We can now report that the protestors have now closed the encampment and left the site on Brunswick Park. Banners, tents and other camp materials have been removed.
In addition, those occupying the Whitworth Hall complex and parts of the Simon Building have also now left and banners removed.
We are in the process of checking, cleaning and securing all of the areas that have been affected and returning all the buildings and outdoor spaces to their normal state of operation.
In particular, we now look forward to the Whitworth Hall hosting joyous graduations in the coming weeks, which the University and SU sincerely hope will go ahead without disruption.
We are also looking at how we can improve security in the Simon Building as we know staff working there have faced disruption and concern over a number of weeks, and in previous protests over a number of years.
We understand that this has been a difficult time for many staff and students across our community and we are enormously grateful for the patience that everyone has shown over an extended period. We are taking appropriate action in response to complaints that we have received through Report and Support and other channels from those affected – and in cases where individuals have broken our regulations.
We are also very grateful for the work undertaken by a wide range of frontline and office staff who have been integral in dealing with the impact of the protests with great professionalism and skill. This includes implementing our plans to relocate some examinations at very short notice.
We would also like to extend our thanks to the Students’ Union and its Officers, who have provided invaluable assistance and worked tirelessly throughout this challenging period. We are aware that protestors have said that they may return in the autumn, so continuing to build on our work with the SU is vital.
As we have said in a recent short statement, we do share a commitment to maintaining a supportive and responsive environment for all students.
We will continue to use a structured and collaborative process to address concerns raised by the University student community, through the Students’ Union Executive Officers.
To that end, adhering to the principle of not meeting protestors directly but acknowledging claims that the protestors were not clear about our position, we agreed to receive their views and questions in writing via the SU Officers. The SU Officers have agreed with us the scope and shape of what was being asked and that it was reasonable.
We have listened and are in the process of responding in writing, with the SU Officers considering the responses before they are sent to the protestors to give confidence that we have sufficiently addressed what had been asked. The Q&A will then be openly published.
To reiterate, we will work collaboratively with our Students’ Union to enable our university community to come together and discuss topical and challenging issues in a constructive and inclusive way, building on a similar recent events on Freedom of Speech and University Finances.
This process has been taken forward on the basis that the protestors undertook not to disrupt the Bicentenary Festival or any further university activities, including leaving the Whitworth Hall which has happened, as planned.
Patrick Hackett
Registrar, Secretary and Chief Operating Officer.