First Communique 6/02/09 - Preparation for the Occupation

Dear fellow Goldsmiths student,

You may have heard talk of a proposed occupation of a university building right here in Goldsmiths. The occupation – which now looks almost certain to happen – has been called by a variety of groups, including the Socialist Workers’ Party, the Palestinian Society, the Middle East Society and the Women's Society. The intention is to exert further pressure on the College Warden so that he grants full scholarships to two Palestinian students from Al-Quds University on the West Bank, with whom Goldsmiths is twinned.

A&S support the occupation, not only out of solidarity with the plight of Palestinian university students - who suffer incredible hardships in their attempts to educate themselves in a warzone - but also because the act of occupying in itself is worthwhile as a means of defending students and asserting our interests.

Goldsmiths will only be the latest in a wave of university occupations which have spread the length and breadth of the country in recent weeks, from LSE to Strathclyde. The success rate of this occupation movement in achieving its demands has been impressive; it demonstrates the efficiency of occupation as a tactic. Indeed, it seems likely that the Warden and Senior Management Team will eventually quit dragging their feet and grant these scholarships.

However, as grand of a victory as this would be, A&S do not consider these two scholarships to be the be all and end all of the matter. Unfortunately, Palestine is not the only conflict zone in the world, and neither are Palestinians the only ones who are denied access to a decent education. Here in Britain, 6th formers brace themselves for the raising of the top-up fees maximum cap from £3,000/year to £10,000/year, whilst non-EU students at Goldsmiths from October onwards are looking at annual course charges of up to £13,700! This fact alone discriminates against all but the most privileged.

A&S call for a renewed discussion about Goldsmiths’ poor record on fees, both for British and international students. We demand to know whether Goldsmiths – who lobbied Parliament to introduce the £3,000/year fees cap before introducing it on campus - will do the same with the £10,000/year cap. We also wish to know, in an institution that’s so confident in its apparent lack of prejudice, why it is that economic factors are considered valid recourse with which to deny education to willing but poor students.

A final point: with the occupation now imminent, we would like to cast the widest possible net and include as many Goldsmiths students as possible in its realisation. This must not just be another example of “the usual suspects” fulfilling their own fantasies and predetermined political agendas. This occupied space is for all of us as Goldsmiths students, and we want you to participate in determining its usage. We’re planning film nights, free food kitchens, workshops; what ideas do you have? With your help, it won’t just be another left wing talking shop. It is for this reason that we say:

ALL TO THE OCCUPATION PLANNING MEETING!
TUESDAY 10TH FEB - 5.15PM - RHB142