Comments on: Warwick declares victory!

By: warwicksolidaritysitin

warwicksolidaritysitin — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 04:24:14 +0000

technically, the university *is* a charity, and that is why straight donating these computers to a charity dedicated to the cause is a problem (legal technicalities) – but we are working with the university to find a way that best suits everyone!

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 01:35:49 +0000

Hassle is a good word! Are you prepared to pay for the computers to be sent to Gaza? It would probably cost more than the actual value of the computers! At the end of the day, a university is not a charity, it is primarily a teaching and research facility, and as far as I am concerned all money devoted to charitable causes could have been better spent improving areas of the university and my education! Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with these computers (and other items) being sent to Gaza or other worthwhile locations, if it will be funded by a charity.

By: warwicksolidaritysitin

warwicksolidaritysitin — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:37:16 +0000

@ toasteater: we are sending delegates (decided by consensus) to the meetings fully prepped on both what the views of the group are, and what authority they have to decide “on our behalf” so to speak. as for what to do if the talks prove to be a waste of time, that is something we hope won’t happen – the university have been seemingly willing to cooperate with us to help achieve our aims of sending aid and the like. but if they do prove fruitless, we will decide what to do when it happens!

@ steve: the university, just the other day, left a number of computers outside a building because going through the process of disposing of them properly is too much hassle for them. these are the sort of items we are looking to send over – items that would otherwise be disposed of.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:05:16 +0000

”Yesterday, we received word via our Students’ Union that the University was ready to deal. They have put a statement up on their website (http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/insite/), and they are prepared to come to the table (with our SU mediating) and discuss where to go from here (with respect to sending aid, ethical investment, etc.)”

Why should the university be sending aid to Gaza? I do not really understand why universities are being targeted at all really, other than the fact that they house a lot of people that would call themselves ”activists”.

By: toasteater

toasteater — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:13:54 +0000

I too fear that there is a risk of being fobbed off by the uni now that the occupation is no longer going on.

It seems crucial to me that any negotiations are undertaken in a democratic, participatory and collective way to avoid the danger of leaders or figureheads either selling out the group by agreeing to watered down demands, or on the other hand being identified as prominent leaders and personally persecuted.

More important than the outcome of *this* occupation is whether the group is willing and able to undertake further actions. If the negotiations don’t prove worthwhile you shouldn’t hesitate to re-occupy, this time choosing targets which will cost the university maximum economic disruption (admin facilities, conference venues, corporate sponsors?).

By: Occupations

Occupations — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 22:21:05 +0000

Could you publicize that Nottingham have been forcibly removed and Sheffield Hallam occupiers are to be suspended from uni.

By: warwicksolidaritysitin

warwicksolidaritysitin — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 21:22:53 +0000

@ VTS: firstly, BAE Systems is hardly a true British company, and hasn’t been for quite a while. Secondly, judging us by what you deem misguided or incorrect moves from *other people* is patently dodgy. As Jake said – if you want to try and have a proper conversation about this, then feel free to come and talk to us, we’re not hiding. an internet to-and-fro is hardly constructive ^_^

By: Jake

Jake — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 15:36:31 +0000

If you are to expect a small student body to do all that you claim is needed your understanding of the history of civil struggle and society in general is seriously flawed. As a society the Uk is at the tail end of a string of economic bubbles and rampent consumerism. On the surface society has been well, however under this facede gaping divides have destroyed community and left many areas of society and social groups dis empowered and disillusioned. The students of Warwick have not been excempt from this. A relative disengagement and feeling of powerlessness has pervaded the conscienceness of the student body (and youth nationally). This is why what the sit-in has acheived is so important, it has reengaged the student base, even if they think the actions taken are idiotic and wrong they have engaged people and penertrated conversation. This is in touch with a wider social movemnet and runs parrall to a growing unrest. The group has established links with other students both nationaly and internationaly as well as various organizations. Further action will without doubt follow and this time with a broader student support and the potential of mass national student action. This is how struggle achieves itself it manifests in constant waves, each cycle aquiring more momentum and potential than the last, ever growing and adapting to the new enviroment it finds itself in. We are essentialy at the start and before these actions are shot down we should step back and grasp the nature of the zietgeist these actions pervade.
I emplore those critical to come and engage with us, we make no secret of who we are and have no issue of anyone involving in this process. We use a highly democratic means of establishing what are purpose or motives entail. So instead of posting anonymous blogs of empty criticsm come and engage, input and effect the shape of what is to follow so that it reflects more what you believe to be the best course of actions.

By: VTS

VTS — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 11:49:18 +0000

Looking at your demands, I really fail to see any solidarity with Israel, unless you count the boycott of British arms suppliers to Israel as an attempt to strenghten Israel’s local arms manufacturers.
I guess you know that some of your “partner” sit ins with whom you declared solidarity demand the expulsion of the Israelian ambassador, the lifiting of Israelian diplomats’ immunity and their trial for war crimes/genocide, just to name a few of certainly fair and impartial demands?
Can’t see anyone demaning that the Hamas leadership should be trialed in Den Haag.

By: warwicksolidaritysitin

warwicksolidaritysitin — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 11:25:19 +0000

you seem to have persistently ignored anything we have said, VTS. we are not just doing this because we hate Israel, if we were it wouldn’t be in solidarity with victims *of both sides*. If you still can’t see that, then…