Gaza sit-in conflict continues

Negotiations between the University and representatives from the group of students who organised the S0.21 sit-in began last week. Despite no concrete outcomes, the sit-in organisers feel progress was made.

Wednesday of Week 6 saw the first of what the students assume to be many talks between them and the University. “There are some avenues of possibility,” said Chris Rossdale, one of the students at the meeting. Peter Dunn, University Press Officer, implied, however, it was the one and only meeting.

Mohammed Surve, the Students’ Union Education Officer, who was present at the meeting said he felt “the main discussions” had been covered and that it was “unnecessary” to hold another meeting as the University had pointed the students to other channels through which they could discuss their demands.

At the meeting, which was a precondition to ending the occupation of S0.21 which lasted for nine days, the students put forward four key demands.

The first meeting called on the University to implement an ethical investment scheme and for the Careers Centre to give more information about companies. Another was to facilitate the collection of books and computers to be sent to universities and schools in Gaza. The third requested the University hold a series of talks on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Finally, the students asked that there be no repercussions for either the students or teachers involved.

The Wednesday meeting saw Chris Rossdale, Kat Hobbs and Beth Smith act as representatives of the students who took part in the sit-in. They held a meeting the evening before that was open to everyone to decide what they would discuss with the University.

Surve said, “From the side of the students…it went as they expected.”

Rossdale said, “[we] wish they could have offered to exert more power over the library and IT services.”

The principal demand was that the Careers Centre publish information about companies that sell or make weapons. The University representatives present explained that the University does not dictate what the Careers Centre does.

The representatives suggested that this issue be raised through the channels in place within the University. Surve said, “the option is on the table to write a paper…[and] have it submitted through one of the Sabbs.”

The sit-in participants plan to resubmit a paper on ethical investment by former Students’ Union President Brian Duggan. Hobbs said they felt that the Careers Centre is not fulfilling “its aim to to provide all the information for students.”

Rossdale added that they and the University “ clearly disagree on this issue” and that he was “disappointed” by the lack of cooperation on this issue.

The fourth demand, that there be no repercussions, was the easiest to handle. The University had agreed that there be none for students involved. Dunn did warn that although this time the University was very “patient” with the students but that this “has limits and it would be best if they did not attempt to try that patience any further.”

With the demand for sending books and other equipment to schools in Gaza the University proved to be most cooperative. They offered to publicise the collection drive on InSite. They did, however, refuse to donate any computers as this is against an existing policy to protect University information. Surve explained that as the University is a charity it cannot “directly send anything out.”

Participating students have already began asking departments to donate old books and have reportedly had “very good responses.”

“Its a really big project,” said Rossdale. The group have encountered some practical issues with delivery to Gaza.

The University “basically said no” to the demand that it host a series of talks, said Hobbs. The University argued that it is the place of societies despite the arguments of students who explained that the University name would not only attract bigger speakers but also restrict bias.

The students plan to continue meeting with the University representatives until they reach firm resolutions on the four demands.