I found myself stuck in Newcastle
on Monday night due to the cancellation of the busses and took the opportunity
to walk over to the fine arts building at the University to see how the Students
were getting on in their occupation and asked if there was any other support
that they might need.
I found myself stuck in Newcastle
on Monday night due to the cancellation of the busses and took the opportunity
to walk over to the fine arts building at the University to see how the Students
were getting on in their occupation and asked if there was any other support
that they might need.
As I arrived I found them (60+ students) in a full
meeting in the lecture theatre, making plans for the demonstration the following
day. Imagine attending a union meeting where everyone, all 60+, had a
full roll to play, are fully geared up to perform several tasks
and are completely absorbed and focussed upon getting as organised as
possible. The students have an elected facilitator who was at the front
making bullet points on a white board and there was a full size projection
(10 feet high) of a laptop where another student was taking notes and updating
social networking sites as the meeting progressed. All the deliberations
were completely democratic; everyone spoke in turn and were respectful of each
others views. All were very sensitive to each others contributions and all
listened carefully to what was being said in case they missed any important
comments. As the meeting progressed the details of the following day
emerged as representatives from several 6th form colleges chipped in on how to
mobilise their own students, to get them in from the areas. The use of
technology was massively evident with wireless networks and many armed with
laptops; along with banner making sessions, leaflet and publicity sub groups,
some breaking off to liaise with the police, talk to the press, organise
stewarding and tackle any emerging problems as they arose. This answers
any myths that our youth are unruly and unfocussed, are not politically engaged
or conscious and don’t know how to conduct themselves in an organised
fashion. They are an inspiration to
us all!
As with all such occupations (the last one I attended was in 1983 at the Howden
Water Works) the facilities were frugal with sleeping bags and an
improvised food preparation area. Spirits are high however, with
revolutionary sing-songs and no evidence of alcohol present. Support has
been forth coming from fellow none occupation students and other
supporters with a delivery, while I was there, of 60 pizzas, and
other supplies. They are well dug in with even the security guards,
that the college have deployed, being behind them and sympathetic to their
plight and the future of youth in general. One guard commented, "I’ve got
a cousin with a kid going to college soon and I don’t see how it’s going to
happen. Who can blame these kids for doing what they are
doing!”.
The
students are adamant they will stay for as long as it takes, are absolutely
right in what they are doing, and should be invited to speak at as many meetings
of the PSA
and union meetings as possible. The bridges need to be built between them
and the wider TU and Labour movement. We ignore this at our
peril!
I
would encourage all to visit them as they are keen to get as much support as
possible. If you do go, take along
some food or drink to help them out, take along messages of support too from
your unions or LP’s.
