On 13 December at 9am around 50 students both from Hull University and the sixth form colleges in the city occupied areas of the Staff House building in the centre of Hull University.
After brief talks with senior management the occupiers were allowed to hold a peaceful sit-in.
Matt Whale
After a democratically-run general meeting these initial demands were agreed upon and proposed to the vice chancellor:
* Free access at all times in and out of the building
* No to victimisation of any student or member of staff involved in the occupation
* The vice chancellor to issue a statement against attacks on education and the cuts of the local Lib Dem council
* The university not to increase tuition fees.
The vice chancellor will issue a statement on 15 December in reply to these demands. On the night of 13 December members of the occupation were elected to go to a Hull University student union (HUU) council meeting to ask for support for the occupation and its demands.
Despite a little opposition to the demands and after a couple of amendments to the motion were put forward, both those from the occupation and members of the students union sabbatical team (who couldn’t vote but were supportive of the occupation and its demands) were confident that HUU council would agree to support the occupation.
However the vote was lost by three votes. In response to this and after advice from both the students union president and vice president for campaigns and democracy, the occupiers have decided to call an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) as we feel that the outcome of the vote was not reflective of the general feeling on campus.
The EGM is triggered by collecting 100 signatures on a petition which is then handed to the HUU president.
An EGM must have 160 people in attendance in order for it to be quorate. With over 100 signatures gained within an hour and a half of campaigning, the occupation has good reason to believe it is capable of ensuring a quorate EGM, in order to pass the motion in support of the occupation.
The occupation is in high spirits especially after numerous food donations from workers around the city.
There has been great support from low-waged university staff who understand that their jobs are at risk with the proposed cutbacks.
The occupation vows to carry on until at the very least Thursday 16 December when the EGM takes place, and maybe until the weekend.
