(9 December 2013)

Last week marked a threshold in the long-running assault on students’ rights and on the future of public education in general.

Students across the country continue to protest, with good reason, against the ongoing marketisation and privatisation of education. They continue to protest, with good reason, this government’s deceitful decision to saddle them with a lifetime of variable-interest debt, and to filter future access to education according to wealth and class.

For some months now, University of London students have also protested against the indefensible working conditions of many UL staff, and against the decision that UL management took last spring to close the University of London Union (ULU). This was a major and deliberate blow aimed at student politics. ULU’s position and size have allowed it to play a unique coordinating role for political action in recent years, especially during the protests of 2010-11, and no doubt UL managers have been looking for ways to get rid of it ever since.

Managers at UL and other UK universities have responded to recent protests from students and staff by inviting the police to crush them, and by criminalising any effective expression of dissent.

We the undersigned recognise the right of all students and staff to protest against these and related measures. We send an unequivocal message of solidarity with all those students targeted, beaten, arrested and suspended from their studies following their protest activity.

We condemn in the strongest terms the decision taken by UL management to respond to last week’s protests with an aggressive police assault and mass arrests. We condemn as extraordinary and despicable UL’s recent request for an injunction that may ban its students from protesting on campus for six months.

We also condemn the remarkable surge in police presence and surveillance across university campuses over recent months. Not only are police vehicles and officers routinely stationed at entrances and exits to universities, but strong evidence has also emerged that police have attempted to recruit students to spy on their peers at Cambridge University. Campuses are places for inquiry and critical thinking. Students and staff who express dissent at the increasing marketisation of education and who demonstrate their solidarity with highly exploited colleagues should not be threatened with or subjected to violence and arrest.

We call for an immediate end to injunctions against protest on university campuses and occupations of university buildings. We demand that management cease its authorisation of the violent repression of dissent on campus. We demand in particular an end to the persecution of UL students determined to defend their student union, and demand the immediate retraction of the decision to suspend 5 Sussex University students who campaigned in solidarity with the UCU, Unite and Unison strike over fair pay in higher education on 3rd December 2013 [Note: as of the afternoon of the 9th December Sussex University have removed the suspension but are proceeding with disciplinary action against these same students].

We encourage everyone to participate in the next national day of action, planned for the afternoon of Wednesday 11 December.

We encourage colleagues across the country to press for a vote of no-confidence in any university administration that colludes in the repression of protest, and we call on all university staff to stand shoulder to shoulder with students as we resist, together, the ongoing assault on what’s left of public education.

 Supported by Defend the Right to Protest www.defendtherighttoprotest.org

Initial signatories include:

Gilbert Achcar, Professor of Development Studies, SOAS, University of London

Nadje Al-Ali, Professor of Gender Studies, SOAS

Donatella Alessandrini, Reader in Law, Kent Law School

Eric Alliez, Professor of Philosophy, Kingston University London

Alexander Anievas, Research Fellow, University of Cambridge

Harriet Archer, Leverhulme Early Career Fellow, Newcastle University

Andrew Asibong, Senior Lecturer in French Studies, Birkbeck, University of London

Esther Asprey, Teaching Fellow in English Language, University of Birmingham

Bruce E. Baker, Lecturer in American History, Newcastle University

Giles Bailey, Lecturer in Fine Art, Newcastle University

Claudia Baldoli, Senior Lecturer in European History, Newcastle University

Lauren Banko, Senior Teaching Fellow in History, SOAS

Debby Banham MA PhD Special supervisor in Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic, Newnham College

Chimene Bateman, Fellow in French, New College, University of Oxford

Dr Alice Bell, Research Fellow, University of Sussex

Duncan Bell, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge

Patrizia di Bello, Senior Lecturer, History and Theory of Photography,

Birkbeck University of London

Brenna Bhandar, Senior Lecturer in Law, SOAS

Dr Deborah Bowman Tutor, College Lecturer and Director of Studies in English, Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge University

Bill Bowring, Professor of Law, Birkbeck College

Alan Bradshaw, Senior Lecturer, Royal Holloway, University of London

Luisa Calè, Senior Lecturer in Romantic Studies, Department of English and Humanities, Birkbeck

Alex Callinicos, Professor of European Studies, King's College London

Deborah Cameron, Professor of Language and Communication, University of Oxford

Sarah Campbell, Lecturer in History, Newcastle University

Simon Choat, Senior Lecturer in Politics & IR, Kingston University

Jonathan Chu, Senior Lecturer in Dance, Kingston University

Radu Cinpoes, Senior Lecturer in Politics, Human rights and International Relations, Kingston University

Nicola Clarke, Lecturer in the History of the Islamic World, Newcastle University

Esme Cleall, Lecturer in History, University of Sheffield

Valerie Coultas, Senior Lecturer English in Education, School of Education, Kingston University

Deena Dajani, Postdoctoral Research Associate, The Open University

Gareth Dale, Senior Lecturer in Politics, Brunel University

Jan Deckers, Senior Lecturer, Newcastle University

Patrick Degenaar, Reader in Biomedical Engineering, Newcastle University

Dr. Andreas Dimopoulos, Lecturer in Law, Brunel University

Martin Dines, Senior Lecturer in English Literature, Kingston University London

Ted Donchev, Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering, Kingston University

Dr Caroline Edwards, Lecturer in Modern & Contemporary Literature
Birkbeck, University of London

James Eastwood, Graduate Teaching Assistant, SOAS

Başak Ertür, Lecturer in Law, Birkbeck College

Martin Farr, Senior Lecturer, School of History, Classics and Archaeology, Newcastle University

Peter Finn, Visiting Lecturer in Politics, Kingston University

Dr Jennifer Fraser, Centre for Transformative Practice in Learning and Teaching, Birkbeck College

Des Freedman, Professor of Media and Communications, Goldsmiths, University of London

Leila Galloway Senior Lecturer Fine Art DMU

Adam Gearey, Professor of Law, Birkbeck College

Korina Giaxoglou, Senior Lecturer in English Language and Communication, Kingston University

Jeremy Gilbert, Professor of Cultural and Political Theory, University of East London

Robert Gildea FBA, Professor of Modern History, University of Oxford

Joanna Gilmore, Lecturer in Law, University of York

Carlie Goldsmith, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Kingston University

Dr Priyamvada Gopal, University of Cambridge

Chris Gutkind, Assistant Librarian - Reader Services, SOAS

Katharine Halls, Instructor in Arabic, University of Oxford

Peter Hallward, Professor of Modern European Philosophy, Kingston University London

Carrie Hamilton, Reader in History, University of Roehampton

Patrick Hanafin, Professor of Law, Birkbeck, University of London.

S.J. Hannahs, Senior Lecturer in Linguistics, Newcastle University

Laura Harvey, Brunel University

Richard Hatcher, Professor of Education, Birmingham City University

Sue Hawkins, Lecturer in History, Kingston University London

Judith Hawley, Professor of English, Royal Holloway, University of London.

Sian Hawthorne, Lecturer in Critical Theory and the Study of Religions, SOAS

Gina Heathcote, Lecturer in Gender Studies and International Law, SOAS

James Hellings, Senior Lecturer Fine Art, Birmingham City University

Yaiza Hernández, Lecturer in Art, Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London

Bennett Hogg, School of Arts and Cultures, Newcastle University

Chris Horrocks, Principal Lecturer in Art History, Kingston University

Katherine Ibbett, Reader in Early Modern Studies, UCL

Kate Houlden, Lecturer in English Literature and Cultural History, Liverpool John Moores University

Atsuko Ichijo, Senior Lecturer in Politics, Kingston University

Marina Isaac, Tutor, Kingston University

Amber Jacobs, Lecturer in Psychosocial Studies, Birkbeck College

Prof Diana Jeater, Emeritus Prof of African History, UWE, Bristol

Matt Jenkins, Teaching Assistant, University of Newcastle

Meg Jensen, Principal Lecturer, English Literature and Creative Writing, Kingston University

Sarah Keenan, Lecturer in Law, SOAS

Susan Kelly, Senior Lecturer Art, Goldsmiths College

Anna Kemp, Lecturer in French, Queen Mary University of London

Debbie King, EAP teacher, SOAS

Dr Patrizia Kokot, Lecturer in Organisational Behaviour, Aberystwyth University

Stathis Kouvelakis, Reader in Political Theory, King's College London

Lars Peter Laamann, Lecturer in History, SOAS

Pablo Lafuente, Reader in Art, Context and Theory, Central Saint Martins 

Sarah Lamble, Lecturer in Law, Birkbeck College

Marina Lambrou, Principal Lecturer in English Language and Communication, Kingston University

Amanda Latimer, Sessional Lecturer in Politics & International Relations, Kingston University

David Lawrence, Principal Lecturer, School of Art & Design History, Kingston University

Neil Lazarus, Professor of English and Comparative Literary Studies, University of Warwick

David Leat, Professor of Curriculum Innovation, Newcastle University

Fiona Macmillan, Professor of Law, Birkbeck, University of London

M F Makeen, Senior Lecturer in Law, SOAS

Christian März, Lecturer in Geosciences, Newcastle University

Paddy McDaid, Graduate Teaching Assistant in Law, Birkbeck.

William McEvoy, Lecturer in Drama and English, University of Sussex

Alex Mermikides, Senior Lecturer in Drama, Kingston University

Alessandra Mezzadri, Lecturer in Development Studies, SOAS

Paul Micklethwaite, Senior Research Fellow in Design, Kingston University

Az Mohammed, Learning Spaces Specialist, Newcastle University

Nicola Montagna, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, Middlesex University

Douglas Morrey, Senior Lecturer in French, University of Warwick

David Morris, Associate Lecturer, UAL

Corinna Mullin, Research Associate, SOAS

Fidelma Murphy, Senior Lecturer in Economics, Kingston University

François Nectoux, Professor of Contemporary European Studies, Kingston University London

Paolo Novak, Lecturer in Development Studies, SOAS

Peter Osborne, Professor of Modern European Philosophy, Kingston University London

William Outhwaite, Professor of Sociology, Newcastle University

Richard Overy, Professor of History, University of Exeter

Gill Paczynski –Institute Manager, Newcastle University

Benita Parry, Emeritus professor of English, University of Warwick

Diana Paton, Reader in Caribbean History, Newcastle University

Alex Perrin, Lecturer in TV and Film Studies, Kingston University

Robin T. Pettitt, Senior Lecturer in Comparative Politics, Kingston University

Winsome Pinnock, Senior Lecturer in Drama and Creative Writing, Kingston University

Kay Pollock, Principal Lecturer in Economics, Kingston University

Maria Ponto, Principal Lecturer, Kingston University London

Alejandro Quiroga, Reader in Spanish History, Newcastle University

Manjeet Ramgotra, Senior Teaching Fellow in Politics, SOAS

Sam Raphael, Senior Lecturer in Politics and IR, Kingston University

Dwijen Rangnekar, Associate Professor in Law, University of Warwick

Deana Rankin, Senior Lecturer in English, Royal Holloway

Rahul Rao, Lecturer in Politics, SOAS, University of London

Trish Reid, Deputy Head of School, Performance and Screen Studies

Lucy Renton, Principal Lecturer, Kingston University

David Rogers, Director of The Kingston Writing School, Kingston University

Sinéad Rushe, Lecturer, Acting and Movement, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama

Leticia Sabsay, Research Associate, The Open University

Meera Sabaratnam, Lecturer in International Relations, SOAS

Sanjiv Sachdev, Senior Lecturer in Management, Kingston University London

Renata Salecl, professor in Law, Birkbeck college

Stella Sandford, Reader in Philosophy, Kingston University

Emma Sandon, Lecturer in Film and Television, Birkbeck

Dr Alison Sealey, Senior lecturer in Modern English Language, University of Birmingham

Samiksha Sehrawat, Lecturer in the History of Medicine and South Asia, Newcastle University

Jason Scott-Warren (Dr), Faculty of English, University of Cambridge

Andrew Shail, Senior Lecturer in Film, Newcastle University

John Shearer, Teaching Fellow in Computing Science, Newcastle University

Jalal Uddin Siddiki, Senior Lecturer in Economics, Kingston University

Fleeta J Chew Siegel, Senior Lecturer, Kingston Univeristy

Jackie Smart, Principal Lecturer in Drama, Kingston University London

Lucy Steeds, Pathway Leader in MA Art: Exhibition Studies, Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London

Tamar Steinitz, Associate Lecturer in English and Comparative Literature, Goldsmiths, University of London.

Engelbert Stockhammer, Professor in Economics, Kingston University

Marie Cecilie Stern-Peltz, School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics, Newcastle University

Adam Stock, Post-Doctoral Research Associate in the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics, Newcastle University

Bernard Sufrin, Emeritus Fellow, Worcester College, Oxford

Mayur Suresh, Sessional Lecturer, Birkbeck, University of London

Katie Lloyd Thomas, Lecturer in Architecture, Newcastle University

Peter D. Thomas, Lecturer in the History of Political Thought, Brunel University

Dave Tinham, Visiting Lecturer in Politics, Kingston University London

Liz Todd, Professor of Educational Inclusion, Newcastle University

Alberto Toscano, Reader in Critical Theory, Goldsmiths

Kate Tunstall, Lecturer in French, University of Oxford

Isobel Urquhart, Homerton College, University of Cambridge

Elisa Van Waeyenberge, Lecturer in Economics, SOAS

Sally Waite, Teaching Fellow in Classics, Newcastle University

Jeffery R. Webber, Senior Lecturer, Queen Mary University of London

Julian Wells, Director of Studies in Economics, Kingston University

Luke Williams, Lecturer in Creative Writing, Birkbeck

Graeme Wilson, Senior Research Associate, Newcastle University

Jim Wolfreys, Senior Lecturer in French and European Politics, King's College London

<!--EndFragment-->