Protest is a vital part of the fight for justice and liberation, including the battle for climate justice. Without disruptive protests, institutions of power face no consequences to their actions, and cannot be held to account. Protests are the one action that the university cannot ignore. Engagement, through letters and petitions, can only take a movement so far, and when resisted by the university, can and must be escalated.
We are deeply concerned by the university’s vexatious code of conduct investigations against People & Planet protesters. At this time of year, less than two weeks before the beginning of exams, these investigations are nothing less than intimidation. Our university is harassing its own students, and interfering with their ability to focus on their studies.
The university’s code of conduct was written under guiding principles which include:
“Freedom of expression within the law is central to the concept of a university. To this end, the University seeks to continue to foster a culture which permits freedom of thought and expression within a framework of mutual respect.” – Dignity & Respect Policy
And
“All members of the University community need to be able to live and work in an environment of mutual trust and confidence, to permit freedom of thought and expression within a framework of respect for the rights of others.” – Student Code of Conduct Guidance
It is clear that these investigations go against the spirit of freedom of expression that the university claims to uphold. This is a complete misuse of the university’s procedures, and sets a worrying precedent about the future of protests at our university.
EUSA’s liberation team stand in solidarity with People & Planet, and call on the university to immediately drop these investigations, issue a formal apology, and makes a public statement promising that the university will uphold the right of students to freely protest without fear of intimidation or academic consequences.
Signed,
Liberation Convenors
Shuwanna Aaron, BME Liberation Convenor (2015-16)
Maia Almeida-Amir, Women’s Liberation Convenor (2015-16)
Ada J Wells, LGBT+ Liberation Convenor-elect (2016-17)
Leah Morgan, Disability & Mental Wellbeing Liberation Convenor-elect (2016-17)
Chris Belous, Women’s Liberation Convenor-elect (2016-17)
Esme Allman, BME Liberation Convenor-elect (2016-17)
Corné Rijneveld, Equal Opportunities Convenor-elect (2016-17)
Welfare Campaign Organisers
Mairi Macleod, Welfare Campaign Organiser (2015-16)
Emma Scott, 1st Year Welfare Campaign Organiser (2015-16)
Kai Alexander Stuart, Welfare Campaign Organiser-elect (2016-17)
External Campaign Organisers
Hannah Roques, External Campaign Organiser (2015-16)
Tom Greenstein, 1st Year External Campaign Organiser (2015-16) & Organiser-elect (2016-17)
Megan Atkins, External Campaign Organiser-elect (2016-17)
Nuri Syed Corser, External Campaign Organiser-elect (2016-17)
This statement is still accumulating signatures. If you would like to sign please leave a comment below with your name and any position you hold.
Liberation at Edinburgh University Students Association 