Film Night Tonight - Sat 4th November

Hi all,

This evening we will be screening a film at 7.30pm in the Physics/Electronics building that we are currently occupying. The film is called 'Land And Freedom', a Ken Loach film following an unemployed worker and member of the Communist Party of Great Britain, who decides to fight for the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War. The screening will start at 7.30pm, there will be plenty of space and lots of tea - all are welcome! There will be a short open discussion following the film, all are welcome to participate or just sit and listen.

As usual, we will be holding our open meeting at 8.15pm. This is the main meeting of the day to which anyone can add an item to the agenda, and anyone can express their opinion. All are welcome!

Thanks,

The Great York Sit-In!

A Few Photos From Day Two

A funky banner to our friends over the pond!

Signs to go up around campus!

Lots of tweeting and blogging to be done!

Practising for the video blog!

Press Release: ‘Great York Sit-In’ calls for University action against cuts

Students have occupied a building at the University of York in protest at the government’s plan to increase tuition fees.

Involving over forty students, the ‘Great York Sit-In’ began on Wednesday afternoon. Protesters will remain at the University’s Physics Centre indefinitely until a series of demands are met by the management. These include:

• That the University of York issues a written statement in strong opposition to the conclusions and substance of the Browne Report on Higher Education.

• That the University of York issues a written statement expressing opposition to the cuts to higher education budgets proposed by the government and the proposed raising of the cap on tuition fees.

• That the University of York releases a written statement in support of the Education Maintenance Allowance.

Third year politics student Chris Venables said, “The future of a fair and accessible higher education is at stake. We are calling on our university to publicly oppose any increases in tuition fees, and we’ll stay here indefinitely until our demands are met.”

Students involved in the occupation come from a wide range of backgrounds, with participants from many political parties. Many are new to activism, having had no previous involvement with campaigns of this sort. The occupation is a open space, with all students and supporters welcome to come and go throughout the day.

Spin Pitman, a first year Chemistry student “We don’t agree on everything, but we’re all united by a desire to defend fair access to education for future generations”.

The sit-in is the latest in a series of actions taken by students at the York in opposition to the proposed changes to higher education funding . Over 400 students from the university attended a the national demonstration in London on 10th November and around 200 attended a march in York City Centre on Tuesday evening.

The protesters at York join a growing list of occupations across the country, with similar action being taken in twenty institutions, including UCL, Newcastle and Edinburgh.

2nd December 2010

For more information contact, notoeducationcutsatyork@gmail.com

The First Video!

Hey all,

Please take a look at our first video blog of the occupation, there will be hopefully be more of these to come!

ps. Thanks to Tim Ngwena, our Student's Union President, who gave us a helping hand!

Welcome!

The Great York Sit-In is taking place in order to protest against the planned cuts in higher education funding.

To minimise disruption to teaching we will be situated in the exhibition area and allowing staff and students to access the lecture theatres and other facilities.

You are welcome to pop by for 1 minute to sign a petition, 1 hour to attend a workshop, teach-in or meeting, or to stay overnight. If you plan to stay here, bring essentials like sleeping bags, cushions, tea, books and of course musical instruments.

NO TO HIGHER EDUCATION CUTS!