Security stepped up at SBS
Security is being dramatically stepped at the Saïd Business School for fear of violent protests at its official opening.
The School will be opened by EU president Romano Prodi in a ceremony on Monday. According to an official email sent to management students, police intelligence reports that "various groups" intend to disrupt the formal opening.
It is suggested that there will be demonstrations by anti-capitalists about globalisation, which is supposedly spearheaded by world leaders including Mr Prodi.
Strict examinations of identity cards will be in place on 27th and 28th April, while on the day itself no-one will be allowed into the building without an official invitation.
Further protests are likely to be attracted by the high-profile group invited to attend the ceremony. Among the 450 guests will be the School's main benefactor, Wafic Saïd and - it is rumoured - former Prime Minister Lady Thatcher, plus several other Conservative notables.
It is likely that the University's recent announcement that cosmetics giants L'Oreal are to invest £1.8 million in a Chair in Marketing at the School will further fan the flames. L'Oreal has a poor history in animal rights, but the biggest cosmetics company in the world strenuously denies accusations that it continues to test on live animals - an issue on which the SBS sought assurances on before agreeing to the creation of the latest Chair.
2nd May 2002