SOAS students resolve to occupy until demands are met

At the Emergency General Meeting in
SOAS November 18th the students voted for the occupation of space that
the university usually rents out for money. SOAS is a unique institution
because it focuses on a variety of topics and languages such as those
from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The school has already announced
cuts to 95 specialist courses. This means that specific languages not
taught anywhere in Europe but SOAS will disappear from the curriculum.
The students at SOAS are frustrated that the government is deeming their
education economically unviable. There was some debate in the Union
General Meeting if occupation was a strategic way to fight the cuts in
funding and the rise in tuition fees; and if the occupation would
disrupt students’ access to facilities. Occupation in itself is not
autonomous but part of the whole movement. The students are not out to
antagonize anyone, but they fear that Director and Principal of SOAS
Paul Webley’s management will succumb to the demands of the government.

At first, Paul Webely refused to talk to any representative of the
occupation and communicated with them only through Jasper Kain, the
Co-President (Sports and Societies). On the 25^th of November,
Paul Webely issued an injunction granted by the High Court against the
occupation. In a letter the occupiers sent to Paul Webely, they stated
that they will peacefully resist the injunction. They also stated they
would like to open the channels of communication between the management
and the students.

The intention behind the occupation was not to disrupt anything, far
from it. Even on the very first day of the occupation, a small library
was set up, a quiet praying area and some guitarists and other musicians
would play. There were many alternative lectures held, an economist
gave a talk about the possible effect that this funds cut will have in
the long-term. Both Ken Livingston and Tariq Ali visited the occupation
on 1^st of December to show their solidarity with the students. The students also organized a film showing and a poetry reading.

SOAS students in the occupation unanimously voted on the 1^st of December to stay in the occupation until their demands have been met.