Defiant
THE TWO-DAY sit-in by the fees and funding protesters in the Divinity Hall of the Bodleian Library came to an end on Friday morning after the University took legal action against them. The occupation started as a reaction to the treatment of Regan Early, a non-payer at Wadham. OUSU President Kirsty McNeill said: "The penalties offered to Regan were extremely severe. At the meeting afterwards it was thought that with the high level of support we had we could do something to try and make the university reconsider its position."
Will Straw, New JCR President and Co-Chair of OUSU's Finance and Funding Committee, added that: "The university handled the non-payers very badly. They put pressure on the colleges to penalise non-payers whilst pretending that they were autonomous. It is the university's money so it should be their penalties." He described the decision to not recognise the students as residents as "ridiculous".
By Thursday leaflets had been printed and a range of entertainment, including a gospel choir and Twister, had been arranged. Support from Cambridge, Sheffield and London Universities Student Unions gave further weight to the campaign. The atmosphere was described as "like a party" by protesters, who joined in on their way back from their evening out.
The University Police, who supervised the sit-in, warned students that they were breaking University Statutes by entering the occupation. However, the large number of participants meant that most people considered punitive action unlikely and the protest continued peacefully. But by Friday steps towards seeking a High Court injunction were taken and the university threatened to bill students for the costs. Kirsty McNeill stressed that the protest ended because students wished to avoid legal proceedings. However, she stated that "the occupation was a success in so far as it demonstrated the strength of students' feelings." Will Straw said: "The occupation gave rise to more publicity and encouraged new people to sign up. The Select Committee Report and David Blunkett's declaration on top-up fees shows that the fight is worth continuing."
Both supporters described the university's response to the occupation as "somewhat hysterical", especially in their decision to close the libraries on the first day.
Regan Early said: "I very much hope relations between students and the university haven't been damaged; I don't think they have. The occupation was well organised and the university representatives seemed to think we were being responsible. Negotiations were also carried out well."
Librarians at the Bodleian refused to comment, as did the University Police. The Press Office refused to comment on whether the university's action was too drastic, saying that "it isn't an issue now that it [the occupation] is over." A spokesperson said: "The university has put a process into motion to start action against one of the two remaining non-payers, the other being a foreign student." He added that it was a "college matter." The college in question, Merton, was due to meet on Wednesday to discuss Heenal Rajani's fate.
Not all OUSU personnel were in favour of the occupation. One Executive Officer, George Callaghan, denounce the occupiers' actions as 'deplorable'. He thought the university police should have been more firm, adding, "I would hope that violence would be enacted against all of these people at all times - this is the only way to restore order in the university."
Over the weekend, Callaghan had also brought James Rowland's campaign of non-paying to an end. Together with John Storey, he paid the £1 outstanding on the Pembroke student's fees. On hearing this, Rowland was reported as being "exceedingly pissed off."
The next action planned by the Finance and Funding Committee is the build-up to the National Shut-Down in 7th week. On March 1st students will be encouraged to miss lectures and tutorials in show of their support for the cause.
15th Feb 2001