Planned teach-ins at Education Camp (formerly Core 24) for Friday November 26th.
15:00 Shackle 'em early: Student debts and fight back
With student debt already our of control and set to sky rocket if the con-dem government's plans go through, how will this effect graduates' prospects? Is there an agenda behind an indebted work force? How can we combat being lumbered with vast debts?
17:00 Resistance at all costs?: Violence and the movement
With special guest speaker David Graeber
A reader at Goldsmiths on social anthropology that has worked extensively on value theory, and has recently completed a major research project on social movements dedicated to principles of direct democracy, direct action, and has written widely on the relation (real and potential) of anthropology and anarchism joins us to discuss the fight back against cuts.
20:30 (previously advertised as 19:00) Resistance & militancy: Where do women fit in?
In the midst of massive ongoing resistance to the planned education cuts & restructuring of our educations, much of the media have taken a glib view of women's participation and leadership within the movement. Is it unusual for women to resist in such militant actions? Do women prefer 'softer' forms of protest? How do feminist politics fit with larger protest movements?
For more information follow our twitter @uweagainstcuts , email uwe.better.together@gmail.com , or come visit us at the Education Camp. Hope to see you there.
Friday, 26 November 2010
UWE Occupation Rages On!
A lot has been happening since our last blog post; lots of progress, lots of victories.
On Wednesday UWE students were leading from the front in a fantastic demonstration in Bristol City Center. Around 5,000 students turned out to protest raised fees and education cuts. Many, indeed the majority, were Further Education students which was brilliant to see. Protesters were very peaceful and non-violent, the same unfortunately cannot be universally said of the police, many of who's actions we condemn (more on this will likely follow soon). As part of that day's action several hundred students stormed the Bristol Student Union building after being refused entry. Students from UoB established an occupation there but left the following day after all their demands were met.
Yesterday we met with a representative from Bristol Anti-Cuts Alliance and have arranged with them to organise students Bristol wide; from UWE, University of Bristol and the number of colleges and schools in the city. We will build on the momentum created by Wednesday's demonstration and keep this movement pressuring harder and harder on the ConDem government.
UWESU's Annual General Meeting also took place yesterday. Our group had submitted a number of motions and we are ecstatic that two very important ones were passed. The union resolved to support occupations around the country, including the UWE Education Camp, and adopt opposing fees and cuts as its primary campaign for the next three years. Furthermore it was resolved that the union would pressure UWE management into making their spending plans and priorities public and explicit with the implicit aim of defending Arts and Humanities. These are important successes but only a beginning.
On Tuesday the 30th there is another national day of action.
http://anticuts.com/2010/11/25/30-november-second-day-of-action/
More details will follow. Stay tuned.
On Wednesday UWE students were leading from the front in a fantastic demonstration in Bristol City Center. Around 5,000 students turned out to protest raised fees and education cuts. Many, indeed the majority, were Further Education students which was brilliant to see. Protesters were very peaceful and non-violent, the same unfortunately cannot be universally said of the police, many of who's actions we condemn (more on this will likely follow soon). As part of that day's action several hundred students stormed the Bristol Student Union building after being refused entry. Students from UoB established an occupation there but left the following day after all their demands were met.
Yesterday we met with a representative from Bristol Anti-Cuts Alliance and have arranged with them to organise students Bristol wide; from UWE, University of Bristol and the number of colleges and schools in the city. We will build on the momentum created by Wednesday's demonstration and keep this movement pressuring harder and harder on the ConDem government.
UWESU's Annual General Meeting also took place yesterday. Our group had submitted a number of motions and we are ecstatic that two very important ones were passed. The union resolved to support occupations around the country, including the UWE Education Camp, and adopt opposing fees and cuts as its primary campaign for the next three years. Furthermore it was resolved that the union would pressure UWE management into making their spending plans and priorities public and explicit with the implicit aim of defending Arts and Humanities. These are important successes but only a beginning.
On Tuesday the 30th there is another national day of action.
http://anticuts.com/2010/11/25/30-november-second-day-of-action/
More details will follow. Stay tuned.
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
Royal Holloway Occupation
The Royal Holloway Anti Cuts Alliance has occupied the picture gallery corridor in the Founder’s building. 40 students descended on the administrative wing where
senior management were holding a meeting in the boardroom, to be joined shortly by more supporters and SU representatives. The Alliance received the immediate support of administrative staff and local PSCOs while issuing a statement of Alliance principles and list of demands to all staff. Principal Paul Layzell and Vice Principal Geoff Ward were issued the demands as they came out of the meeting and accepted the invitation to take questions related to the impending education cuts.
Layzell conceded that 80% were “not survivable” and referred to the cut in international students as “kicking us while we’re down”. When asked why they weren’t speaking out against the Browne review, Vice Principle Geoff Ward said of the union Universities UK, “We did speak out against the cuts but weren’t as successful as we would have liked.”
Occupants felt the management’s tone was defeatist and implored the Principal to use his position to put up a stand. Layzell said they would “reflect of it” and said they were in dialogue with the 1994 group, the University of London and Universities UK.
The Royal Holloway Anti Cuts Alliance has been receiving a constant flow of support and solidarity from university anti-cuts groups, trade unions and campaign organisations from across the country. They are later going to be joined by some
staff for a “teach-in” as well as members from Save Our Services in Surrey.
Students will continue the sit-in until their demands are met.
senior management were holding a meeting in the boardroom, to be joined shortly by more supporters and SU representatives. The Alliance received the immediate support of administrative staff and local PSCOs while issuing a statement of Alliance principles and list of demands to all staff. Principal Paul Layzell and Vice Principal Geoff Ward were issued the demands as they came out of the meeting and accepted the invitation to take questions related to the impending education cuts.
Layzell conceded that 80% were “not survivable” and referred to the cut in international students as “kicking us while we’re down”. When asked why they weren’t speaking out against the Browne review, Vice Principle Geoff Ward said of the union Universities UK, “We did speak out against the cuts but weren’t as successful as we would have liked.”
Occupants felt the management’s tone was defeatist and implored the Principal to use his position to put up a stand. Layzell said they would “reflect of it” and said they were in dialogue with the 1994 group, the University of London and Universities UK.
The Royal Holloway Anti Cuts Alliance has been receiving a constant flow of support and solidarity from university anti-cuts groups, trade unions and campaign organisations from across the country. They are later going to be joined by some
staff for a “teach-in” as well as members from Save Our Services in Surrey.
Students will continue the sit-in until their demands are met.
News form Italy ::occupations : actions : wild demos:: uniriot.org
In these days students of italian universities are shouting their dissent
against the education reform which is going to be approved in the next two
days at the Parliament.
Mobilizations and occupations are spreading all over Italy: seven colleges
are occupied in Pisa, four in Rome, two in Palermo, one college in Turin is
occupied by one week, actions, wild demos and blocked of the lessons are
taking place in all italian university.
In Rome, researchers have occupied the architecture College in the very
centre of the city.
Tomorrow all the students will besiege the Parliament trying to stop the
approval of the reform.
video, photos and more infos on www.uniriot.org
against the education reform which is going to be approved in the next two
days at the Parliament.
Mobilizations and occupations are spreading all over Italy: seven colleges
are occupied in Pisa, four in Rome, two in Palermo, one college in Turin is
occupied by one week, actions, wild demos and blocked of the lessons are
taking place in all italian university.
In Rome, researchers have occupied the architecture College in the very
centre of the city.
Tomorrow all the students will besiege the Parliament trying to stop the
approval of the reform.
video, photos and more infos on www.uniriot.org
Workshop: The Humanities and the Idea of the University
NEW DATE for ‘The Humanities and the Idea of the University’, Philosophy Department, Middlesex University
The Middlesex workshop on the Humanities will now take place on TUESDAY 7 DECEMBER 2010, 11am-6pm, Saloon (M004), Ground Floor, Mansion Building, Middlesex University, Trent Park campus, Bramley Road, London N14 4YZ.
Schedule:
11am
Christian Kerslake
Introduction: Philosophy, the Humanities and the University
11.30
Andrew McGettigan
How will Willett’s ‘New Providers’ affect the Arts and Humanities? Independents, For-Profits and External Degrees in the Proposals for Higher Education
12.00
Dave Hill
Education and Resistance in/under Capitalism
12.30
Discussion
1.00
Break for Lunch
2.00
Johann Hoiby, Alfie Meadows, Maria-Louise Rosbech
Student Reflections
2.45
Andrew Goffey
Stupidity and the University
3.15
Matthew Charles
Philanthropy and the Image of the University
3.45
Discussion & Coffee
4.30
Mark Kelly
Resisting the Bureaucratisation of the University
5.00
Marina Vishmidt
The Humanities and the Location of Value in the University
5.30
Discussion
* * *
THE HUMANITIES AND THE IDEA OF THE UNIVERSITY
What are the Humanities, and what are they for? What is a university, and what is it for? Is it possible to stipulate that Humanities education is an essential component of what a university does, or should be doing? How can the links be reinforced between Humanities education and principles of universality and equality?
In her recent book Not for Profit: Why Democracy needs the Humanities (Princeton, 2010), Martha Nussbaum argues that “thirsty for national profit, nations, and their systems of education, are heedlessly discarding skills that are needed to keep democracies alive. If this trend continues, nations all over the world will soon be producing generations of useful machines, rather than complete citizens who can think for themselves”. She presents a case that Humanities education is essential to the cultivation of critical thinking, reflection and empathy with others.
How, then, to effectively defend Humanities education? At this current juncture, is it possible to effectively defend the Humanities and higher education without also calling for an overall reform of the economy?
In the past five years Middlesex University has abandoned teaching and research in two key Humanities subjects, History (closed in 2006) and Philosophy (admissions stopped in 2010). It appears to be on course to reduce all of its Humanities provision. This workshop will be a forum for lecturers and students to discuss the future of the Humanities at Middlesex and in the UK in general.
The workshop is co-organised by Andrew Goffey (a.goffey@mdx.ac.uk) and Christian Kerslake (c.kerslake@mdx.ac.uk). Attendance is free, but please register atmdxhumanities@yahoo.co.uk.
Tube: Piccadilly line to Oakwood station, free bus to campus.
The Middlesex workshop on the Humanities will now take place on TUESDAY 7 DECEMBER 2010, 11am-6pm, Saloon (M004), Ground Floor, Mansion Building, Middlesex University, Trent Park campus, Bramley Road, London N14 4YZ.
Schedule:
11am
Christian Kerslake
Introduction: Philosophy, the Humanities and the University
11.30
Andrew McGettigan
How will Willett’s ‘New Providers’ affect the Arts and Humanities? Independents, For-Profits and External Degrees in the Proposals for Higher Education
12.00
Dave Hill
Education and Resistance in/under Capitalism
12.30
Discussion
1.00
Break for Lunch
2.00
Johann Hoiby, Alfie Meadows, Maria-Louise Rosbech
Student Reflections
2.45
Andrew Goffey
Stupidity and the University
3.15
Matthew Charles
Philanthropy and the Image of the University
3.45
Discussion & Coffee
4.30
Mark Kelly
Resisting the Bureaucratisation of the University
5.00
Marina Vishmidt
The Humanities and the Location of Value in the University
5.30
Discussion
* * *
THE HUMANITIES AND THE IDEA OF THE UNIVERSITY
What are the Humanities, and what are they for? What is a university, and what is it for? Is it possible to stipulate that Humanities education is an essential component of what a university does, or should be doing? How can the links be reinforced between Humanities education and principles of universality and equality?
In her recent book Not for Profit: Why Democracy needs the Humanities (Princeton, 2010), Martha Nussbaum argues that “thirsty for national profit, nations, and their systems of education, are heedlessly discarding skills that are needed to keep democracies alive. If this trend continues, nations all over the world will soon be producing generations of useful machines, rather than complete citizens who can think for themselves”. She presents a case that Humanities education is essential to the cultivation of critical thinking, reflection and empathy with others.
How, then, to effectively defend Humanities education? At this current juncture, is it possible to effectively defend the Humanities and higher education without also calling for an overall reform of the economy?
In the past five years Middlesex University has abandoned teaching and research in two key Humanities subjects, History (closed in 2006) and Philosophy (admissions stopped in 2010). It appears to be on course to reduce all of its Humanities provision. This workshop will be a forum for lecturers and students to discuss the future of the Humanities at Middlesex and in the UK in general.
The workshop is co-organised by Andrew Goffey (a.goffey@mdx.ac.uk) and Christian Kerslake (c.kerslake@mdx.ac.uk). Attendance is free, but please register atmdxhumanities@yahoo.co.uk.
Tube: Piccadilly line to Oakwood station, free bus to campus.
FIRST LIST OF DEMANDS FROM UWE’S CAMP FOR EDUCATION - 23 NOVEMBER 2010
The quality of our education at UWE is rapidly worsening. There are two major reasons for this. Firstly, it is a direct consequence of the implementation of the ‘Restructuring Project’ (its goals and processes) since the beginning of 2010 resulting in stress, tensions and work intensification of staff. Secondly, the government has recently proposed massive budget cuts across the public sector, including education and universities while talking about doubling or even tripling tuition fees.
Both initiatives, UWE-level and national, if they go through, will have a dire impact on education, students and lecturers at UWE and other universities. More specifically, these cuts will increase injustice, widen inequalities and intensify suffering across the country.
Despite growing protests such as demonstrations across the country, petitions and occupations of universities, no elected or responsible organisational or national ‘leaders’ are taking adequate measures to challenge the above-mentioned policies (UWE-level and national) and defend the interests of students, workers, jobs, universities or our educational values or the public sector. We have therefore taken responsibility for our own education and our future by setting up a ‘camp for education’ inside UWE’s Frenchay Campus at Core 24 to oppose the restructure, cuts and fees.
Last night, the assembled students decided to keep the camp running to raise awareness about these issues, further discuss, work and organise at least until the national student walk out against cuts and fees on Wednesday 24th. We do not wish to interrupt academic activities (e.g. lectures, library services, research, etc.) at UWE during the occupation. The camp is our working space intended to provide all the students and the UWE community at large with an opportunity to exchange views, learn about and engage in the camp’s activities.
Amongst the various university-level issues that were raised, participants repeatedly expressed their disagreement with a conception of a university which is largely and increasingly focused on ‘employability’ and this mysterious notion of the ‘Student Experience’ (i.e. irreversible marketisation of higher education).
We think that the idea of ‘student experience’ leads to a shallow, individualistic, consumerist and market-based education. Moreover, it serves to justify increased tuition fees, to rationalise the logic of proposed cuts in education, to antagonise students and academics and, specifically, to facilitate a damaging restructuring at UWE.
We think that our university should not solely provide career training and prepare students to solve problems defined by employers, but that it must also prepare all students for an active and rich civic life and for the major political, institutional and ecological crises we are facing. This reductionist process is contradictory to the essence of universities as spaces for debate, critique and democracy.
Following the first evening of discussions, the camp has formulated and agreed its first list of demands directed at university-level. We demand that today’s meeting of the Board of Governors:
1) Starts questioning the inevitability of proposed cuts in Higher Education and increased tuition fees and informs students about the concrete actions that they are taking in engaging with and challenging the government policies.
2) Opposes systematically and proactively the following government policies in all relevant non-governmental fora including the press:
a. The increase in tuition fees,
b. The cuts in education and other public services,
c. The withdrawing of all government support for humanities and social sciences,
d. The abolition of EMA which puts even further education and sixth form study beyond the reach of many less well off students,
e. Selective funding of research (i.e. supporting only engineering and science at the detriment of other disciplines).
3) Works with the camp for education to facilitate a conference for students, academic staff and management in which we can develop a shared conception of education for our university.
4) Withdraws the damaging proposal to downgrade and remove academic staff which severely threatens the quality of teaching and contact hours available to students.
5) Immediately abides by recognising the agreed dispute procedures by moving to status quo ante
6) Takes immediate action to start negotiations with UCU, to facilitate and to settle a quick resolution of the above-mentioned dispute.
7) Retains all existing Masters Programmes, and take concrete steps to defend existing levels of undergraduate teaching in arts, humanities and social sciences.
8) Reconsiders all plans that would lead to reduced internal investment into research activities of the staff.
9) Reconsiders all plans that would affect our education through intensification of work of UWE staff (in particular resulting from the roll out of the new workload model and the restructuring process).
10) Immediately stops using the notion of ‘student experience’ in all university communications and policies as it simply does not represent the voice of us, students.
11) Instead of enforcing such an individualistic and consumerist notion (of ‘Student Experience’), management should shift the discussion toward a more inclusive concept of educational VALUES in order to preserve and foster the societal nature and purpose of Higher Education and the interdependency between students and academic staff.
12) Reduces the emphasis on ‘employability’ as the main focus of our education.
13) Responds to all (individual and collective) requests for information and provide access to all documents related to the management of our university.
14) Reinstates funding for all students to participate in well-established events and study trips.
15) Establishes a time limit by which to enforce the implementation of the agreements following the 2008 Palestine occupation.
16) More generally, agreements and proposals from management shall mention a time limit by which they shall be enforced.
17) Not only ensures that no aggression, interference or disturbance will take place against the camp for education, but also takes measures to facilitate our work when appropriate.
18) Undertakes no victimisation of students and staff taking part in this occupation, Wednesday’s walk out or any future actions in support of our university and education.
We urge UWE management to recognise that our university is NOT a corporation driven by business principles alone but an institution of Higher Education which promotes and is guided by a combination of economic, cultural and social concerns.
Finally, we warmly invite University Management, the board of Governors, like all other members of the University community to join us in the camp and participate in this process. Let’s work together to find better solutions for the future of our university and act in solidarity with the broader movement against cuts and fees.
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
Wednesday's newletter: Camp's morning assembly, walkout & demo and many more things
Hey everyone,
So much has happened, and so much progress has been made since we started the camp for education on Monday afternoon that it's just impossible to summarise! To give you a glimpse of how much work and progress has been made, yesterday, we produced our first position statement and a group of spokes from our Camp went with a delegation of lecturers to meet UWE's board of governors and give the statement and a first list of demands. We'll try to update you more after today's action about what has already happened and the exciting plans ahead but we would also really like to encourage all of you to come to the camp and get involved!
Today's timeline and menu:
* 8am: Camp's assembly
* 11am: Walkout
* Around 1pm: Demo in front of Wills Memorial Building
* Car sharing (to help people to get from uni to the demo and back)
* This afternoon/evening
* Pictures and reports
* Working groups
* AGM tomorrow
*********************
Join the camp's assembly at 8am. We'll be discussing and coordinating the camp and the various actions of the day.
*********************
11am: Walkout. Check the wall of our facebook group to see what are the meeting points for each campus.
*********************
After the walkout, all UWE students and lecturers will meet each other and many more protesters (including our friends from the University of Bristol) in front of the Wills Memorial Building.
*********************
Extra buses have been arranged to get from UWE to the Wills Memorial Building. However, we would also like to facilitate a car sharing process. If you will be travelling by car, please come to the camp or, if you can't, send us an email (uwe.better.together@gmail.com) and give us:
* Your first name
* Your mobile phone number
* The number of seats you have
We'll then post this info on the camp so that people looking for a ride can get in touch with you.
*********************
We encourage everyone to come to the camp after the demo. We had a number of really exceptional teach-ins on Monday and Tuesday and we are putting together a programme for tonight.
*********************
If you made or make pictures or videos of the camp or our actions, if you come across relevant articles about us in the press, or if you have written something about this fantastic human and learning experience, please send this to uwe.better.together@gmail.com so that we can share it broadly!
*********************
At the moment, the camp operates with the following working groups:
* Info point
* Camp's cafe
* Media
* Camp's space
* Programme
* Facilitation
* Accounting
Two things are important here:
1/ We are not sure that we have comprehensive lists of who has been involved with each working group, so we are asking all people who have already been helping out to send an email (uwe.better.together@gmail.com) mentioning the group(s) you've worked with and your mobile phone number.
2/ We are looking for more people to get involved with these groups so if you're interested to help out, please email us an we'll get you in touch with someone working in each group.
*********************
Finally, if you don't have any time to pass by the camp inside Frenchay before that, don't forget to come for the AGM tomorrow. We have 3 motions against increased tuition fees, cuts and UWEWORSITY and we are preparing a number of additional surprises! And make sure to come celebrate at the camp after that!
NO TO DOUBLED OR TRIPLED TUITION FEES
NO TO UWEWORSITY
SOLIDARITY BETWEEN STUDENTS AND STAFF
LET'S RESIST AND INVENT BETTER SOLUTIONS TOGETHER!
So much has happened, and so much progress has been made since we started the camp for education on Monday afternoon that it's just impossible to summarise! To give you a glimpse of how much work and progress has been made, yesterday, we produced our first position statement and a group of spokes from our Camp went with a delegation of lecturers to meet UWE's board of governors and give the statement and a first list of demands. We'll try to update you more after today's action about what has already happened and the exciting plans ahead but we would also really like to encourage all of you to come to the camp and get involved!
Today's timeline and menu:
* 8am: Camp's assembly
* 11am: Walkout
* Around 1pm: Demo in front of Wills Memorial Building
* Car sharing (to help people to get from uni to the demo and back)
* This afternoon/evening
* Pictures and reports
* Working groups
* AGM tomorrow
*********************
Join the camp's assembly at 8am. We'll be discussing and coordinating the camp and the various actions of the day.
*********************
11am: Walkout. Check the wall of our facebook group to see what are the meeting points for each campus.
*********************
After the walkout, all UWE students and lecturers will meet each other and many more protesters (including our friends from the University of Bristol) in front of the Wills Memorial Building.
*********************
Extra buses have been arranged to get from UWE to the Wills Memorial Building. However, we would also like to facilitate a car sharing process. If you will be travelling by car, please come to the camp or, if you can't, send us an email (uwe.better.together@gmail.com) and give us:
* Your first name
* Your mobile phone number
* The number of seats you have
We'll then post this info on the camp so that people looking for a ride can get in touch with you.
*********************
We encourage everyone to come to the camp after the demo. We had a number of really exceptional teach-ins on Monday and Tuesday and we are putting together a programme for tonight.
*********************
If you made or make pictures or videos of the camp or our actions, if you come across relevant articles about us in the press, or if you have written something about this fantastic human and learning experience, please send this to uwe.better.together@gmail.com so that we can share it broadly!
*********************
At the moment, the camp operates with the following working groups:
* Info point
* Camp's cafe
* Media
* Camp's space
* Programme
* Facilitation
* Accounting
Two things are important here:
1/ We are not sure that we have comprehensive lists of who has been involved with each working group, so we are asking all people who have already been helping out to send an email (uwe.better.together@gmail.com) mentioning the group(s) you've worked with and your mobile phone number.
2/ We are looking for more people to get involved with these groups so if you're interested to help out, please email us an we'll get you in touch with someone working in each group.
*********************
Finally, if you don't have any time to pass by the camp inside Frenchay before that, don't forget to come for the AGM tomorrow. We have 3 motions against increased tuition fees, cuts and UWEWORSITY and we are preparing a number of additional surprises! And make sure to come celebrate at the camp after that!
NO TO DOUBLED OR TRIPLED TUITION FEES
NO TO UWEWORSITY
SOLIDARITY BETWEEN STUDENTS AND STAFF
LET'S RESIST AND INVENT BETTER SOLUTIONS TOGETHER!
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