Birmingham University Corporate Conference Centre Occupation

[tomtblack]

We want liberty, equality, fraternity!

Liberté, Liberté chérie

Combats avec tes défenseurs!

[JavioUK]

Again, it's not the conference centre. It's intact a room where meetings, get togethers, alumni get together.

[kadaveri]

@JavioUK Ah so they don't have 'conferences' there but 'meetings' and 'get togethers.' Thanks for letting us know the proper terminology, such a critical distinction cannot go unnoted. So, the day after this action two university directors and representatives from the Royal Bank of Scotland were in there negotiating contracts, we referred to this as a 'conference', however it would appear that this was incorrect. Could you let us know if this was a 'meeting'? Or was it a 'get together'? Thanks.

[eddbauer1]

The attempts by some to portray the 55 students who occupied the corporate conference centre as a minority are massively disingenuous. little criticism has come from any students about the occupation quite the opposite it has received a lot of praise. For every student who attended I think the guild elections show that that are dozens who support them.

[vodaphoneprotest]

4:08-38 Brendan Casey (Director of Academic Services): Now if you try and get them out of the building, we will have you arrested. We're happy to do it again.

Protester: Arrested?

Casey: Yep

Protestor: How is there any law, what's the crime?

Casey: The law is very clear. Hire a solicitor, we've got ours.

The university locked some of us in the conference room and threatened arrests if they tried to leave with the larger group, who stayed until the door was opened lest the others be victimised.

[Eryin]

solidarity from kcl working everyday to organise for the 9th

[zyx694]

excellent!looking forward to the 9th!

[kadaveri12321]

Great action, shame I couldn't be there this time. Keep struggling and don't let the lovers of consumerism get you down.

[YSTClinguist]

Just recently came across the free deshaker plugin for the equally free VirtualDub which goes a long way to removing camera shake issues. Google it when you've got time and pass it on if/when you find it extremely useful.

[eaglepies]

really good speeches btw

[hattikins]

@Gracie1311 As a Birmingham student I am embarrassed that only 55 students cared enough about their education, that of their fellow students and future generations to stand up and do something about it. Our university management is actively supporting the government in these cuts, our guild has been ineffective, what else do you propose? If we don't stand up for our education, who will? And a member of staff said "You're not disrupting anything, there are no customers here." Says it all really.

[Gracie1311]

@hattikins Everybody can still have an education. Where is your argument?

[JavioUK]

You do realise thats not the university conference centre right? And doesn't really have much to do with academic issues!

[Gracie1311]

@JavioUK Unfortunately, you're wrong. I convened a conference there in May this year.

[ElFisho99]

White paper will do more damage to research and universities than a one day disruption of a building. Cuts are to be the worst since at least the 1950s, the system will be polarised by the removal of the AAB cap and a private buyout of a uni is likely to be seen in the next ~6 months. This is about more than just fees.

[Gracie1311]

@ElFisho99 Ask somebody involved in research how they think research is affected. I am, and it's not being at all affected now, or by this White Paper.

[lah0ski]

@Gracie1311 I'm a touch concerned that as someone involved in 'research', you think a sample size of one counts for anything. You aren't being affected. Bully for you. Others ARE being affected.

[ElFisho99]

@Gracie1311 Many staff/PHDs are very angry about this white paper. Look up the Oxford and Cambridge responses to the consultation if you don't believe me. If you read up the HE white paper, it has many implications for the money available for research, and interference of private capital in academia. Leaving that aside though, funding follows the student now remember. Removal of the AAB cap will hit mid-range red bricks like Birmingham especially hard in the pocket.

[HannerBanner16]

Well said @Gracie1311

[Gracie1311]

As a Birmingham student I am embarrassed by the behaviour of the few students that occupied Staff House and the Conference Centre on 02/11/11.

Ed Bauer and co claim that these buildings contribute nothing to teaching and research. Both buildings contribute heavily to the research activities of this University, which were disrupted yesterday as a result of this protest.

On a final note, 55 people attended this demonstration, 26,831 students attend this University. Now there's perspective.

[realbadbav]

@Gracie1311 I'm assuming you have pots of money to pay for fees then?

[Gracie1311]

@realbadbav No, I had (and still do have) a student loan, as future students will. I paid for a Masters degree from my own pockets, and not from those of my parents. The value of my student loan will be huge by the time I finish education; I am mid-way through a PhD and so will not begin to pay it back until I am in my late 20s. I am also unlikely to pay it off before it is cancelled. If you want it enough you'll make the sacrifice of paying £15/month when you're done; it's a low cost to pay.

[realbadbav]

@Gracie1311 I'm sorry, but the increases in fees are not acceptable. I cannot believe you would come up with such a narrow minded argument.

[Gracie1311]

@realbadbav Who has defined acceptable? A generation of young people who want everything and want it immediately. You can't have everything, the entire World is changing.

[eaglepies]

@Gracie1311 wow gracie, your enlightening opinions are so encouraging... i have distilled it down to something like "the world is shit, we all have huge debts, let's just get on with it and be implicit in our own degradation and exploitation, and anyone who tries to change anything is an embarresment and an idiot". yeah, fuck optimism and hope, fuck the poor, up the tories and the rich!

[realbadbav]

@Gracie1311 Well young lady, I'm actually well out of Uni and my 20's are long gone....And I define it as unacceptable. You do not force the young into debt to pay for the mistakes of business, no matter what.

[jtshaw78]

@Gracie1311 Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. * Margaret Mead

[Gracie1311]

@jtshaw78 I agree, but disrupting the research activities of your University is futile. As is complaining about the cost of Halls fees. There are better ways to make a difference. But are you interested?

[jtshaw78]

@Gracie1311 I am already involved in the #Occupy Birmingham protest, and feed the Occupy England twiiter account. Are you interested?

[kassarock]

@Gracie1311

As student of the future I you like to thank you for happily damn me to £50,000 worth of debt before I even have a chance to start working. Debt and financial worry is one of the leading contributors to suicide, in some small way you could be responsible for someone's death in a few years. But then again, why should you care? They're not you, this rise in fees won't be affecting YOU so it's all perfectly fine. It's not like there are other people in the world.