After continually being ignored by university management and left out of all negotiations regarding the proposed privatisation plans, Sussex students have occupied the University’s conference centre.
Over the last few days the campaign has picked up widespread national press coverage and messages of support have been pouring in from Students’ Unions, organisations and influential individuals.
The management at Sussex have shown a blatant disregard for the views and wishes of the campus community in the way that they have instigated these proposals. The lack of transparency, and openness from a University that has a reputation as a ‘radical’ institution, is tantamount to a management position which is eroding the spirit of Sussex. All methods used by staff and students to engage with management in discussion are being ignored.
As a result of this top-down decision, and many others which have not involved adequate consultation with this vibrant and close-knit campus community, people are feeling indignant and feel as though all routes to ask management to listen to and act on our concerns are dwindling.
We call on the management of the University to immediately halt their plans; to undertake a full and proper democratic negotiation with staff and students about the future of campus services; and to ensure that student and trade union representatives are fully represented and informed during all stages of future processes and decision making.
Please send name and position to occupysussex2013@gmail.com and/or tweet @occupy_sussex to add your support to this statement.
In solidarity with all those resisting the privatization of higher education. Well done, Occupy Sussex!
Ana FitzSimons, University of Sussex Alumna and Postgraduate Researcher (Political Theory) at the University of East Anglia.
Posted by Ana FitzSimons | March 5, 2013, 10:15 amIn solidarity with the movement!
Right on!
Posted by Cecilia Vicuna | March 7, 2013, 6:45 pmAm in complete solidarity with your occupation. University financial management’s cavalier disregard for students and especially lower-paid staff who have worked hard for years is distressingly frequent in campuses across the UK. Good luck with forcing them into some genuine dialogue and getting some positive outcome for you against their narrow costcutting obsessions.
Posted by Tom Leonard - poet and Emeritus Professor of Creative Writing, University of Glasgow | March 6, 2013, 3:36 pmSolidarity from Oakland! David Buuck
Posted by David Buuck | March 15, 2013, 7:25 pmHello there! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be ok. I’m definitely enjoying your blog and look forward to
new updates.
Posted by Alan | April 10, 2013, 7:37 am