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Post� le jeudi 25 novembre 2010 @ 23:18:48 by blackcat
Contributed by: blackcat
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 Mark is a third year Biology student studying at Sheffield University and a member of the
Anarchist Federation. He is one among many students currently occupying the HicksBuilding
on Sheffield University campus.
Britain, Interview with an anarchist student occupier at Sheffield University
Mark is a third year Biology student studying at Sheffield University and a member of the
Anarchist Federation. He is one among many students currently occupying the HicksBuilding
on Sheffield University campus. The views expressed in the interview should be considered
his alone and not that of the occupation's general assembly. ---- Why are you occupying
the Hicks building today? ---- We are occupying for a variety of reasons but generally
around the common purpose of being against the cuts in this university, to other
universities and to education in general. Particularly we want to demonstrate against the
proposed rise in tuition fees and the ongoing privatisation of higher education. However,
we are also tying our actions to a wider struggle against austerity measures and cuts. So
our occupation is about more than just education cuts but this is currently our primary focus.
- What has been the reaction of University security/the police so far?
They haven't taken any action to stop us occupying yet but they have told us after 6pm
that everyone who is leaving won't be able to return. This will presumably be until
tomorrow morning. It might open up again after 8am. We haven't had any major trouble so
far but police have been inside to observe what was going on. It should be stated thought
that we have no intention of damaging university property. This is a peaceful occupation.
- Why should the occupation be supported?
Because the tactic of occupation, as opposed to lobbying or simply asking political
representatives to make changes for us, is a tactic that has been historically successful.
Clegg and his broken promise to scrap tuition fees is just one example, among many, that
politicians cannot be trusted to make decisions for us. Direct action puts a lot more
pressure on university management and by extension government ministers to act.
Aside from the past success of these kinds of tactics what we are fighting for is
essentially access to education for everybody regardless of income. We also recognise that
there is a much wider struggle beyond simply what is happening to education right now. We
need to extend these tactics into all of these areas where we are currently under attack.
This is a fight that all of us should be taking on and working in solidarity with each
other.
- What can people do to help?
One of the main things people can do to help is to start organising actions like these
themselves. We need to build a grassroots movement that is working towards our mutual
advantage. This needs to be led by those affected. We should resist the attempts of both
trade union and political party bureaucrats to either lead or divert the ultimate aims of
the struggle.
In addition to this, spreading the word about what is going on and combating negative
media coverage are also useful practical things that can be done.
For local people, I would encourage them to participate themselves in the action, bring
food, bedding (if this is possible) and any other practical skills you can share.
- What do you make of Aaron Porter's recent comments that the students are
"aligning themselves with the anarchists"?
Firstly I think it is worth pointing out that he is mistaken in the sense that he is
probably largely referring to many students who aren't, or have little knowledge of,
anarchists. The only sense in which students are "aligning with anarchists" is the fact
that anarchist principles are in line with the type of actions that students are currently
taking - direct action, assembly democracy, non-hierarchy and the rejection of
representatives.
People, students in particular, are coming to the realisation that simply asking
politicians to do something doesn't work. The result is that they are starting to take
matters into their own hands, collectively and at a grassroots level.
Anarchist education workers and students are very much a part of these struggles but
certainly a minority within them. The tactics - of self-management, non-hierarchy and
direct action - have been adopted in many places quite spontaneously. This is, of course,
far more preferable to us! It's ultimately what we want - not a struggle controlled or led
by anarchists, but one that shares our goals, tactics and principles.
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