tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62507267916103493982024-02-19T08:22:04.929+00:00Aber Is Occupiedaberstudentsagainstcuts@gmail.comKieran Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16742208776449242114noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6250726791610349398.post-89381939752471943862011-03-22T10:57:00.000+00:002011-03-22T10:57:38.903+00:00Reasons for Supporting the UCU<div id="group_doc_137365659667740" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><div class="mtm fbGroupDoc" style="margin-top: 10px;"><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><strong style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Aber Students Against Cuts</strong></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><strong style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Statement in support of the UCU strike</strong></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Lecturers make up the main component of our education. We support their fight for adequate pensions, pay and working conditions.</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">We believe that education should free and fair to all, and we oppose the unjust market-drive rhetoric that's being directed at education and those who provide it.</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Many of our lecturers have shown their dedication to academia and the public sector by the length of their service. With a marketplace that is already uncertain for academics, requiring them to move regularly to peddle their expertise across the country it's only right that they have adequate pensions and secure pay. Currently they are not even getting paid inflation. This is completely unacceptable.</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">This is just the latest attack on the institute of higher education and the public sector as a whole.</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">By forcing students to pay for their education you reduce them to consumers, which in turn reduces lectures to mere service providers. It's important that we ensure the academic freedom of the lecturers; due to Margaret Thatcher's legacy, they can't defend this themselves.</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">There are real alternatives to the problems facing higher education funding and we recognise this; what we are seeing are ideological choices, not political necessities. We also recognise that it is the lecturers and students who make the university what it is.</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">It is the public sector, including students and lecturers, who are being made to pay, not the overzealous banking system who caused many problems that the country is now dealing with. Before cutting funding to the most vulnerable and the most valuable parts of society, the government should look at viable alternatives to the non-progressive market-driven policies they are currently forcing upon society.</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">We hope for a quick solution to the problem, so that students and lecturers can go back to their respective professions.</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">It is in every student's best interest to support their lecturers before students find themselves with even less contact hours and support than we currently suffer from.</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Ways to support your lecturers and tutors:</div><ol style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 35px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Write to them, saying that you support their fight for a fair and just profession.</div></li>
<li style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Write to Noel Lloyd at ngl@aber.ac.uk or noel.lloyd@aber.ac.uk and remind him that we love our education and appreciate those who provide it.</div></li>
<li style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Write to your lecturers, seminar tutors and head of department and tell them you won't be attending in solidarity with the lecturers.</div></li>
<li style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Attend the picketline with the lecturers.</div></li>
<li style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Bring food and drinks to the picketline.</div></li>
</ol><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Their fight is our fight, and it is important that we are not divided from the people who make our education what it is. We stand alongside our lecturers - we are all in this together!</div></div></div>Kieran Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16742208776449242114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6250726791610349398.post-42618888630705593262011-03-15T19:41:00.003+00:002011-03-15T19:47:46.382+00:00Reply to the Pro Vice-ChancellorSee our original letter to the Pro Vice-Chancellor <a href="http://aberoccupied.blogspot.com/2011/03/letter-to-pro-vice-chancellor.html">here</a> and her response <a href="http://aberoccupied.blogspot.com/2011/03/response-from-pro-vice-chancellor.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Here is our reply sent earlier today:<br /><br /><blockquote>Dear Rebecca Davies and senior management co-conspirators of Aberystwyth University,<br /><br />We are disappointed – although hardly surprised – that management is persisting in evading our very specific concerns.<br /><br />We asked that the university be more transparent about its strategies for the future. We were not asking for repetitions of tired platitudes about maintaining and improving standards. The Strategic Plan 2009 – 2013 includes a target for university governance to be a “responsive” and “accountable” organisation. For these principles to be fully realised there needs to be far wider accessibility to staff and students of important publications concerning the university's future. If the Strategic Plan does indeed contain the “full details of the work currently in progress” in planning for the coming years then perhaps we ought to be more concerned about the university's total lack of detailed operational planning for the difficult years ahead.<br /><br />Vice Chancellors are political subjects and as such ought to participate in the collective process of debate and policy-making. Noel Lloyd's public statements criticising the government's proposal to reduce the number of international students coming to the UK is laudable, yet unsurprising as it is directly related to income generation. We expect him to condemn the broad and severe attacks on Higher Education, the dramatic rise in tuition fees, and irresponsible cuts to education funding. In this respect, we were particularly concerned by Noel Lloyd's statement to the Welsh Assembly criticising the lower basic fee in Wales as socially unjust. Numerous studies have shown that the increase in tuition fees will result in a dramatic fall in the number of students from poor families going to university. The decision by the Welsh Assembly to set the basic tuition fee level at £4,000 rather than £6,000 shows some attempt to reduce the impact on social mobility.<br /><br />We asked for a clear statement that students and staff would not be subject to discrimination as a result of participating in peaceful protests, including prosecution or disciplinary measures . The university's policies regarding its non-discrimination obligations may implicitly include non-discrimination towards individuals involved in protest activities, however, this does not guarantee that those involved in protests, characterised by management as 'disruptive', will not be subjected to disciplinary action. A number of students and staff have expressed fears that their degrees or jobs would be put at risk if they were to participate in the occupation or other non-violent acts of protest. Management's unwillingness to reassure these individuals stifles political engagement and produces a climate of fear and insecurity.<br /><br />The higher and further education sectors in Wales and the United Kingdom are facing serious and frightening changes, the implications of which are unknown. We have consistently raised a number of very important issues that pertain directly to the future direction of education and given the seriousness of this issue, we would have expected from you an equally serious response.<br /><br />Aber Students Against the Cuts</blockquote>ASAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08958441044303704141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6250726791610349398.post-35175762266717341632011-03-15T15:28:00.001+00:002011-03-15T15:33:11.973+00:00Free University!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></span><br />
<pre style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 9pt;">On behalf of Aber Students Against Cuts, we would like to invite you to
the Free University this coming Friday at the Morlan Centre. Although this
is being planned to coincide with the UCU strike taking place at the
University, we are extending the invitation to all members of University
staff. The programme of events will be running between 10am and 6:30pm
(more details are attached), so please come along when you can.
Many of those on strike will spend the duration of it at home, reading
student essays or writing academic papers. Even when on strike, there is
an imperative to participate in the increasingly bureaucratized practices
of the University. We ask you to come along to the Morlan Centre this
Friday to explore the alternative. This event will be a chance to discuss,
in the company of students, non-academic staff and local residents, the
impact of the latest funding cuts on the University and the wider
community.
The day will be run around three main themes:
1) “What is Free Education? What Are Our Aspirations for Higher Education?”
2) “The Economics of Cuts: Is There An Alternative?”
3) “Campaigning Beyond the University: Are We All In This Together?”
There will also be a discussion session at 1pm on the topic entitled
“Effective Campaigning Against Cuts” attended by Mark Williams MP and Elin
Jones AM as well as representatives of UCU and the student Guild.
For any queries or suggestions, please email
<a href="https://webmail.aber.ac.uk/squirrelmail/src/compose.php?send_to=aberstudentsagainstcuts%40gmail.com" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 9pt; text-decoration: none;">aberstudentsagainstcuts@gmail.com</a>.
We hope to see you there.
Aber Students Against Cuts.</pre>Kieran Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16742208776449242114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6250726791610349398.post-22535112698753729592011-03-08T11:00:00.003+00:002011-03-08T11:04:15.873+00:00Response from Pro Vice ChancellorFollowing our meeting with the Pro Vice Chancellor, Rebecca Davies, on the 23rd of February, we have received a response from the university.<br /><br />You can view the response <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=1WubwqArPRIi-oLK7HDMTDadt8HJnvpSwgzoKTyLWM17FA3dT_UIeDZm8toKO&hl=en">here</a>.<br /><br />We are awaiting a text version.ASAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08958441044303704141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6250726791610349398.post-47573027361497574132011-03-07T17:47:00.003+00:002011-03-07T17:50:15.054+00:00Update: Letter to the Pro Vice ChancellorThis evening the following email was sent to University management:<br /><br /><blockquote>Subject: We look forward to hearing from you<br /><br />Dear management,<br /><br />As you know, we, Aber Students Against Cuts, have occupied A12/A14 since February 22nd. We would like to thank you very much for your support: e.g. providing security and sending Pro Vice-Chancellors over with helpful nutrition tips - though sandwiches (wholemeal, of course) would be more welcome.<br /><br />However, we are all very busy people and would appreciate it if you could respond to the demands we relayed to you through Rebecca Davies on February 23rd and via a follow-up letter on March 2nd. Please be advised that we will revise our strategy tomorrow unless we hear from you.<br /><br />Kind regards,<br />ASAC</blockquote>ASAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08958441044303704141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6250726791610349398.post-23810587611272557142011-03-05T21:54:00.001+00:002011-03-05T21:57:34.651+00:00Statement about cancelled lectureWe, Aber Students Against Cuts, have occupied A12/A14 since February 22nd in order to protest the ongoing marketisation of higher education in the UK and the lack of transparency and political engagement of senior management at Aberystwyth University specifically. As a result of this, we have set up a free university as a way to consider alternative learning spaces and engage in debate with students, staff and members of the general public. <br /><br />We believe in education as an important public good and therefore would like to reiterate that all scheduled lectures are proceeding as planned.<br /><br />While we have indeed invited members of the UCU to join us on Monday from 12pm for informal discussions and debate (everyone welcome), there were never any plans to disrupt lectures.<br />Any cancellations as a result of this invitation are the responsibility of the lecturer in question and we would advise you to email him/her in this regard.<br /><br />Please find our invitation to the UCU below for clarification.<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;"> 'Aber Students Against the Cuts' cordially invites all members of the UCU to a buffet lunch in the Occupation at A12 between 12:00pm and 2.00pm on Monday 7th March.<br /><br />The purpose of this invitation is to encourage and facilitate a dialogue between member of the UCU and ASAC in order to seek common ground by exploring those issues that are of concern to all of us, and will become more so over the coming months.<br /><br />Over the last three months ASAC has been actively campaigning against both the imminent funding cuts to HE and the planned rise in the cap on student tuition fees. In this time, we have organised two well supported Occupations on University premises; organised a number of high profile demonstrations in Aberystwyth; leafletted extensively; accumulated over 1500 signatures on a petition; organised trips to anti-cuts marches in London; attracted substantial press and media coverage, and established an agenda for a 'free university'. We have received support from many students and a growing number of academic staff (we would like to take this opportunity to thank those members of UCU who brought food and drink to the occupation as well as those of you who allowed us to give speeches in their lectures!) Our intention is to continue our activism by continuing to provide a platform for the issues by offering a challenge to the received wisdom that a reduction to the HE budget and a shrinkage of HE itself is unavoidable.<br /><br />However, it is our belief that to do so we have to engage more directly and constructively with academic staff and other groups affected by these changes. We are convinced that staff and students have similar concerns and interests in relation to the imminent cuts to Higher Education, but that only by communicating and collaborating can we realistically hope to regain any control over the future of both our own University and Higher Education more generally.<br /><br />Part of the problem appears to lie in the unavailability of a 'site' for such discussion, and the failures of both staff and students, given their institutional roles, to meet outside of their respective contexts. It is for this reason that we have initiated this lunch time event to introduce ourselves, discuss these matters, and consider ways of moving forward.<br /><br />Please consider joining us at 12pm this Monday to discuss how we can collaborate to reach our mutual goals and better collaborate in the future.<br /><br />Thanks for your time and attention,<br /><br />Aber Students Against the Cuts.<br /><br /></span></blockquote>ASAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08958441044303704141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6250726791610349398.post-26811148093430704942011-03-05T20:31:00.003+00:002011-03-05T20:38:20.964+00:00Solidarity from Noam ChomskyIn a statement sent earlier today, acclaimed philosopher and activist Noam Chomsky has condemned the attack on public education as "a very serious blow to the population at large". The full statement can be read below:<br /><blockquote>"The attack on public education in the US and UK -- higher education in particular -- may bring short-term benefits to small sectors of concentrated wealth and power, but it is a very serious blow to the population at large, and to prospects for a decent society in the future. The protestors [sic] in Aberystwyth -- like those in Tahrir Square, Madison Wisconsin, and many other parts of the world -- are in the forefront of global struggles for basic rights, freedom, and democracy, and merit full and committed support."</blockquote>ASAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08958441044303704141noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6250726791610349398.post-63812325227810560442011-03-03T22:23:00.004+00:002011-03-03T22:38:51.191+00:00Letter to the Pro Vice ChancellorThis morning Aber Students Against Cuts sent a letter to the Pro Vice Chancellor Rebecca Davies seeking clarification on issues that were raised in a meeting we had with her last Wednesday. She has confirmed receipt of our letter and we trust the reply will address those issues and this can re-establish constructive dialogue with University management.<br /><br /><a title="View ASAC Letter to VC- 02-03-2011 on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/49973470/ASAC-Letter-to-VC-02-03-2011" style="margin: 12px auto 6px; font: 14px Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; display: block; text-decoration: underline;">ASAC Letter to VC- 02-03-2011</a> <object id="doc_44383" name="doc_44383" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf" style="outline: medium none;" width="100%" height="600"> <param name="movie" value="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf"> <param name="wmode" value="opaque"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="FlashVars" value="document_id=49973470&access_key=key-17a43xmdr51g88tn6te8&page=1&viewMode=list"> <embed id="doc_44383" name="doc_44383" src="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=49973470&access_key=key-17a43xmdr51g88tn6te8&page=1&viewMode=list" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="opaque" bgcolor="#ffffff" width="100%" height="600"></embed> </object>ASAChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08958441044303704141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6250726791610349398.post-41965257577708912592011-02-27T15:41:00.000+00:002011-02-27T15:41:51.095+00:00The Free University programme<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>Monday:</i></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>11am- Discussion Session/Work group: “The History of Fees & Cuts: Building a Timeline of HE Cuts Since the 1980s”</i></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>1pm- Lunchtime Language Session- Food & French</i></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>3pm- Dadaist Poetry: Come along and take part in a fun, creative poetry session</i></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>5pm- Discussion session: “Is There No Alternative? How to Talk to Deficit Hawks”</i></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>7:30pm- Evening Meeting</i></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>9pm- Film Night</i></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>Tuesday:</i></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>11am-“Foreign Aid and International Development”</i></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>1pm- Lunchtime Language Sessions: Beginner’s Chinese</i></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>3pm- "Overcoming recessions: cross-national perspectives on addressing the impact of the financial crisis"</i></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>5pm- Discussion Session: “What Are Our Aspirations for Education? Come and discuss the future of the free University”</i></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>7:30pm- Evening Meeting</i></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Everything is going well at the occupation, and we're looking forward to our soiree later. Unfortunately - for reasons I refuse to speculate on - there's no internet or heating currently, and hasn't been for the past two days. Oh, well!</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZrYtymANuXFI9yqlaX9scOIFanfNIb5yUiYitFrcIS1AtjoGjfh8NqFRVImwee7tDMZBJR-P5BItctultpYvTn4znxsulymKCcxT8sEbX05yP-u2NzGwC02UcDBQ297v7Q8D7yP870I/s1600/183735_166814893368986_100001214287270_400632_7358413_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZrYtymANuXFI9yqlaX9scOIFanfNIb5yUiYitFrcIS1AtjoGjfh8NqFRVImwee7tDMZBJR-P5BItctultpYvTn4znxsulymKCcxT8sEbX05yP-u2NzGwC02UcDBQ297v7Q8D7yP870I/s1600/183735_166814893368986_100001214287270_400632_7358413_n.jpg" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Kieran Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16742208776449242114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6250726791610349398.post-33771524272807475652011-02-26T16:35:00.001+00:002011-02-26T16:50:28.129+00:00From Aber Students Against Cuts comes The Alternative!Ever wondered why we were protesting? Whether the cuts matter to education in Wales? Whether the cuts are necessary? Whether there are alternatives to the austerity measures? Then you should probably read The Alternative!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtFgFBp-eIe9L5meRy1si4L6WXlajz0zyXp9R-vH1rCMRVKzKfMa_ZSm1il9v0xt8zhdCVpUwNyunxBXqDiEmuDfnmlzVke973dRfCpY3Xjggllb_McVYGM4A5nzuN3QUuSYmLqfMk_k/s1600/viewer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtFgFBp-eIe9L5meRy1si4L6WXlajz0zyXp9R-vH1rCMRVKzKfMa_ZSm1il9v0xt8zhdCVpUwNyunxBXqDiEmuDfnmlzVke973dRfCpY3Xjggllb_McVYGM4A5nzuN3QUuSYmLqfMk_k/s640/viewer.png" width="449" /></a></div><br />
In our very first edition we include a myth buster section, notes on making decisions horizontally and a guide to alternative media.<br />
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You can read it online <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B7IUUq7kZ81wZmZmNTM1NzctNGQ5MS00ZmQyLTkxNzQtY2M2NGJiN2UyMmFl&hl=en_GB&pli=1">here</a> or email/leave a comment/pop down to the occupation, and have a hardcopy.<br />
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Diolch!Kieran Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16742208776449242114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6250726791610349398.post-2656660146776506212011-02-25T05:19:00.001+00:002011-02-25T16:34:30.796+00:00Statement from Occupied Aber<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We have occupied Hugh Owen A12/A14 in opposition to the decimation of higher education in the United Kingdom. We act in solidarity with all those facing the barbaric and unnecessary cuts across society. We reject the idea that the cuts are necessary and recognise that they are motivated out of political choice rather than economic necessity. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We recognise that the space we occupy is ours and as such we have made it a place where critical thinking and dialogue occurs, involving all in the university and the general public. As part of this we are committed not to disrupting the ongoing lectures happening. We occupy <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">in solidarity with future generations, fellow occupiers and movements across the globe</span>. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We recognise a burning need for participatory democracy within the university, and many students feel marginalised by the management. We feel this occupation raises awareness of our campaign not only to students, but to senior management. We believe that in the spirit of academia the university management should engage in open and public dialogue and debate willingly. This will ensure that the students see the university management as acting in their interests and not following the government in market-driven policy.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We reject the idea that "we're all in this together" when the ideologically driven cuts will affect the poorest and the vulnerable the hardest, while large corporations and the rich avoid taxes successfully. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We reject the idea that knowledge is a commodity, and believe these draconian austerity measures are neither progressive nor just.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Please send messages of support and solidarity to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><a href="mailto:aberstudentsagainstcuts@gmail.com" style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: underline;">aberstudentsagainstcuts@gmail.com</a>.</span></span>Kieran Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16742208776449242114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6250726791610349398.post-28220806118166140262011-02-22T23:43:00.000+00:002011-02-22T23:55:00.133+00:00Aber is occupied again!After a very successful <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12536402">rally and march at the university</a> Aber Students Against Cuts have occupied A12 lecture theatre (Hugh Owen).<br />
<br />
The march saw approximately seven hundred students, lecturers and people of Aberystwyth marching from campus to the Old College, where we occupied the building to make our voices heard to the senior management.<br />
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We are committed to not disturbing lectures or the open day that is happening tomorrow, and look forward to the contributions from students and lecturers to the debate on education.<br />
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We want to remind senior management of the commitment they have to education and to us.<br />
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A full statement of our demands and reasons for occupation will follow tomorrow - right now it's nearing midnight and we've had a full day. We're settling down to do some work and watch films.<br />
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Come down and visit us, even if you just fancy a cup of coffee!<br />
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Watch this (free) space!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/184250_10150402193075581_865025580_17341598_7932655_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/184250_10150402193075581_865025580_17341598_7932655_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Kieran Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16742208776449242114noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6250726791610349398.post-45641404840504442942010-12-15T16:17:00.000+00:002010-12-15T16:17:36.285+00:00Occupation EndsThe occupation has ended having received a response of sorts from the Vice Chancellor concerning our demands.<br />
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We are not happy with the response, that has been sent to all staff and students. A press release and our response will be published either later today or early tomorrow.<br />
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One message is clear - this is not the end and our response will not halt the fantastic momentum and support coming from all aspects of the university - the students, the lecturers, and the staff.Kieran Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16742208776449242114noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6250726791610349398.post-43687801213719222932010-12-14T13:25:00.001+00:002010-12-14T13:27:09.450+00:00We receive a message of support!<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;"><b>Message of Support from the Department of International Politics</b></span></div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">The undersigned staff and postgraduate researchers in the Department of International Politics at Aberystwyth fully support the students in their peaceful protests against cuts in public funding for Further and Higher Education as well as the planned rise of the cap in tuition fees to up to £9,000 per annum. This is a further erosion of the culture of higher education and the values of academia.</span></div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: 1.27cm;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">We call on the University Council to express opposition to the current government’s destructive agenda for higher education. We disapprove and condemn the proposals on the part of the government, which remove funding for social science, arts and humanities subjects and the removal of Educational Maintenance Awards for post-16s in England. We are deeply concerned by the increasingly market-driven rhetoric and practices that are leading to the total commodification of the higher education sector transforming students into consumers and academics into narrowly conceived service providers. Besides being in total opposition to the values of academia, they are neither economically nor politically progressive. These changes, which in effect make the university into a privately-funded institution, will make the functioning and reputation of this world-class university increasingly difficult and will in-debt students for years to come. </span></span> </div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: 1.27cm;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Several of the students in the occupation are an integral part of the research and teaching provisions of the Department, and represent the future of social science and humanities. Their passion and commitment in staging this occupation reflects the values of our academic discipline. Therefore, we call on the University Council to engage with the occupying students and their demands (demands for financial transparency and assurances that there will be no closures or mergers of departments, redundancies or reductions in staff numbers as a consequence of natural wastage, and no curtailment of the university facilities as a consequence of funding cuts) in a manner that reflects our values as an academic and educational community, values of mutual respect, debate, dialogue, and open and accessible public communication. Dealing effectively and openly with the student demands will ensure that the University is seen to be acting in the public interest and is taking responsible and just measures in dealing with student satisfaction and concerns. </span></span> </div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">We will do whatever we can to be of assistance in achieving this outcome. </span> </div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;"><b>Signed:</b></span></div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">Professor Richard Jackson</span></div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">Dr Simona Rentea</span></div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">Dr Kamila Stullerova</span></div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">Anja Gebel</span></div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">Dr Simona Davidescu</span></div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">Andreja Zevnik</span></div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">Megan Daigle</span></div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">Andrew Hom</span></div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">Dr Jenny Mathers </span> </div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">Professor Ken Booth </span> </div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">Dr Marie Breen Smyth </span> </div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">Ross Bellaby</span></div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">Katja Daniels</span></div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">Gillian McFayden </span> </div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">Charlie Thame</span></div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">Damien Van Puyvelde</span></div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">Aoileann Ni Mhurchu</span></div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">Dr Carl Death</span></div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">Charlotte Heath-Kelly</span></div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">Sonja Kittelsen</span></div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">Dr Milja Kurki</span></div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">Dr Andrew Priest </span> </div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">Dr Ayla Gol </span> </div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">Gwenan Creunant </span> </div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">Hannah Hughes </span> </div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">Clare Paine</span></div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">Dr Thanos Zartaloudis</span></div>Kieran Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16742208776449242114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6250726791610349398.post-57239860220538956462010-12-13T23:44:00.000+00:002010-12-13T23:44:27.769+00:00Earlier . . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfFksoPU2rM-SdpW5JNWCBFyKTWqz3m4Lwz90q-qJyPkEbMyzMwDkckYQiu0Pb2ZbPkfBwa-mu6sOuXz25mlDS2aza9jN4G3l2uigvbSZ3Gw-XYj0VSIASSD3AHbxk0_cx_AS0FSOJhY/s1600/untitled+%25283+of+45%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfFksoPU2rM-SdpW5JNWCBFyKTWqz3m4Lwz90q-qJyPkEbMyzMwDkckYQiu0Pb2ZbPkfBwa-mu6sOuXz25mlDS2aza9jN4G3l2uigvbSZ3Gw-XYj0VSIASSD3AHbxk0_cx_AS0FSOJhY/s320/untitled+%25283+of+45%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCWl97thB-CTPo1v3CGD9EAxNAfeBtV4XviPO-BuDTtotB5l94SlGQrQExmRUpvY6sy60ASwHOIBB7mzQP3B0A1GrC7tg9ImXPsq_ipX9Dyp6cQsYK7eYjJUnhAAhH-Qqp0KwlsrOQ0Y/s1600/untitled+%252832+of+45%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCWl97thB-CTPo1v3CGD9EAxNAfeBtV4XviPO-BuDTtotB5l94SlGQrQExmRUpvY6sy60ASwHOIBB7mzQP3B0A1GrC7tg9ImXPsq_ipX9Dyp6cQsYK7eYjJUnhAAhH-Qqp0KwlsrOQ0Y/s320/untitled+%252832+of+45%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Kieran Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16742208776449242114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6250726791610349398.post-50073601390848881712010-12-13T23:41:00.000+00:002010-12-13T23:41:54.641+00:00A 12 much better after dark .. ..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEGIBhuBJLw0afdO5G7lduMGGSIFezuVs4MwVe78d3k94LmauCkYoXTK_RStp3UO51Y6VoMVR_V4kmviWq2eRvcPqjBymo-JCTZIpRWO6UXxiSqi-ziYQCZWYzn_HzEcMp-dI_UZ51H0/s1600/untitled+%25283+of+18%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEGIBhuBJLw0afdO5G7lduMGGSIFezuVs4MwVe78d3k94LmauCkYoXTK_RStp3UO51Y6VoMVR_V4kmviWq2eRvcPqjBymo-JCTZIpRWO6UXxiSqi-ziYQCZWYzn_HzEcMp-dI_UZ51H0/s320/untitled+%25283+of+18%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqiwPAi0vuI4_d5B_SGxEqkUesE4kIdLHQnRRrDd3NpiNTU517BqytGctmEVzs-Fl0kHGhF6v8U7E0EjoygmMSa8Ikmuhna_VU2ww4sUQFehRxhPZQYoy7vCMaJ3B7E_eLPh-qVS9NMw/s1600/untitled+%25289+of+18%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqiwPAi0vuI4_d5B_SGxEqkUesE4kIdLHQnRRrDd3NpiNTU517BqytGctmEVzs-Fl0kHGhF6v8U7E0EjoygmMSa8Ikmuhna_VU2ww4sUQFehRxhPZQYoy7vCMaJ3B7E_eLPh-qVS9NMw/s320/untitled+%25289+of+18%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Kieran Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16742208776449242114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6250726791610349398.post-11821913418255253772010-12-13T22:58:00.000+00:002010-12-13T22:58:09.733+00:00Jammin' the night away....Things are going great here - we've had amazing food, and we've got amazing been played by the talented folks of Aber town.<br />
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Tomorrow we've got a full programme kicking off again from 10 am. I'll keep you posted about that in the morning.<br />
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Night folksKieran Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16742208776449242114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6250726791610349398.post-68096123410235763512010-12-13T17:18:00.000+00:002010-12-13T17:18:10.149+00:00We will stay overnight!In a short and productive meeting it has been decided that the occupation should continue through till tomorrow. As such, we will be staying in the hall over night and we have an exciting programme both for tonight and tomorrow that I will publish when finalised.Kieran Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16742208776449242114noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6250726791610349398.post-28839005946130369022010-12-13T15:17:00.000+00:002010-12-13T15:17:26.800+00:00The Demands and Petition have been sent to the University CouncilAt about 2.00pm this afternoon a small contingent of the occupants of Aber Uni walked down to Old College and presented through our representative, Jon - the Guild President, the petition of over 1500 signatures from students, staff and local residents which condemns government proposals for education funding cuts and calls on the Vice Chancellor and university management to do the same. We also at the same presented the demands that were published earlier on the blog.<br />
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The meeting is currently in progress and we will bring you progress as we go through.Kieran Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16742208776449242114noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6250726791610349398.post-10097046695869661032010-12-13T12:06:00.001+00:002010-12-13T12:06:32.654+00:00The Demands of the Occupation are Released<h1 class="western"><span lang="en-GB">The Aber Students Against The Cuts Demands</span></h1><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="en-GB">We call on Noel Lloyd and the University Council to publically condemn the proposed cuts to higher education funding, the rise of the cap on tuition fees, and the wider cuts to the public sector. We call on the University Council and Noel Lloyd, in his capacity as Vice-Chancellor of Aberystwyth University and as chair of Higher Education Wales, to therefore publically reject those policies implemented by the government that advance the commodification and privatisation of higher education funding. </span> </div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="en-GB">Instead, we demand that they affirm the fundamental role that Aberystwyth University plays within the social, political and cultural community; asserting the role of the university as a vital agent of a progressive society and of education as a public good available to all and not a commodity limited to those who can afford it. </span> </div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="en-GB">We ask the members of the University Council to pledge not to use the new legislation to raise tuition fees. </span> </div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="en-GB">We demand assurances that there will be no closures or mergers of departments, no redundancies nor reductions in staff numbers as a consequence of natural wastage, and no curtailment of the university facilities as a consequence of funding cuts. </span> </div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="en-GB">We demand that the university Council and the vice chancellor address fully those concerns expressed in the petition signed by over 1400 staff, students, and members of the local community relating to the restructuring of higher education funding. </span> </div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="en-GB">We demand indemnity from victimisation – including prosecution or university disciplinary measures - for those students, staff members and others who are participating peaceably in this teach-in and other peaceful protests.</span></div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="en-GB">We demand solidarity from the University Council in the pursuit of our demands.</span></div><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
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</div>Kieran Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16742208776449242114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6250726791610349398.post-34354623777524627232010-12-13T12:05:00.000+00:002010-12-13T12:05:18.100+00:00First Meeting Held!So, we had our first meeting attended by a number of our occupants. It was really successful and we have decided on what we're going to do at the University Council Meeting this afternoon!<br />
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If you want to get involved, then meet us in A12 before 1pm or join in at the Old College at 1.30pm<br />
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See you there!Kieran Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16742208776449242114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6250726791610349398.post-4870533659776611392010-12-13T10:37:00.001+00:002010-12-13T10:37:05.708+00:00We are occupying A12!Please pass this message on to all your members:<br />
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ABERYSTWYTH STUDENTS HAVE OCCUPIED A12!<br />
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A free university has been set up today in A12 lecture hall and we have events throughout the day here. Please come along in solidarity and join in! There could be nothing easier, than to bring whatever you were going to do today to this room and do it here!<br />
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Also - we are planning an action to coincide with the university council meeting at 1pm TODAY! So please come along before then and get involved!<br />
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See you soon! <br />
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Aber Students Against the CutsKieran Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16742208776449242114noreply@blogger.com0