Statement from Occupiers of Middlesex University
Published:
May 15, 2010 12:40
by
middlesex occupiers
Neighbourhoods: middlesex
In late April 2010, Middlesex University decided to close down
Philosophy, its highest research-rated subject; ever since, Middlesex
students and staff, and many thousands of their supporters in the UK
and around the world, have been battling to save it. In early May, Middlesex Philosophy students took matters into their
own hands and decided to occupy the Mansion House requesting
management enter into negotiations leading to a reversal of the
decision to close the Philosophy programmes. Management refused to
respond.
Last night the occupiers of The Mansion House, Middlesex University,
were served a High Court Injunction deeming the occupation an unlawful
act. This morning that injunction came into effect.
We, the occupiers, stay here in defiance of that injunction, against
the proposed cuts at Middlesex University. We refuse to be threatened
or intimidated by management’s tactics, specifically the naming of
individuals on the injunction. This is a collective struggle.
We ask Ed Esche, Margaret House, Michael Driscoll, Waqar Ahmed and all
other members of the management staff if it is really desirable to
bring legal action against a significant number of their own students?
The management have already shown themselves incapable of making
competent decisions about what is the ‘right’ way to run their own
university.
Furthermore we urge management to reconsider their decision to close
philosophy, particularly in the light of the arguments put forward by
our campaign and the overwhelming international support both inside
and out of the academic community. However this must amount to more
than vague and insubstantial promises.
Therefore, we demand that all BA, MA and PhD Philosophy programmes are
guaranteed reinstatement, with student recruitment reopened
immediately.
We ask friends, supporters and the intrigued to join us this afternoon
on the lawn outside the Mansion House at Trent Park Campus. There
will be a rally at 3, including a talk from Tariq Ali.
Solidarity to workers, students and all those engaged in struggles
against cuts in Education and beyond. From Middlesex to Sussex, from
Greece to California. We are the crisis.
For more background information check:
http://savemdxphil.com/
To call the Occupants: 07831946358
Philosophy, its highest research-rated subject; ever since, Middlesex
students and staff, and many thousands of their supporters in the UK
and around the world, have been battling to save it. In early May, Middlesex Philosophy students took matters into their
own hands and decided to occupy the Mansion House requesting
management enter into negotiations leading to a reversal of the
decision to close the Philosophy programmes. Management refused to
respond.
Last night the occupiers of The Mansion House, Middlesex University,
were served a High Court Injunction deeming the occupation an unlawful
act. This morning that injunction came into effect.
We, the occupiers, stay here in defiance of that injunction, against
the proposed cuts at Middlesex University. We refuse to be threatened
or intimidated by management’s tactics, specifically the naming of
individuals on the injunction. This is a collective struggle.
We ask Ed Esche, Margaret House, Michael Driscoll, Waqar Ahmed and all
other members of the management staff if it is really desirable to
bring legal action against a significant number of their own students?
The management have already shown themselves incapable of making
competent decisions about what is the ‘right’ way to run their own
university.
Furthermore we urge management to reconsider their decision to close
philosophy, particularly in the light of the arguments put forward by
our campaign and the overwhelming international support both inside
and out of the academic community. However this must amount to more
than vague and insubstantial promises.
Therefore, we demand that all BA, MA and PhD Philosophy programmes are
guaranteed reinstatement, with student recruitment reopened
immediately.
We ask friends, supporters and the intrigued to join us this afternoon
on the lawn outside the Mansion House at Trent Park Campus. There
will be a rally at 3, including a talk from Tariq Ali.
Solidarity to workers, students and all those engaged in struggles
against cuts in Education and beyond. From Middlesex to Sussex, from
Greece to California. We are the crisis.
For more background information check:
http://savemdxphil.com/
To call the Occupants: 07831946358
Latest articles feed
Directions to the Middlesex University Trent Park campus
The main building on the Trent Park campus is known as the 'Mansion
Building'. The nearest tube station is Oakwood on the Piccadilly line,
which is the penultimate stop (zone 5), heading north. From King's
Cross, for instance, it usually takes around 40 minutes to get to
Oakwood. It is then another 15 minutes or so to get from Oakwood to
Trent Park itself, either on foot along Snakes Lane, or else by
waiting for the free minibus service that the university operates
between Oakwood station and Trent Park. The service runs every fifteen
minutes between 7:00am and around midnight (or around 10pm, during
vacations). The bus stop for the minibus is to the left of the exit to
Oakwood station, on the same side of the road.
You'll find a basic map at
http://www.mdx.ac.uk/campus/trentpark/travel.htm, and a more detailed
one at http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=529250&y=196750&z=1&sv=529250,196750&st=4&ar=N&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf.
If you're on foot and have a little extra time, the walk from
Cockfosters tube station through Trent Park (via the 'monument') takes
a couple more minutes but is more atmospheric; there's a map at
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=528750&y=196750&z=1&sv=528750,196750&st=4&ar=N&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf