UAL College of Communication Occupied
Published:
February 24, 2009 08:42
by
student
Neighbourhoods:
In the wake of recent successwul demands to Universities, UAL students have asked their University to meet similar demands. Following a positive meeting with Rob Imeson, dean of students, alongside two equality and diversity officers on 11th of Feburary, the response received on February 18th reads very ambiguous, vague and inconsistent. After an event on Monday, 23rd, speakers Organised by the UAL Palestine Solidarity Network and the UAL Stop the War Society including Tony Bann and Mark Howell, students of the College of Communication occupied the Podium lecture theatre until their demands have been met by the University.
students voting for occupation
In the recent war, 1,300 Gazans were killed and many thousands were injured, many Gazans are now without running water and electricity. 22,000 buildings were destroyed. The UN has condemned the attack on Gaza as an outrageous atrocity. There is now a serious humanitarian crisis developing. This is not a war between equal sides, but the actions of an oppressive regime comparable to apartheid. Palestinians live in constant fear for their lives, are racially abused, harassed and beaten up at checkpoints, most are unemployed and live in direpoverty.
We presented six demands to the University to do what they can to
help the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
1.
UAL must issue a full public statement condemning the bombings of
educational institutions in Gaza. This statement must be official and
formal in its entirety.
2.
UAL must agree to break all corporate links with Israel to add
pressure on its denial of Palestinians human rights.
3.
UAL must survey its resources with the aim of donating any unused or
out of date books, computers, furniture or other teaching resources
with an educational institute within Gaza. A link should be
established between the two academic institutions and sustained
support should be maintained for a minimum of 5 years.
4.
UAL must provide 10 fully-funded scholarships to Palestinian students
affected by the recent conflict.
5.
UAL with the support of the UALPSC, must organise a one-day
intercollegiate charity event to raise funds for humanitarian aid to
the people of Gaza.
6.
UAL must agree to hold an exhibition curated in-part by the UALPSC.
Artworks exhibited to focus on the conflict and humanitarian crisis.
shown in one of the University's spaces of the UAL PSC's choice.
Students are asking for Solidarity and to bring bedsheets and shoes for an arts installation. They have organized a Gaza film screening with Cinema Libre tonight and invited Journalist Jason Parkinson to screen his film Press Freedom - Collateral Damage and speak about the issue on Wednesday night.
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Nigel Carrington's response to our demands
Dear Students
This letter follows up a meeting which took place last week between you and Rob Imeson, our Dean of Students, in relation to concerns expressed by you as members of the UAL Palestinian Solidarity Group.
I wanted to reassure you that University of the Arts London deplores violence wherever it occurs and considers access to education, freedom of expression and the rule of international law to be of fundamental importance.
We fully support our students in their debate of international humanitarian issues and are very happy for our student societies to arrange meetings and fundraise for charities.
The University does from time to time donate equipment and materials to appropriate charities as part of its sustainability and recycling policy and we are always happy to consider specific requests from overseas institutions. In addition, as you know, the Students Union from time to time provides advice for charity events to raise funds for a variety of domestic and international causes and you should certainly liaise with them if you wish to organise a charity event to raise funds for humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.
With best wishes.
Yours sincerely
Nigel Carrington
Rector