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| Student protesters defy court order and continue occupation | |
| (21 days later) | |
| Student group Defend Education, which has been occupying the University of Birmingham's senate chamber since Wednesday evening, has been ordered to call off its protest. | Student group Defend Education, which has been occupying the University of Birmingham's senate chamber since Wednesday evening, has been ordered to call off its protest. |
| The occupation is now illegal after court proceedings concluded with a possession order to remove the current occupants and an injunction against similar unauthorised occupational protests. | The occupation is now illegal after court proceedings concluded with a possession order to remove the current occupants and an injunction against similar unauthorised occupational protests. |
| Despite this, the group has decided to remain in occupation in defiance of the injunction, saying that they are "resisting an unjust, aggressive injunction". | Despite this, the group has decided to remain in occupation in defiance of the injunction, saying that they are "resisting an unjust, aggressive injunction". |
| Defend Education say on their website: "Not only have students agreed to stay inside the occupation past the time that the injunction becomes valid, they have voted to stay for the foreseeable future, resisting aggressive intimidation tactics by university management and instead waiting to be removed by force. | Defend Education say on their website: "Not only have students agreed to stay inside the occupation past the time that the injunction becomes valid, they have voted to stay for the foreseeable future, resisting aggressive intimidation tactics by university management and instead waiting to be removed by force. |
| "We plan to continue our protests until the university management take seriously our demands and drop any charges or sanctions currently threatened against students." | "We plan to continue our protests until the university management take seriously our demands and drop any charges or sanctions currently threatened against students." |
| The current student union vice-president Hattie Craig, a former vice-president Simon Furse and "persons unknown" have been named in the injunction, and could face imprisonment if involved in similar occupations in the next 12 months. | The current student union vice-president Hattie Craig, a former vice-president Simon Furse and "persons unknown" have been named in the injunction, and could face imprisonment if involved in similar occupations in the next 12 months. |
| Defend Education is demanding greater university democracy, fairer pay for university staff and that the vice-chancellor "David Eastwood and the University of Birmingham should publicly take back their position that fees should be increased". | Defend Education is demanding greater university democracy, fairer pay for university staff and that the vice-chancellor "David Eastwood and the University of Birmingham should publicly take back their position that fees should be increased". |
| Calling for a real-terms pay increase for university staff, the group says the Vice Chancellor's salary of £409,000 is unacceptable when lower-paid staff face a pay rise of 1%. The group blockaded five entrances to the university's Edgbaston campus earlier this month to raise awareness of the pay ratio between the lowest- and the highest-paid staff. | Calling for a real-terms pay increase for university staff, the group says the Vice Chancellor's salary of £409,000 is unacceptable when lower-paid staff face a pay rise of 1%. The group blockaded five entrances to the university's Edgbaston campus earlier this month to raise awareness of the pay ratio between the lowest- and the highest-paid staff. |
| It is opposing calls for tuition fees to be increased to £16,000 and inisists "staff and students should have more power in every level of university decision making". | It is opposing calls for tuition fees to be increased to £16,000 and inisists "staff and students should have more power in every level of university decision making". |
| Justifying the occupation, it says: "We are fighting this campaign to try and put pressure on the university to directly accept the demands; but also because we wish to start a debate and dialogue among students and workers at the university about the kind of institution we want it to be, and how we can bring this about." | Justifying the occupation, it says: "We are fighting this campaign to try and put pressure on the university to directly accept the demands; but also because we wish to start a debate and dialogue among students and workers at the university about the kind of institution we want it to be, and how we can bring this about." |
| In an interview with the University of Birmingham's student newspaper, Redbrick, a spokesperson for Defend Education said: "Within the occupation, morale is high." A protest was organised on Friday to show support for the occupation, which protesters say was filmed by university security. | In an interview with the University of Birmingham's student newspaper, Redbrick, a spokesperson for Defend Education said: "Within the occupation, morale is high." A protest was organised on Friday to show support for the occupation, which protesters say was filmed by university security. |
| Defend Education have been tweeting from inside the occupied senate chamber, where they have been able to get provisions delivered. | Defend Education have been tweeting from inside the occupied senate chamber, where they have been able to get provisions delivered. |
| Opinion on campus has been mixed. Charlie Winch, a third-year international relations student, says: "This small group of occupiers risk widening the already growing divide between the university and its students. The university is not going to change its fundamental position in light of this occupation." | Opinion on campus has been mixed. Charlie Winch, a third-year international relations student, says: "This small group of occupiers risk widening the already growing divide between the university and its students. The university is not going to change its fundamental position in light of this occupation." |
| Ben Jackson, a third-year English with creative writing student, was at the protest. He says: "We discussed on Friday what we as a student community should do in an easy, friendly and open manner. It's a shame that senior management are proving so difficult to talk to, even to people who've sat themselves down and presented their ideas and intentions fully and clearly." | Ben Jackson, a third-year English with creative writing student, was at the protest. He says: "We discussed on Friday what we as a student community should do in an easy, friendly and open manner. It's a shame that senior management are proving so difficult to talk to, even to people who've sat themselves down and presented their ideas and intentions fully and clearly." |
| The occupants' spokesperson claims the university "totally ignored our demands". He says they had to make the protest "unmanageable" for the university to listen, and that so far it has been "unbelievably successful". | The occupants' spokesperson claims the university "totally ignored our demands". He says they had to make the protest "unmanageable" for the university to listen, and that so far it has been "unbelievably successful". |
| The University of Birmingham says in a statement: "Universities are places of free speech and we respect the rights of students to protest peacefully and within the law. | The University of Birmingham says in a statement: "Universities are places of free speech and we respect the rights of students to protest peacefully and within the law. |
| "Our priority is the safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and the wider community, and we are concerned where any protest poses a potential hazard to protesters or bystanders, or causes unwarranted disruptions to study or work, or damage to property. | "Our priority is the safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and the wider community, and we are concerned where any protest poses a potential hazard to protesters or bystanders, or causes unwarranted disruptions to study or work, or damage to property. |
| "We are particularly concerned that the actions of this small number of students is diverting safety and security resources and potentially diminishing the safety of our 28,000 other students." | "We are particularly concerned that the actions of this small number of students is diverting safety and security resources and potentially diminishing the safety of our 28,000 other students." |
| • This article was amended on 26 November 2013 to update the story after the student protesters decided to defy the original court order and continue their occupation | |
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