Student Occupations

Earlier this month, over 200 students at Goldsmith's College, London, occupied the university's administrative centre in response to the recent expulsion of eight students unable to pay their tuition fees.

The action had the backing of the student union. Lectures were allowed to continue as planned and students to continue their work in the building.

The occupiers built barricades and demanded the reinstatement of all expelled students, no further expulsions due to inability to pay fees, notification of the student union of any students not paying fees, the college to call on the government to increase funding for higher education and immunity for all students involved in the occupation. Seven days later they walked out, all of their demands having been met!

This protest is one of many across the country in response to the assault on working students and free education. Occupations have also happened at Camberwell, where some demands were met, Guildhall, where all of them were met, and University College London where the occupiers were removed by police. Many of these campaigns have pointed out the parallels between New Labour's attacks on students and their other oppressive policies, including racist anti-immigrant legislation.