Oxford Students Occupy Examination School in Protest of Top-Up Fees

Update (2:30pm): The occupiers of the Exam Schools have decided to end the occupation at 4 pm, by marching together to the University Offices and handing in a statement of demands and principles to the Vice-Chancllor. You won't be breaking any University statutes if you join the march...so please come along and show your support for the people who have risked being fined and disciplined for their opposition to fees.

Update (27 January 10:30am): Examination School is still occupied by students. Many students left this morning to join the protest in London, while others stayed in Examination School. The University decided to cancel all lectures for today. Students emailed all lecturers and asked them to go ahead with their lectures anyway, but the ones who came were refused entry by the security guards. However the students organized an alternative lecture about top-up fees that will take place at 11am. The next student meeting in Examination School is at 1pm. Join the occupation!

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At 4h30pm on Monday 26 January around 50 students of Oxford University, Brookes University and Ruskin College occupied the Examination School of Oxford University in protest to the top-up fees and to fees in total. They demand that the University opposes the government top-up fees bill. They also demand that the University reverses its stance of support for fees as there is strong evidence that many in Oxford also support full privatisation of the University.

Many other students joined the occupation later (there was more than 100 students around midnight), and the occupation is still going on overnight, especially after Tony Benn visited in solidarity! Anyone can come and go. The University may decide to cancel lectures tomorrow morning, but students encourage lecturers to give their lectures anyway. Students also decided to host their own teach-ins, with students presenting the case against top-up fees and the marketisation of education. Others will join the protest in London to express the viewpoint of Oxford students. Everyone is welcome to the teach-ins in the Examination School, and the more people is in occupation the more scope there will be for discussion and debate. Everyone who turns up will have an equal say in what is decided to do and how to proceed... come along and make your contribution!

Reports: [1] [2] | Reports and pictures: [1] [2] | Video | Solidarity statement from German students

Parliament backs fees - by 5 votes | Student pays fees in pound coins

OSAN (Oxford Student Activist Network) | OUSU (Oxford University Student Union)