LSE takes legal action to evict occupying student protesters
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Version 0 of 1. The London School of Economics is taking legal action against students who have been occupying a central administration room since March. The students, who call themselves the Free University of London, are protesting against university privatisation, tuition fees and a lack of diversity in higher education. University management sent a letter of eviction to students on Wednesday night, informing them that they must leave the occupied premises by midnight or risk the university taking legal action to regain control of the building. The letter comes after the occupying students staged a series of highly-attended events on Tuesday, including a screening of Russell Brand’s new film, The Emperor’s New Clothes, and a talk by David Graeber. #OccupyLSE thank you for watching Emperor's New Clothes #ThingsCanChange pic.twitter.com/Vah7S7TaIB An LSE spokesman said that if the students do not move the university will go to court to try to get an injunction to request a legal removal. However, so far the students have refused to move. The occupation notice, signed by Andrew Webb, the LSE’s acting school secretary, and delivered to occupiers by hand, lists the university’s attempts to “resolve [the] occupation amicably” and says participants’ behaviour poses a risk to other students and staff. In a statement released on Wednesday night, an LSE spokesman said: “We are highly concerned by the appearance of non-LSE students on site including those demanding access to closed school buildings late at night.” It continued: “While we continue to make every commitment to LSE students in support of their right to free speech, our allegiance to and duty of care must remain with them and cannot be extended to outsiders. “In the face of mounting concern, notably from other LSE students, the school has been forced into a position where it must take action. This is a matter of genuine regret.” However, the students deny the university’s charges against them. In a statement posted to the Occupy LSE Facebook page, they said: “The legal threat from management is in direct response to us organising a day of events founded on the principles of free education. “For the last six weeks the Vera Anstey Room has been used as an educational space, where hundreds of people have participated in discussions, events, seminars and workshops on a variety of topics. The events have all been open to the public, students or not, in reflection of the belief that universities, and educational spaces, are to be free, open and accessible to all.” Hundreds of students have joined the LSE occupation, since it began on 18 March, which is one of a series of occupations at London universities. University of the Arts London began legal action against student occupiers earlier this month. Natalie Fiennes, 23, a postgraduate student at LSE and participant in the occupation, said: “After UAL this month, and events in Quebec and Amsterdam, this is yet another example of a university taking action against their own students who are fighting for a more just and equal future through legitimate political expression.” “What has happened is emblematic of the marginalisation of the political voices of the young. Education has been consistently sidelined in these election debates. The 2010 coalition brought about a new disengagement with politics. Young people have had their education attacked, by the tripling of tuition fees and massive cuts to funding and EMA.” |