Fury of SOAS students as lectures are cancelled due to protest

Students spoke of their anger over the protest in support of a suspended Unison officer

Union protest: Students were unable to attend class on Thursday

Twitter/@robinmetral

29 October 2015

Students have reacted with fury after lectures were cancelled as university buildings were occupied during a major protest in support of a suspended union officer.

Hundreds of protesters shut down the campus of SOAS, part of the University of London, over the suspension of Unison branch secretary Sandy Nicoll.

Mr Nicoll, 56, has worked in the university’s IT department for 21 years, but claims he was told on Wednesday he was to be suspended pending an investigation into claims he allowed students to occupy parts of the campus in Bloomsbury. He said the allegation is “totally untrue”.

The latest escalation comes amid a long-running dispute over pay and working conditions for cleaners at the university. Cleaners working for outsourced company ISS claim they receive less holiday entitlement, sick pay and fewer pension benefits than in-house SOAS staff.

But as protests escalated on Thursday, dozens of students complained that they were missing out on the education they had paid for as a result of the university’s shut down.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/samdodsworth" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3102556-https://twitter.com/samdodsworth" data-vars-event-id="c23">@samdodsworth</a> Protest, occupy, awesome. Great. Don't prevent me from getting my education. — Christa BlackMONSTER (@TheOdalisque) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/TheOdalisque/status/659675284053090304" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3102556-https://twitter.com/TheOdalisque/status/659675284053090304" data-vars-event-id="c23">October 29, 2015</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> Urgh SOAS has been getting so annoying recently, have your damn protests but not at the expense of MY education. — kalé (@kaykamran) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/kaykamran/status/659677133564981248" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3102556-https://twitter.com/kaykamran/status/659677133564981248" data-vars-event-id="c23">October 29, 2015</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> What annoys me most is that a lot of people protesting aren't event SOAS students <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://t.co/IYZOXtb6ii" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3102556-https://t.co/IYZOXtb6ii" data-vars-event-id="c23">https://t.co/IYZOXtb6ii</a> — Confused Orientalist (@Habibiline) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/Habibiline/status/659684570787397632" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3102556-https://twitter.com/Habibiline/status/659684570787397632" data-vars-event-id="c23">October 29, 2015</a>

Mimi Plange wrote on the Overheard at SOAS Facebook page: “Why do a small handful of people feel it is their right to disrupt my/others education…#‎finalyearproblemsaremorethanenough‬”.

Another said: “I dont' mind peaceful and non-threatening protest, but that doesn't mean you are legit or within your democratic rights to stop everyone else learning.”

Jean-Romain Pierre-Gerard added: “It is very unfortunate that a member of staff was dismissed…. However, why does this movement feel like barring entry to the school is an appropriate answer?”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> .<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/SOAS" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3102556-https://twitter.com/SOAS" data-vars-event-id="c23">@SOAS</a> has been occupied. Classes cancelled. Come down and have a cuppa if you're around Russell Sq <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OccupySOAS?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3102556-https://twitter.com/hashtag/OccupySOAS?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#OccupySOAS</a> <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://t.co/6qIMAoXAw2" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3102556-https://t.co/6qIMAoXAw2" data-vars-event-id="c23">pic.twitter.com/6qIMAoXAw2</a> — Alice McCool (@McCoolingtons) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/McCoolingtons/status/659702622501388289" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3102556-https://twitter.com/McCoolingtons/status/659702622501388289" data-vars-event-id="c23">October 29, 2015</a>

Another student declined to comment on the record to the Standard saying it would “cause issues for me there [at SOAS] due to the type of university that it is”.

Speaking to the Standard, Mr Nicoll rejected claims and said only buildings used for commercial events were under occupation.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOAS?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3102556-https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOAS?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#SOAS</a> ShutDown has begun. <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/London?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3102556-https://twitter.com/hashtag/London?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#London</a> <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://t.co/Aj8nblNYkr" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3102556-https://t.co/Aj8nblNYkr" data-vars-event-id="c23">pic.twitter.com/Aj8nblNYkr</a> — Joey Ayoub جووي أيوب (@joeyayoub) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/joeyayoub/status/659691199327027200" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3102556-https://twitter.com/joeyayoub/status/659691199327027200" data-vars-event-id="c23">October 29, 2015</a>

“My union branch has been supporting the students,” he said. “We believe they have a democratic right to take action.

“I’m the Unison branch secretary. The university has now closed the buildings, and students have refused to go to class on the basis of my suspension.”

Asked about other students affected by the demonstration, Mr Nicoll added: “I’m sure not everyone will be happy with the occupation, but it’s not an occupation of teaching space. It’s not impacting on any students’ education.”

A university spokeswoman said: "SOAS College Buildings and Library were closed at 10.15am. This was due to a crowd barring entry to the building. Estates and Facilities could not guarantee the safety of staff and students, therefore the decision was taken to close the building and the Library until the School can provide safe access to the building.

"Classes in the main building at Russell Square were postponed as of10.30am. Lessons in Vernon Square and other Russell Square buildings are still taking place."

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said officers were called to the campus at 11am and have spoken to organisers and university staff. There have been no arrests.

MORE ABOUT

SOAS

University Of London

Fury of SOAS students as lectures are cancelled due to protest

Read More