it's kicking off at sussex uni

[ed miliband]

they've been in occupation for over a month now and called for a national demo today. about six coaches left from london (i'm a little sad i didn't go...), more from across the country. there's a live feed here:

http://libcom.org/news/national-demo-against-privatisation-university-sussex-updates-25032013

from what i can gather, students gathered around sussex house, building of the uni's management, smashed their way in, burnt stuff inc. financial documents, and are now occupying the building (amongst many others on the campus).

fun!

[ed miliband]

oh man, they're arguing over whether to block the motorway which runs past the uni:

http://storify.com/adjykritik/mar25

[ed miliband]

pictures here:

http://www.badgeronline.co.uk/2013/03/the-national-demo-in-pictures/

[bcbm]

very nice.

[human strike]

Noticed late last night that my train ticket was off-peak only so couldn't make it - fucking gutted. :(

[bricolage]

yeah real good stuff.

[bricolage]

pop-up union; http://popupunion.org/
i think we might be seeing more of these kind of initiatives.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

that's fantastic.

putting a few unis (mine included) to shame with such brave militancy.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

is the pop-up union backed by the student union?

My experience of SUs is that they act like TUs - they like to have a monopoly on the student voice..

[The Idler]

Sounds positive. How far can this go?

[human strike]

Sounds positive. How far can this go?

I'm gonna say the totalisation of the university and communisation of knowledge.

This morning Sussex Uni put in for a high court injunction against the occupation, banning all protests until September. I don't know how that's gone down.

[bricolage]

it's a fast-tracked high court injunction to be enforced by private security.
an image of the future.

additionally unison officials have claimed the pop-up union is scabbing on their 'opposition' to privatisation.

[ed miliband]

just released:


DEMO AT 1PM IN DEFIANCE OF MANAGEMENT

Today campus was served with a court summons from management informing us that they are seeking a possession order of the campus. This injunction would ban any form of unsanctioned protest until September and result in the eviction of the now 7 week old occupation which continues to cost them a small fortune.

Representatives of the occupation are due to appear in court tomorrow morning and, since we all know that protest with the permission of those against whom we protest is no protest at all, LET'S HAVE A SODDING DEMO.

The campaign against the outsourcing of 235 jobs on campus will go on, whatever they throw at us. We will to show management that no matter what they do, campus is OURS. Getting a pet judge to write a special law just for them will not change our hatred and our defiance. FUCK THEM.

See you tomorrow

[Futility Personified]

When my loan comes in i'll keep an eye on this for travelling purposes. Good on them, aforementioned sentiments about a lack of millitancy at my own institution are repeated. And protest with permission has always been bullshit, glad this is being brought to a radical outcome.

[The Idler]

big communism banner is a winner in my eyes, no demands or slogans just communism.
Official blog of the occupation here
http://sussexagainstprivatization.wordpress.com/
Is it the reverse of the banner reading Omnia Sunt Communia?


http://libcom.org/files/imagecache/article/images/blog/omniasuntcommunia.jpg
More details on this slogan
http://libcom.org/library/omnia-sunt-communia

[Stranger Than Paradise]

Uni has won court injunction to ban all protest on campus until 25th September.

Currently it seems occupation is awaiting eviction. With privately contracted security refusing anyone entry, or allowing anyone to give food. Security have been filming anyone going near the building of the occupation. Management have effectively sought to wipe out any opposition to their imposed outsourcing by any means necessary. How the occupiers and their supporters and the pop-up union respond to these completely draconian measures will define how this campaign is fought from now on. Momentum could easily be lost over the holiday and the management clearly know this. Hopefully the campaign can regroup.