scheduled mothballing of the (virtually new) Kilburn building with effect from 1st August.

***

Stuart Jordan: Hackney College had a lively picket of around 40-50 people this morning. Picketing was slow to get going, but really picked up. Lots of students decided not to go in and said they’d like to keep in touch with the NCAFC.
There is a certain amount of frustration about Unison, but also an understanding that the problem is not Unison members but the Unison leadership.
A lot of people spoke about being on zero-hour contracts, where you’re totally casualised and not guaranteed any hours. I thought if you’d been employed for a year you were entitled to the same rights as other staff, but apparently both management and the UCU lawyers say it’s two years.
It looks like there will be two further days of action at Hackney next week – activists in London need to get mobilised to support them!

***

Ruth Cashman, Lambeth Unison assistant branch secretary, reports from Lambeth College’s Clapham Centre: The college is cutting 26 posts which will mean 47 people losing their jobs. Overall at Lambeth College, across all three sites, the strike was really strong, with only a small number of teaching staff crossing picket lines.
There were about 70 people on the Clapham picket line from 7am, later they were joined by pickets from the other sites (Vauxhall and Brixton), and a hundred or so people marched through Clapham before leaving for the demo in central London. The mood was high, with people keen to stop students and passers by to talk about the strike. One striker commented: “Sure the mood is good today, but it usually is on the first day of action. We need to talk about what next. It takes more than a day, or even a day here and there, to stop cuts like this.”
UCU and UNISON have been holding joint meetings at the college and producing joint propaganda in the run up to the strike. Some UNISON members did not go into work despite the union’s failure to ballot members to go out themselves. UNISON activists at the college are frustrated at the London Region dragging their feet on organising coordinated action with UCU and are keen to push through a strike ballot as soon as possible so they can join their brothers and sisters in action.
Both unions are, to some extent, pursuing a policy of avoiding compulsory redundancies without challenging cuts – moving people into vacant posts, forcing people to retire, voluntary redundancy, hours cuts etc. This pushes the unions to make the bosses’ arguments – “We need to make cuts…” – for them, and ignores the effect on staff of increased workload and on students as they lose teaching time, nursery facilities and other important services.
Vauxhall site: I didn’t go to Vauxhall, but got a report from a UCU activist who was there. There were about ten pickets (not bad considering it was such a small site); everyone was pretty upbeat, but keen to see some strategy for taking the strike forward.

***

Sacha Ismail: About a dozen UCU members were picketing Lambeth College’s Brixton Centre when I dropped by to support them this morning. Brixton is the college’s smallest site and there were picket lines at the Clapham and Vauxhall sites too.
Brixton Centre UCU convenor Dave Estherson told me:
“The college are planning 3.5 million in cuts, and 47 redundancies. Yet our principal is on £170,000 a year, our top managers all get private healthcare and they’ve just created a new senior management post on more than £100,000.
“More broadly, staff here do not see why workers should pay for this economic crisis. We know about the billions given to the banks, and the fact that the super-rich have increased their wealth by £77 billion this year.” (As we spoke, UCU members were making a banner saying ‘Sack the bankers, not the teachers’.) “We need a united campaign by the public sector unions to stop the cuts.”
“The strike is pretty solid among UCU members; Unison members [support staff] are in general very supportive, but don’t feel confident to not cross picket lines. We’ve built good links with Unison [in fact I went to the picket line with one of the Lambeth Unison assistant branch secretaries], and there were 50 support workers at our last joint meeting, so we’ll work on that for next time. Last time there was a Unison strike many UCU activists refused to cross.
“A fair few managers used to be in the union, but in recent years the college has replaced ‘course managers’ who were also teachers with managers whose only job is to police the workforce. They weeded out any managers who didn’t want to do this role, and gave those who remained financial incentives to separate them out.
“After today, we’ll be pushing for another round of coordinated action by the eleven colleges and four universities that are on strike in London today – and the others that are currently balloting or preparing to ballot.”
One other picket line incident: a local Green Party candidate (unfortunately I didn’t get his name) stopped to tell the workers he didn’t support the strike, as it would damage education. When questioned, he vehemently objected to the idea that the Greens are left-wing or have anything to do with workers’ struggle. I don’t think the left and labour movement should support the Greens, but those who do should make a fuss!

Demonstration in London – May 5
Assemble 1pm, King’s College London (The Strand)