On Wednesday 5th February, at the same time as students were holding a demonstration in solidarity with their 5 fellow students who have been suspended, a Birmingham UCU members meeting voted to adopt the following resolutions, drafted from the floor:
- BUCU deplores the suspension of 5 University of Birmingham students who took part in a recent demonstration on campus.
- BUCU calls on the the University management to lift the suspensions, and calls on West Midlands police to lift the draconian bail conditions imposed on those students who were arrested. Both the suspensions and the bail conditions contravene the presumption of innocence and principles of natural justice.
- BUCU instructs its Branch Administrator to keep BUCU members informed of these issues.
- BUCU calls for all UCU members to give all possible support within the law to the suspended students.
This is the latest show of solidarity, of many, between staff and students; in opposition to the University of Birmingham’s divide and rule tactics.