This afternoon student at Strathclyde University in Glasgow occupied the geography and sociology department of their university in opposition to threats of cuts and course closures. The students issued the following statement:

On the 27/06/11 Strathclyde University went into occupation over the proposed cuts to four departments; community educacation, geography, music and sociology. These annoucements come in the context of other student courses and servives being affected by Jim McDonalds* ruthless campaign. These cuts are a clear ideological attack on the students and staff of this university.

Jim McDonald has continually refused to engagae with student and staff in any meaningful capacity. Management have made a back handed attempt to push through cuts when the majority of the student population are on holiday for the summer therefor highlighting the undemocratic procedures and lack of consulation with students and staff.

The board of management are un-elected and un-representative of the student body.

This occupation wished to oppose all cuts and to highlight the undemocratic procedures being pushed through over and over again by Jim McDonald.

No to course closures
No to staff redundancies.
No to cuts.

Messages of support can be left on their facebook page, you can follow what’s happening on twitter via the tag #strathSOS and if you’re in Glasgow go join them on the 5th floor of the Graham Hills building, 50 George St – they’ve a quiz this evening (moved from the Free Hetherington at Glasgow Uni – about to enter it’s 6th month of occupation! Go Glasgow)

Solidarity from everyone here at Bright Green.

——update——

You can now follow the occupation at @StrathOccupied and on the tag #strathoccupied

 

*Jim McDonald is Vice-Chancellor at Strathclyde University