A sit-in student protest against jobs cuts at the University of Sussex ended in violence today after demonstrators took over an administration building.
Two students were arrested for assault after scores of students took over the building earlier this afternoon in protest at the cuts, which will close the environmental sciences degree, reduce English, history, and life science departments.
Some student advice service, the crèche, security services and catering staff will also lose their jobs.
At about 4pm, according to students’ reports on Twitter, more protesters rushed the building and were forced back by riot police.
Click here to see a video of the protest uploaded to Facebook by Tabitha Rohrer
The action came as members of the Sussex University and College Union voted 76.4% in favour of striking and 82.4% in favour of action short of a strike, with a turnout of more than 80%.
A police spokesman said: “Police were called to the University of Sussex’s Falmer campus at around 12.30pm today (Wednesday 3 March) after 50 people, believed to be students, refused to leave the Sussex House building where they were protesting against university job cuts.
“Five members of staff were in the building at the time. Around 100 other people were protesting elsewhere on the campus.
“Sussex Police respects the right to peaceful protest, however this incident took place on private property without permission and offences were committed. There was a proportionate police response to prevent a breach of the peace and to deal with any offences against people or property.”
One person was arrested for the assault of a security guard who was pushed to the ground as they entered the building and another for the assault of a police officer.
The students released this statement on the Stop the Cuts – Defend Sussex blog: “The management of our university has rejected all alternative plans proposed by the UCU, by the student advisors, by the parents who use the crèche, and by various academic departments. We feel that taking this action is our only option to protect our education from cuts.
“We oppose the authoritarian tactics employed by management, just as we oppose all cuts to public services. Whether we be students, workers or unemployed, we should not be made to pay for a funding crisis created by an irresponsible, outmoded, and defunct economic system.”
The campus was closed while the demo took place, causing traffic tailbacks and disruption to bus routes. The usual rush-hour conditions are now slowly returning as the protest ends and the campus opens again.
One of the protesters, Tabitha Rohrer, said on Twitter: “Sussex occupation ended, occupiers left in a group, riot police left. Music and dancing as it got dark.”
The Big Lemon bus service tweeted shortly before 6pm: “Uni of Sussex open again so all buses running as normal again.”
This isn’t the first time students staged a sit-in protest. On Monday, February 8 and Tuesday, February 9, demonstrators occupied the Terrace Room at Bramber House.
Nothing mentioned here about police brutaity and sheers violence. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xIKzVMorcg Disgusting. We occupy to resist. We fight for our education.