UAL PSC

change of plans

2009-06-07T02:27:00.000-07:00

Change of plans due to
student work not being allowed to be displayed in SU bar'
We found this out after we were told we could have an exhibition there.

So now we will be having a stall in the bar
MONDAY
WEDNESDAY
FRIDAY

WEDNESDAY the 10th of June 6pm
Visit Palestine
- A DOCUMENTARY BY KATIE BARLOW

What drives a young, well-educated Westerner to volunteer as a “peace activist” in the Middle East?

Caiomhe Butterly is one of a growing number of volunteers who risk their own safety to intervene in the long-running and bloody conflict between Israel and Palestine. Several internationals, including her, have now been injured. Some have died.

In this film, she describes witnessing the aftermath of the attack on Jenin in April 2002. The film follows her work, the main emphasis being “the accompaniment of communities at risk”. Despite being threatened, shot in the leg and deported later that year, she is determined to go back.

In the interim, she brings her story back to her native Ireland at public meetings, receives a Time Magazine “European Hero Award”, and travels to post-war Iraq to visit the Palestinian refugee camps. She arrives back in Jenin, shortly before a young woman from that community,Hanadi Jaradat, blows herself up in a suicide bombing in Haifa.

Activists such as Butterly are usually stereotyped as lunatics, meddlers or saints. This film offers an insight into a brave, honest, determined yet self-critical woman who takes direct action to the limit, with no quest for glory. She also serves as a conduit into the everyday lives of Palestinians,who are also usually presented to the viewer in a one-dimensional way, as fighters or victims, heroes or fanatics. The film gives us a rare chance to see what she calls “the spaces of beauty and joy” created by a people under occupation.

(OPEN TO UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS, LONDON students and Alumni only)

Information on the film here:
http://visitpalestine.info/index.asp

DIRECTOR Q & A (TBC)

Special reading of Seven Jewish Children
http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/video/2009/apr/25/seven-jewish-children-caryl-churchill

FRIDAY the 12th of June 6pm-11pm

Is Palestine Still The Issue?

a pop up exhibition run by the UAL Palestine Solidarity Network

Guest speakers,
poetry from http://www.optimisticrevolutionary.blogspot.com/
performances from www.alinagavrielatos.blogspot.com
and some very special musical guests

Work by
Hamja Ahsan
Drew Campbell
Nour Al-Nimer
Rita Evans
Jessica Davies
Ange Mukeza
Ariane Severin
Lily Barson
Dafydd Crisp
Ewan Cass-Kavanagh
Ayman M Saey

Work will be silently auctioned in aid of

Interpal
www.interpal.info

Sorry for confusion. I think it will be a really great week anyway and look forward to seeing everybody!
x

2009-06-05T16:48:00.000-07:00

Exhibition and Fundraising Week

2009-05-30T03:52:00.000-07:00

One of our demands after our occupation was to have an exhibition and fundraising week. We have decided to coincide the two. It will be held in our student cafe/bar The Hub and is a week about education, solidarity, fundraing and creative resistence.

The frame work for the week 9th- 12th of June 2009 http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=feed&id=507618325&story_fbid=85715893325#/event.php?eid=88576171660&ref=mf
is this

Monday- Talk and discussion Art and Palestine: The Road of Resistence
John Cussans- MA Fine Art Lecturer at Chelsea
other speaker from Stop the War TBC
6pm
+++CANCELLED DUE TO MIX UP WITH ROOM BOOKINGS!+++

Wednesday- Visit Palestine a film by Kate Barlow
http://www.visitpalestine.info/index.asp
with popcorn

student films

Also Poetry by Mohamed Zain Dada
6pm

Friday- Celebration event
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=feed&id=507618325&story_fbid=85715893325#/event.php?eid=86513403330&ref=mf
This event is open to people from outside UAL
Poetry, auction of work and VERY SPECIAL musical guest
6-10pm

Exhibition will be open every day with be a reading area with information about palestine from 4pm

The address
The Student Hub, University of the Arts London, 65 Davies Street, London, W1K 5DA
map here http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

all events free but donations greatly appreciated, all proceeds go to Interpal http://www.interpal.info/

Letter of support from KEN LOACH

2009-03-03T03:56:00.001-08:00

To the students at UAL who took part in the occupation to support the people of Gaza.

It is brilliant news that you took this action. Universities and colleges can take a lead in upholding the principles of international law, particularly when politicians disregard them. Your demands are the minimum that the university should accept. A boycott of Israeli goods and state-sponsored cultural events, the end of links with Israeli universities, and of course the immediate end to the arms trade with Israel – all are important. We should also support the many brave Israeli’s who refuse to take part in their country’s aggression. As someone who has been honoured by the university I am very proud to be associated with the principled stand you are taking.

Yours,

Ken Loach

Letter of support from NOAM CHOMSKY

2009-03-03T03:55:00.000-08:00

I have been very pleased to learn about the courageous and honorable actions of university students opposing ongoing crimes in the Israeli occupied territories. These actions are particularly significant because of the crucial British contribution to the savage onslaught on Gaza, and on the occupied territories generally, second only to the decisive role of the United States -- a disgrace for all of us. I hope you have the greatest success in arousing public opinion and bringing these crimes to an end.

Noam Chomsky

Victory and Continuation

2009-02-26T09:25:00.001-08:00

I'm sorry this has taken so long to send out! We are sending this to everyone who has expressed an interest in the campaign.
We are having our exhibition and charity day at the end of June (provisionally) need contributions, curators etc. We are having a planning meeting for this outside the LCC bar next Friday at 6. Do come along.

Thanks to everyone who came to the picnic!
See you Friday x

Dear all, you are receiving the following message because you signed the petition drafted by the UAL Palestine Solidarity Network or expressed support for the occupation. We feel that it is necessary to send out an email explaining our decision to end the occupation and the concessions granted.

The UAL Palestine Solidarity Network, which occupied Podium Lecture Theatre from Monday the 23rd at 5pm till Wednesday the 25th at 5 pm in solidarity with the Palestinian people. We would like to thank staff and students for their strong levels of support. The campaign has also received support from Noam Chomsky, and many other people from across the country.

On Wednesday we decided that as 4 of our 6 demands had been met we would settle. What we got is by no means perfect and we still have a lot of work to do but we saw the occupation as one step in our campaign. What was really wonderful about the occupation was raising the profile of our cause with other students and staff, and connecting people with similar ideas who are wanting to get involved in politics in university. An end to apathy for UAL!!

1. 'Condemnation of bombings of educational institutions in GAZA'.
The Rector will release the following statement through communication channels of the University.
"The University of Arts London deplores violence wherever it occurs and considers access to education, freedom of expression and the role of international law for the people of GAZA (we are hoping to get this changed to Palestine, as Gaza and Israel is not a comparison that makes sense) and Israel to be of fundamental importance".

We are happy with this statement.

2. 'Links to educational institutions in GAZA'
The University will consider a request from an educational institution in GAZA. This will be subject to the normal processes of scrutiny undertaken by the University with regards to all partnerships and collaboration.

We are in negotiations with 3 possible institutions currently. Once we successfully find an institution to twin with we work further on university management about ethical use of surplus materials.

3. 'Scholarships'
The University will explore establishing an 'international humanitarian' scholarship.

This is the most important of our demands to make sure the management concede with. We are hoping, through the student union, to get this as one scholarship a year on a rolling basis with the first one going to a student from Gaza

4. 'Events and Exhibition'
The University will support activities, including the use of appropriate space and promotion, for fundraising and exhibitions to aid humanitarian relief efforts in GAZA.

The exhibition will take place in the first week in June (provisionally) and coincide with a fundraisng for Gaza week, with gigs etc. The money will go to the DEC appeal.

We did not get divestment from Israeli companies but we have requested under the freedom of information act that they open their books so we can see what companies they do invest in.

We also did not get surplus materials but we will continue working on this.

Yours,

The UAL Palestine Solidarity Network

articles

2009-02-26T05:30:00.000-08:00

http://www.artslondonnews.co.uk/index.php?opt=article&siid=9572

http://london.indymedia.org.uk/articles/764

http://london.indymedia.org.uk/articles/754

http://stopwar.org.uk/index.php?option=com_newsfeeds&task=view&feedid=35&Itemid=230

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=17228

http://occupations.org.uk/

Sending best wishes to all still in occupation: Manchester, Plymouth and Cardiff...

Occupation over!

2009-02-25T11:09:00.001-08:00

Thanks everyone, more details tomorow... after shower and food xx

UALPSC response to Letter To Rector

2009-02-25T06:44:00.000-08:00

In discussing the response, we have had issues over semantics And are now further talks

Letter recieved from 'Nigel Carrington' Rector of The University Of Arts Responce

2009-02-25T06:32:00.000-08:00

Further responses to the demands of the UALPSC:

1. 'Condemnation of bombings of educational institutions in GAZA'.
The Rector will release the following statement through communication channels of the University.
"The University of Arts London deplores violence wherever it occurs and considers access to education, freedom of expression and the role of international law for the people of GAZA and Israel to be of fundamental importance".

2. 'Links to educational institutions in GAZA'
The University will consider a request from an educational institution in GAZA. This will be subject to the normal processes of scrutiny undertaken by the University with regards to all partnerships and collaboration.

3. 'Scholarships'
The University will explore establishing an 'international humanitarian' scholarship.

4. 'Events and Exhibition'
The University will support activities, including the use of appropriate space and promotion, for fundraising and exhibitions to aid humanitarian relief efforts in GAZA.

Nigel Carrington
Rector 25th Feb 2009

Viva Viva Palestina

2009-02-25T04:45:00.000-08:00

With continued pressure we avail, for how long we cannot say. We need the support of the Students. We need Your voice. Petitions numbers continue to grow. Show our Uni that theses issues matter! That we must make a stand! Palestine is still the issue!

Tonight we will be moving into the Street Lecture Theater. Find us! Join us for Indy Media Workshop @7pm, Screening of Films, Discussions and poster making

NEW MEMBERS WELCOME

UALPSC X VIVA VIVA ualpalestinesolidaritynetwork@googlemail.com

other occupations, in solidarity!

2009-02-25T04:32:00.000-08:00

Night 2

2009-02-24T15:46:00.000-08:00

The occupation has now moved into its second night. Morale remained upbeat throughout the day as we continued to make progress. We have continued to inform the student population of our aims and reasons for our occupation. For the most part the reaction has been positive. We continue to grow in numbers yet we still urge people to get involved and help out. We still need help and support from as many people as possible in order to achieve our aims.

In the morning we had a meeting with the Dean of Students and Director of Student Services, Rob Imseson. While he obviously did not accept our demands immediately he indicated that the University is willing to hold talks with us and negotiate. However, he did seem defensive in his approach and was unable to give us any solid replies. At the end we agreed that we would go back and continue to research how our goals can be achieved in order to present a watertight case to the University.

During the meeting Rob Imeson asked us to move our occupation from the Podium Lecture Theatre to the Street Lecture Theatre. He stated that at our current location we would cause too much of a disruption to the rest of the college. After listening to his request and with some careful deliberation we have decided to remain at our current location. We have stressed throughout the campaign that we are here to promote not disrupt education. We let lectures continue throughout at the day. At the beginning of each lecture we make a short speech explaining what we are doing and why. We then keep a small contingent of people on the stage just to ensure our presence is felt. We do not believe that this impairs either the way students learn, or the way lecturers teach in any way.

We have also realized that the Podium Lecture Theatre has several practical advantages over the Street Lecture Theatre. It is the second largest lecture theatre on the campus thus our presence will be felt by many more people. With our numbers constantly expanding, we will eventually be too many to fit in the smaller Street Lecture Theatre.

Throughout the day we held several events or talks to try and stimulate the interest of our fellow students. Lindsay German, a prominent figure in the Stop the War Coalition came in to discuss the situation in the Middle East and how we as students can help. The discussion was informative and we came away with several new ideas of how we can continue to promote our cause. We also had a film screening. 'Occupation 101' is a film that looks in depth at the current conflict and the roots of its causes. Many people came away assured of their opinions and convictions.

The evening was ended with a quick meeting to organise the following day's events. This was followed by an informal and relaxing poster painting session. At the end of the day everyone was slightly tired but rearing to go.

UALPSC x

YOU WILL NOT BE PUNISHED FOR TAKING PART SO JOIN US AND SUPPORT OUR CAUSE!

UAL Occupation

2009-02-24T00:42:00.001-08:00

On Monday 23rd February at 5:00pm students and staff from across the University of the Arts London (UAL) attended a rally with speakers; Tony Benn, Chris Nineham (STWC), Mark Howell (Alumni) and Frank McGuiness (LSE student activist). This was met by an overwhelmingly positive response from the majority of those present. At the end of the meeting a vote was cast regarding both support for demands and further action. Approximately 90-95% of those in attendance were in support of the demands and a great deal expressed an active interest to participate in further action.

Subsequently, a number of members have decided to go into immediate occupation of one of the UAL's lecture theaters. The occupied space is based at the LCC campus. Our occupation stems from our sympathy towards the victims of the conflict and in particular fellow students within Gaza. The action to occupy has arisen from the written response from the rector of UAL, Nigel Carrington, that ignored and disregarded our demands. (Please find attached).

Throughout the occupation we will make our presence within the university felt, however we wish to stress our emphasis on the promotion of education and not disruption. We have organised a number of events including speakers, screenings and workshops open to all.

Regards UALPSC

In response to the recent conflict in Gaza, University of the Arts London Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (UALPSC) has formulated six demands which have been issued to University staff and students. These demands aim to raise humanitarian aid, support and awareness. (Please find attached).

Night One

The occupation has begun.

We begun the first night by planning strategies for our campaign. Various tasks are undertaken including poster painting for the lecture theater and college, compiling of e-mail lists and making of fliers.

There is a positive spirit amongst the group. Whilst the university management was cagey (to say to least) by responding in writing to our demands, the security staff have been very friendly and accommodating.

It must be made clear that occupation does not tolerate any aggressive behavior towards the University. We are a peaceful protest and have been promised Amnesty for all those involved.

The Occupation is being held in the Podium Lecture Theater LCC, ELEPHANT & CASTLE. We are taking the stage and remaining here till our demands are met. Our program will include further talks, films, discussions. We are a collection of Art Students and hope that you will be inspired to come and use the space with us.

UALPSC x

YOU WILL NOT BE PUNISHED FOR TAKING PART SO JOIN US AND SUPPORT OUR CAUSE!

Our response to the university 16/02/09

2009-02-18T08:48:00.000-08:00

This statement is written in light of the recent letter submitted to the University of the Arts Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (UALPSC). This letter regards the set of requests given to University of the Arts London (UAL) senior staff and their response to the requests.

UALPSC recently met with Rob Imeson, dean of students, alongside two equality and diversity officers (11/02/09) . The dialogue of this meeting seemed very positive and it was felt that an agreement between UAL and UALPSC could be met. This agreement would essentially aim to provide humanitarian aid and support to the people Gaza. The requests were designed around this aim; please find a copy attached. Rob Imeson then reported back to Nigel Carrington, rector, with the promise that with the promise that a response to our requests would be sent within a week. The response was received this morning.

Upon reviewing the response during today's meeting the UALPSC are dissatisfied with the letter from Nigel Carrington pointing out that it is very ambiguous, vague and inconsistent. The letter, please find attached, does not represent the positive response we have had from the student body and we see it as a backward step in achieving our goals. We feel that the letter essentially aims to scapegoat all responsibility.

The letter barely touches upon 3 of the 6 requests made. It fails to acknowledge requests regarding: a) opening the universities investment books and subjecting it to scrutiny, b) investing in affected Palestinian students by providing scholarships and c) supporting the UALPSC in exhibiting art surrounding the subject.

The demands that it does touch upon are a very poor response and will not suffice for our campaign.

We will continue to petition and will be running events throughout the coming weeks including a talk by Tony Benn, Mark Howell (LCC alumni and photographer who has worked on the subject of Palestine and the West Bank), a student involved in university occupations, Chris Nineham (STWC) and a civilian of Gaza. These will take place on Fri 20 Feb and Mon 23 Feb.

We will also be responding to Nigel Carrington's letter explaining our disappointment.

We also wish to express our aim to promote education and not disrupt it this applies throughout our campaign and to all future events.

Regards

UALPSC

Nigel Carrington's response to our demands

2009-02-18T08:46:00.001-08:00

Dear Students

This letter follows up a meeting which took place last week between you and Rob Imeson, our Dean of Students, in relation to concerns expressed by you as members of the UAL Palestinian Solidarity Group.

I wanted to reassure you that University of the Arts London deplores violence wherever it occurs and considers access to education, freedom of expression and the rule of international law to be of fundamental importance.

We fully support our students in their debate of international humanitarian issues and are very happy for our student societies to arrange meetings and fundraise for charities.

The University does from time to time donate equipment and materials to appropriate charities as part of its sustainability and recycling policy and we are always happy to consider specific requests from overseas institutions. In addition, as you know, the Students Union from time to time provides advice for charity events to raise funds for a variety of domestic and international causes and you should certainly liaise with them if you wish to organise a charity event to raise funds for humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.

With best wishes.

Yours sincerely

Nigel Carrington

Rector

UAL PSC List of Demands to the UAL Authorities

2009-02-02T17:15:00.000-08:00

Due to the prevalent crisis surrounding the conflict and occupation in Gaza and due to the humanitarian requirements of its people; University of the Arts London students have actively chosen to take a stand against the oppressive actions of Israel.
We have therefore issued a list of demands to be undertaken, with immediate effect, by the University of the Arts London.
The list of demands set up by the UAL PSC (University of the Arts London Palestinian Solidarity Campaign) are as follows:

1.
UAL must issue a full public statement condemning the bombings of educational institutions in Gaza. This statement must be official and formal in its entirety.
2.
UAL must agree to break all corporate links with Israel to add pressure on its denial of Palestinians human rights. Including the ending of contracts with DGMARKET.
3.
UAL must survey its resources with the aim of donating any unused or out of date books, computers, furniture or other teaching resources with an educational institute within Gaza. A link should be established between the two academic institutions and sustained support should be maintained for a minimum of 5 years.
4.
UAL must provide 10 fully-funded scholarships to Palestinian students affected by the recent conflict.
5.
UAL with the support of the UALPSC, must organise a one-day intercollegiate charity event to raise funds for humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.
6.
UAL must agree to hold an exhibition curated in-part by the UALPSC. Artworks exhibited to focus on the conflict and humanitarian crisis. shown in one of the University's spaces of the UAL PSC's choice.