The Last Resort
Protesting students on Tuesday snatched control of the University's Examination Schools for 24 hours, in a last gasp demonstration against top-up fees. The idea of occupation was put forward at an OUSU Finance and Funding meeting on Tuesday afternoon, and at about 4pm around 40 students entered and occupied the Exam schools until the following day.
The occupation, the first direct action of its kind since February 2001, gradually increased in size until midnight, when former Labour MP Tony Benn arrived to tell the 150 assembled students that it was "great" that they were such "strong campaigners." The protesters' presence caused the University to cancel Tuesday's lectures, despite pleas to the contrary from those present. Sian Hickson, JCR President of Pembroke, told The OxStu that they had "no intention to stop people going to lectures."
The protesters decided to end the occupation after 24 hours, when 200 students marched upon the University offices in Wellington Square in order to present the Vice Chancellor, Sir Colin Lucas, with a list of demands focused on changing the University's staunch support for tuition fees.
The protest, although strongly focused on drawing attention to Oxford students' opposition to Tuesday's vote on top-up fees, provided strong evidence of the growing feeling of frustration, held by many Oxford students, that the University is not doing enough to listen to the voices of students on policy matters. John Blake told The OxStu that "the University hasn't listened to us... went behind our back... and did so very duplicitously." He added that in his forthcoming tenure as OUSU President "we won't stand for that, and we will take action to make sure that they listen to us."
Many protesters divulged similar feelings of discontent. Rob Vance, Wadham SU President, told The OxStu that "the University hasn't taken notice in the past," and others emphasised their malaise with the representation offered to Oxford students. Sian Hickson told The OxStu that they had "tried the proper channels, and just been turned away again and again and again."
All those taking part in the occupation were warned that they might face University disciplinary action, and an appeal to the Proctors for an amnesty was greeted with laughter. The OxStu understands that the Proctors will seek to make an example of as many occupiers as they can, and those involved could face fines of up to £500, be banned from University premises, or face rustication for up to three terms.
Oxford
Tuesday, 3pm, OUSU Building. 40 people present at a Finance and Funding meeting decide to occupy the Examination Schools.
4pm. Protesters enter Exam Schools and begin sit-in. They secure the doors and announce their intention to stay. Staff leave, the University Security Services are called.
5pm. Security Services allow students in and out of the building. Occupiers are told that they are in breach of the University statutes. The police are informed of the occupation.
6pm. Proctors arrive, ask occupiers to leave.
7pm. Protest begins to build, as more people arrive all the time. It starts to get extremely cold.
12am. Occupation reaches high-point, with around 150 students present. Veteran politician Tony Benn makes a surprise appearance, for solidarity, telling protesters "You're all strong campaigners, you wouldn't be here if you weren't".
8am. University cancels lectures in Exam Schools for the day. Occupiers email lecturers asking them to give their lectures.
9am. Students arrange alternative lectures. Security services attempt to turn away everyone trying to get to the Exam Schools, including lecturers.
1pm. Meeting called to discuss the next move. Some students in favour of remaining until after the fees vote, others want to quit now. Compromise reached whereby everyone leaves at 4pm, with a march to the University Offices to present demands.
1:30pm. Proctors arrive to discuss the plans. Laugh off the idea of an amnesty for occupiers.
4pm. Around 200 students gather in and outside exam halls, and begin march to Wellington Square, to present a printed list of demands to Sir Colin Lucas. Protest marches through centre of town, under the watchful eye of Thames Valley Police.
4:20pm. Protesters arrive at University Offices, to find it locked and barred. The Senior Proctor can be glimpsed through a first floor window. Demand lists spread out on steps.
7:19pm, Wadham College JCR. The Bill goes through narrowly by 316 to 311 votes. Everyone watching decides to drown their sorrows.
London
Wednesday, 11am, London. Parliament Square fills up with students from Oxford, Brookes, Leeds, Coventry - all there to rally to their cause. On their way back after a four-day march, Cambridge show their dedication to the protest.
However hopes are dashed as Nick Brown, a former rebel leader, announces outside the doors of Parliament that he no longer opposes the Bill. This invited an unrestrained torrent of criticism.
Oliver Heald, a Tory MP and Shadow Speaker of the Commons, tells The OxStu that Brown "used to be a man of principle".
The Communications Officer of the Leeds Student Union preferred to call him a "spineless tosser".
Hopeful expectancy slowly gives way to creeping doubt.
1pm. The Central Lobby of the House is full and electrified, but voices hush as the names of MPs unavailable for lobbying are announced.
Andrew Smith, Labour MP for Oxford East, evades talking to OUSU and Oxford Brookes.
Disappointed again, people turn to the doors, sensing that nothing more is to be done.
The protest has never really gained the momentum of a national movement.
It gets mildly exciting when LSE students add some fervour by occupying Parliament Square and refusing to move.
The police retaliate and shove them off the road with one arrest and no casualties. Henceforth the demonstrators are confined to a narrow strip of the Square, surrounded by an unbroken fluorescent line of officers.
Paul Mackney, general secretary of NATFHE, delivers a passionate speech, deriding how Labour are "shovelling votes to other parties" with their proposals.
A sixth form student from Chingford Foundation College tells The OxStu how he is disillusioned with the new Bill and sees his future in a bleak light, possibly facing £30K debts. However the chanting soon wanes, demonstrators disperse, hoping for the bill to be defeated.
7.19pm, The Bill is carried.
Photo: Frederic Aranda
29th Jan 2004