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Owain Evans

Students suspended following BLS group chat reveal

The University of Exeter has suspended students involved in a group chat which featured racist, sexist and homophobic language.

Those involved have also been suspended as members of the Students’ Guild, according to Guild President Shades, who commented on the matter during today’s Shadow Council.

The offending comments were made in a group chat involving some Bracton Law Society committee members. A member of the chat made multiple screenshots of the messages public – posting them on Facebook and Twitter.

Due to the nature of the comments, Exeposé has decided that it would be irresponsible to reproduce them here.

This morning, the University of Exeter tweeted: “The University of Exeter does not tolerate any form of racist, sexist or bigoted behaviour and is committed to eradicating any instances of discrimination and harassment that may arise.

“Following reports of allegations involving a small group of students, the University has launched a major investigation, in conjunction with the Students’ Guild, and suspended the students while this takes place. The police have also been informed.

“While it would be inappropriate to comment further while investigations take place, full disciplinary action will be taken as appropriate.”

Later, in Shadow Council, the Guild President Shades confirmed that those involved have had their membership of the Students’ Guild suspended pending a full investigation, and that the ongoing Bracton Law Society committee elections have also been postponed.

This incident comes only two months after Exeposé revealed that this year’s #NeverOK posters had been defaced with racist, Islamophobic and misogynistic grafitti, as well as incidents over the past two years including socials for Snowsports and the Camborne School of Mines, a swastika carved into a door in Birks Grange and a “Rights for Whites” sticker.

UPDATE: In a later statement, the Guild confirmed that the students had been suspended, as had all BLS society activity until the end of the week. The statement reads as follows:

The Students’ Guild does not tolerate any form of racism, sexism or hate crime and condemns any such actions with full disciplinary action taken as appropriate.

Following the serious allegations and evidence of racism, sexism and hatred amongst a small number of Bracton Law Society committee members that have come to light, the Guild is currently carrying out a major investigation in conjunction with the University. Pending the investigation, the individuals in question have had their Guild membership suspended and have been suspended from the University as students.

Further to this, the named students have had their BLS committee positions removed and all society activity has also been suspended until the end of this week while we establish the full extent and nature of the issue. The Guild would like to emphasise that the incident is being dealt with as a matter of urgency. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.

The Guild also understands that many people will have been seriously affected by the incident. If you would to speak to someone about the issue or would like support regarding the matter, we would strongly recommend getting in touch with any one of the Students’ Guild support services, including the Students’ Guild Advice Unit (advice@exeterguild.com), the Wellbeing Information Directory (WiD) and Reporting Information Directory (RiD).

Under no circumstances should any individual feel threatened, victimised or marginalised by anyone and the Students’ Guild is here to do our utmost ensure that Exeter is a safe and welcoming place for every single student. Please follow our social media for updates on the matter.

Hill Dickinson LLP, who had offered one of the accused students a training contract, has now revoked this offer.

UCU rejects agreement to end strike

The UCU’s Higher Education Committee, following the views of branches from across the country, has rejected the agreement made yesterday that would have seen the USS pensions dispute come to an end.

As a result, the strike will continue this week, and the 14 days of approved action during the exam period will remain on the table.

The deal faced extensive opposition from striking academics around the country, including the UCU’s branch in Exeter. Barrie Cooper, branch President, told Exeposé that: “the committee of the University of Exeter UCU met and agreed unanimously that our position is to maintain the status quo, and we will be advising our national negotiators to reject the proposals.

“The amount being paid into the USS pension fund is more than enough to pay the benefits promised provided those monies are invested properly, and the changes to benefits implemented less than two years ago as part of a 17-year plan agreed by all parties appear to be working.”

The deal would have seen academics encouraged to reschedule teaching, despite being docked pay, as well as providing reduced benefits with increased contributions. It has also been roundly criticised for its lack of support for Graduate Teaching Assistants, many of whom are the worst hit by this dispute.

Sally Hunt, the UCU General Secretary, said in a statement that: “Branches made it clear today that they wanted to reject the proposal. UCU’s greatest strength is that we are run by and for our members and it is right that members always have the final say.

“The strike action for this week remains on and we will now make detailed preparations for strikes over the assessment and exam period. We want urgent talks with the universities’ representatives to try and find a way to get this dispute resolved.”

In an email sent to all students this morning, prior to the deal being rejected, Sir Steve Smith, the University’s Vice-Chancellor, said: “the University welcomes this development and looks forward to a resolution in the coming days.

“We need to look at the details but our first impression is that it is an agreement that we are willing to support.”

As a result of the union’s rejection of the deal, it will no longer go to the Joint Negotiating Committee tomorrow.

 

 

Exeter UCU rejects new pension deal

The Exeter branch of the University and College Union (UCU) has rejected a proposal agreed by national negotiators and Universities UK regarding changes to the USS pension scheme.

The rejection comes after a committee meeting this afternoon, in which members voted unanimously to adopt a position of defending the status quo on pensions. “In line with that unanimous vote”, a tweet from @ExeterUCU said, “Exeter does not accept the agreement between UCU and UUK reached at ACAS today.” The branch President, Barrie Cooper, told Exeposé that he predicts that “branches across the UK will resoundingly reject these poor proposals.”

The agreement, described as a ‘transitional benefit arrangement’, would see employer and member contributions increase, a lowering of the salary threshold and an independent valuation review. The USS, with the above changes, would continue to offer a defined benefit pension for the next three years, before further negotiations are undertaken.

However, many staff have come out against the agreement, not least as it effectively gives recognition of a deficit in USS which they dispute. Some described the agreement as “kicking the can down the road” and announced their expectation to “be on strike again in three years” on Twitter. The UCU branch at Keele simply tweeted: “You call that a deal?”

The most controversial point of the agreement is that the union has agreed “to encourage its members to prioritise the rescheduling of teaching in order to minimise the disruption to students,” despite striking academics having already been docked pay for their action to date. Again, a significant number backlash has ensued on Twitter.

Several other branches have already come out opposed to the agreement, which will go to the UCU’s Higher Education Committee (HEC), as well as branch representatives, tomorrow. An open letter in opposition to the agreement has already gained over 4,000 signatures at the time of this article being published.

As it stands, the agreement would see industrial action halted from Wednesday – however, if it is rejected, the approved 14 days of strikes over exam periods would remain on the table.

This agreement comes after a week of ACAS talks between UCU and UUK over the future of the USS pension scheme. UUK continues to argue that a deficit has made a change from a defined benefit scheme (which guarantees a specific income on retirement) to a defined contributions scheme (which provides a sum based upon the value of the contributions invested over the course of a career) necessary, as backed up by the University of Exeter’s Vice-Chancellor, Sir Steve Smith. Meanwhile UCU has argued that the deficit put forward by UUK is unrealistic, and that the current recovery plan is successful, allowing for a continuation of the defined benefit scheme.

In a statement given to Exeposé, Barrie Cooper, the UCU’s Exeter branch President, said:

This campaign has produced the biggest show of strength and unity UCU has ever seen as staff and students have fought to protect guaranteed pension benefits. Sustained industrial action, coupled with strong evidence-based arguments have brought our employers back to the negotiating table. UCU has negotiated in good faith, but at a time when members were hopeful of a successful outcome and a return to doing the job we love, UUK has served up another terrible offer that would see pensions slashed.

Ahead of the national meeting of UCU branch representatives on Tuesday 13th March, the committee of the University of Exeter UCU met and agreed unanimously that our position is to maintain the status quo, and we will be advising our national negotiators to reject the proposals.

The amount being paid into the USS pension fund is more than enough to pay the benefits promised provided those monies are invested properly, and the changes to benefits implemented less than two years ago as part of a 17-year plan agreed by all parties appear to be working.

I predict that branches across the UK will resoundingly reject these poor proposals and that members of this proud, democratic, worker-led movement will instruct the UCU leadership to continue the fight to save our pensions.

36 Hours Inside: How Northcote House was occupied

SATURDAY 3 MARCH

There was discontent – that much was clear. The ongoing UCU strike has been a polarising one, but the anger here was not at the lecturers. Instead, they had two targets: a Students’ Guild that in their eyes was incapable of supporting academics with any substance and, of course, the University of Exeter.

Outside, the weather was cold, and the last remnants of a storm that had brought the city to a grinding halt had yet to disappear. Inside, however, the perhaps too cosy surrounds allowed a group of students to talk fairly loudly with confidence, instead of the hushed whisper that would be expected.

They were going to hit Northcote House.

Now, of course, it wasn’t clear exactly how that would happen. Exeter often gains a reputation as an apolitical university, not attracted to the activism that engulfs many over campuses across the country. It was occupations around the country, however, that gave them confidence to take on a target as colossal as the University’s main administrative building. Still, the question remained: how, and when?

Council was postulated as a possibility, until they realised that it was too far off for the next one. Instead, they took their swipe directly at the top, as the Vice-Chancellor’s Executive Group (VCEG) was set to meet that next Monday morning. Their plan? A series of human chains, blocking entry to the building and causing disruption.

With their ideas in place, they retreated home.

MONDAY 5 MARCH, 8:00AM

It hadn’t taken long for the plans to start to fall apart. Group chats had been set up, and before long, questions on their lack of numbers was being thrown around. Ultimately, an agreement was made to decide on a new plan when the protesters assembled at the picket line.

That Monday morning was a cold one, and below the ominously grey skies the earliest of the picketers were gratefully collecting coffees from the stall provided by student volunteers. While talk of “go home and sleep, support your lecturers!” may have been thrown around on the pavement, a different kind of talk was happening on the grassy area just behind it.

There just weren’t the numbers, they agreed. Blocking off both main entrances to Northcote House just wasn’t possible. More direct action was needed. Some suggested a public option – such as bursting into the main reception and banging pots and pans. This was soon dismissed as not disruptive enough. Instead, they decided, they had to target the meeting directly. To do so? Well, they’d just have to go in.

In all honesty, there wasn’t that much hope that they’d get in. A group of 15 students, two of which were journalists, headed around the back of the Forum.

I asked one of them how long they expected to last. “I think we’ll be out again in two or three hours,” they told me. “I’ll be happy if we last for four or five.”

Soon, the group was walking up past Devonshire House. They had their target in sight: a fire exit, right next to the Council chamber.  They knew that the room they sought, the John Usher meeting room, was somewhere near there, but weren’t entirely sure. They raced up the stairs, and by some fluke found their way straight into the heart of the building. Just a few steps away, with the name right next to the door, was the room they sought.

Suddenly, pictures were being taken, and a banner unfurled: “Support our strikers, Steve”. Under a strict embargo, I waited, thumbs poised to send out the tweet. It wasn’t until a staff member approached that I was able to do so. One of her first questions was one that would come up many times that morning, to some surprise at every occasion: “how did you get in here?”

“The door was open.”

9:00AM – THE OCCUPATION BEGINS

The euphoria had hit. Somehow, it had all gone to plan, and they were in. As though an unlocked fire escape with a handle on the outside hadn’t been blessing enough, the room itself was unlocked too.

Soon, they were sitting around the table. “This is the real VCEG,” one exclaimed. Another, putting their feet up on the table, bellowed: “I’m the real Vice-Chancellor.”

Their request on entering had been a simple one: speak to Sir Steve himself. However, he was out of the country, so instead they had to make do with a visit from Janice Kay, the Provost, and Mike Shore-Nye, the Registrar.

In scenes that shouldn’t have come as any surprise, there was no real chance of the parties seeing eye-to-eye. The shock that this had even happened seemed to have caught everybody, and in the end, the protesters didn’t even make a formal demand. They only did so shortly afterwards, when Richard Heath, Head of University Security, returned to the room: they wanted a statement, unequivocal in nature, that either supported or condemned the strike action.

1:00PM – 4 HOURS IN

The University still hadn’t locked the fire exit. Things were going well – students coming and going and there was a real buzz around the place. Someone had brought an accordion in, and the music blew out into the corridor and throughout the building. Even some Sabbs had made an appearance, bringing goodwill from the Guild and information from the Advice Unit.

An ITV journalist had been in touch earlier in the morning, wondering if there was any chance of a video. Immediately, a spokesperson had been chosen for their “propaganda video”, and shortly afterwards an ominous looking video, in which ocuppiers stood in front of their banner, was sent out.

Yet amongst all the high spirits, something was about to change.

Perhaps it shouldn’t have been so unexpected. Of course the University would want to stop the access from that fire exit. The timing, however, was not good. Several protesters were stuck outside.

The Head of Security was clear: the door was locked from the outside, and was not in use for the occupation anymore. Instead, they would have to rely on the windows for food – and without climbing, that gave them a few centimetres of space to work with. The reaction was not happy:

Still, the door was unattended. It took a while to attempt it – there were fears that it might be alarmed – but it wasn’t. Several people managed to get back in, until the University caught on and placed a guard on the door.

That wasn’t the only issue they faced from security that afternoon. A request to take down their one banner, on account of it containing the word “fucking”, was promptly denied.

“Why does it need to come down?”

“Health and safety”

“How is that a health and safety problem?”

“Well, I’m not going to argue with you.”

This would be the source of endless laughter later on – if the University can’t make them take down a simple banner, then what power do they really have?

Oh, and the occupiers were promptly informed that the cameras in their room were being switched on. Why?

“For your safety and security.”

5:30PM – 8 1/2 HOURS IN

The effect of time was starting to play its part. Now eight and a half hours in to a “four or five hour” occupation, people were tired, and the fact that most of the food available was some form of crisp didn’t help to alleviate hunger.

Things became even more dire as one student, who had popped outside of the door to refill his water bottle, was refused reentry into the occupation. A tense situation developed, and a group gathered around the security guards to protest their case. Meanwhile, down the staircase behind them came Janice Kay, on her way home for the night.

“Do you have anything to say to us, Janice?”

“No words from the University?”

The Provost answered their question with a glare, strong enough to penetrate the doors seperating her from her questioners, and burrow its way deep into their souls. Words weren’t necessary.

Resigning to the fact that their comrade would not be reentering, instead they took what comfort they could from their instruments. And for that night, they put on a show better than anything Northcote House had seen before.

11:00PM – 14 HOURS IN

For those of you who have never been near the Northcote House meeting rooms, you won’t have seen the timetables displayed outside of their doors. Changed every day, they display a full list of each meeting taking place there. Perhaps with the University expecting the occupation to fizzle out, they sent someone down to change the John Usher room’s timetable. It didn’t last long.

By this point, it was essentially clear. There was no real hope of ending the dispute within a day, and the inevitability of a night on a hard floor was definitive.

But before that, they had just one thing left to do. Exeter was far from the only University to face occupation that day. Across the country, several others – Bristol, Bath, Leicester, UCL – were all doing the same. Now was a time for consolidation, for doubling down their efforts and reaching out to friends from afar.

With that, the John Usher room screen was used for a conference call like none that it had seen before. Messages of solidarity, discussions of tactics and an expression of hope were shared via Skype in such a way that made it impossible not to feel lifted.

From there, some (such as myself) pulled up a pillow – as kindly donated by Labour students – and drifted off to a restless night’s sleep, others went out into the corridor to play music and chat to the staff, but there was one thing that they all had in common.

They were not alone in their fight.

TUESDAY 6 MARCH

7:30AM, 22 1/2 hours in

“RISE AND SHINE.”

The University’s Head of Security had, by all admission, not been the favourite person in the eyes of the occupiers, but his harsh tones as he loudly woke the sleeping protesters didn’t really do him any favours.

Outside, arguments were ongoing with various management staff. One tried to claim that the occupiers were blocking access and disrupting the cleaners. “That’s nonsense,” one replied. “One cleaner spoke to us as she came in and said it was lovely to hear music out here.” Management weren’t impressed, yet again, were powerless to do anything. They didn’t notice the moving of pictures outside (“We put Janice’s picture next to our room – she will protect us.”)

Again, Mike Shore-Nye came downstairs to address them. He spoke of the issues they thought were facing the pension scheme, and the occupiers told him why they thought he was wrong. Again, in a move surprising to nobody, this changed nothing.

And so a new day began – with the occupation remaining in full swing.

10:00AM – 25 hours in

They’d been plotting this for some time.

The Professional Services Leadership Team (PSLT) was meeting in the University’s Council chamber, just past the fire escape. If they could just distract the security on that door for long enough, they could either disrupt the meeting, or they could let in more occupiers. In a perfect world, they’d do both.

It wasn’t an easy decision to make at all. The guard on that door had been pleasant to the occupiers, and many felt guilty about trying to deceive him. After all, they contended, their struggle was on behalf of workers like him – he was not the enemy, the University’s management were. However, needs must, and they settled on a plan.

Out into the corridor, went the protesters with their pots and pans, making as much noise as possible. It was a simple plan – draw the guard off of his post, sneak in behind towards the meeting, and while that serves as a distraction, crack open the fire escape and let many more people in. The guard, however, did not move. Instead, he made his case for them to stop, and offered to try and allow two members of the group to address PSLT. The group agreed immediately, and off he went to ask for PSLT’s permission.

That was where the opening came about. The occupiers raced for the fire escape, while their counterparts outside did the same. Unfortunately, those outside were held up following some miscommunication. By the time they arrived, only one person from outside had managed to enter. The big coup, intended to tip the balance, had essentially failed.

Heading back towards the John Usher room, the occupiers bumped into the Head of Security. He stared the newcomer up and down, with a confused expression on his face.

“How did you get back inside?”

5:00PM – 32 hours in

It had all gone quiet for some time,. Food continued to arrive, not least now because security were willingly bringing deliveries from reception. Making themselves cosy, they acquired a toaster in addition to the kettle already there.

Earlier, they had heckled PSLT members as they left their meeting. “Sir Keith [Sheffield Vice-Chancellor] is on the picket line – you have no excuse,” one of the occupiers pointed out. This also marked a change in their demands. No longer was a statement enough – now, it had to support the UCU.

Since then, it had been relaxing, if a little long.. They were waiting, biding their time until the chance for a next big offensive.

That chance was to come that evening.

A group of students who had originally been a part of the occupation had organised a rally in its support. Around 50 people marched from the Forum to the Northcote House car park, as the occupiers basked in glory, screaming slogans out from the windows to the people below.

When they arrived at the car park, out came the megaphone. Barrie Cooper, the president of UCU’s Exeter branch, addressed those in attendance, calling for solidarity as the dispute pushes on. Then, the speeches moved inside. Those who had been trapped in an administrative building for over a day spoke out, telling the crowds of their struggle and their purpose. They led them in chants, making their message heard.

Then, the opportunity came.

50 people is a very large crowd, and there is power in numbers. The plan? To storm the building, and get more people inside. Soon, they’d found a way into the nearest lobby, and jumped at their chance. The occupation was spreading.

Inside, things were getting tense. Estate Patrol was mobilising, as they attempted to get a grip on the situation. The doors leading to the fire escape were locked shut, as protesters screamed at the management that they were breaking the law.

Outside, the Registrar had had enough. He came outside to address the gathered rally, accusing them of intimidating staff and telling them that they weren’t helping anybody.

Watching his speech back later, the occupiers found some humour. A flustered Mike turns to the occupation site, screaming: “what are you doing banging the window?”

The only response, which was chanted back?

“One solution – revolution!”

6:30PM – 33 1/2 HOURS IN

The second occupation had been established, just the other side of the main staircase.

The Registrar, along with the Head of Security, addressed both groups. “Who are you?” one of them asked of an occupier.

“I’m new,” he replied, having just climbed in through a window.

The conversations began fairly hostile, before calming down again and returning to their previous stalemate. All in all, there was nothing either side expected to gain.

And that’s where the bigger conversation started. Those in the lobby – all seven of them – had no access to water, or to toilets. The response from the University was that if they needed either, they could leave. For obvious reasons, that wasn’t going to happen.

Instead, the threat came out. If the University was going to deny them access to the toilet, they would urinate into bottles instead.

I had a call from the Guild’s VP Activities, asking me what the situation was on the ground. The Guild were lobbying at that stage, fighting into the night for the new occupiers. Before long, they’d been given limited toilet access.

9:00PM – 36 HOURS IN

My time in Northcote House had come to an end. After a few words with Jane Chafer, the University’s Director of Communications and Marketing, most of them began to settle in for another night. Those in the lobby refused an offer to join the main occupation, mostly because they preferred the strategic advantage that that offered them.

I left John Usher to a round of applause, as they had also given to those who left before me. In the lobby, those who remained gave embraces on my exit, before sinking back into their seats to continue their protest.

I left after 36 hours, having spend a day and a half inside Northcote House. Days later, their protest goes on.

 

Northcote House occupation spreads

The occupation of the John Usher meeting room in Northcote House has sparked a second occupation, as students have now entered one of the lobbies of the building.

Seven students (on the latest update, down to four) decided to occupy the lobby after the conclusion of a rally held in support of the John Usher occupiers. They claim that they are currently being denied access to water without leaving the building, and also have been denied access to toilets – leaving them to urinate into bottles instead. According to staff, this order has come from the Registrar’s office.

Marina Lademacher, one of those in the lobby, told Exeposé that: “Everyone is really overwhelmed by the support this afternoon at the rally. We put pressure on senior management and a second occupation has begun.

“Many of us need the toilet but we can use it only if we leave.”

Exeposé can confirm that later on in the evening, water was allowed to be brought out of the John Usher occupation to those in the lobby. Further, those in the lobby were offered to join the main occupation – which they refused.

The rally, which according to organisers attracted between 50 and 60 people, was addressed by Barrie Cooper, the UCU Exeter Branch President, as well as those students who are inside Northcote House. After speeches ended, several students attempted to pour into the University’s main admin building, causing security to crack down on the area, and University Registrar Mike Shore-Nye to address those outside, stating that they “are more than happy for [the students] to occupy to make their statement.” He then accused those outside of intending only to intimidate staff.

Meanwhile, in the John Usher occupation, protesters found that one of the fire escapes had been locked. This was only unlocked after much debate, in which the occupiers protested to the University’s Head of Security, as well as the Registrar, that this was illegal.

The occupations began on Monday 5 March at around 8:30am. Students entered Northcote House through an open door, and chose to set themselves up in the John Usher room, where the Vice-Chancellor’s Executive Group (VCEG) was set to meet.

The occupation is taking place in favour of the University and College Union’s ongoing industrial action, as they attempt to prevent changes to the USS Pension Scheme. Nationally, talks supported by the conciliatory service ACAS are ongoing as UUK, the representatives of the universities, are attempting to change the scheme from a defined-benefit scheme, in which a particular income is awarded on retirement, to a defined-contribution scheme, in which pension benefits are determined by the result of investments on the stock market.

The John Usher occupation group initially put out this statement:

We stand here today in solidarity with our striking lecturers. We have occupied the Vice-Chancellor’s Executive Group meeting room until such a time that they release a clear statement regarding how they feel about the strikes. We stand in solidarity with our lecturers and we will not be moved.

Since then, the protesters have decided to increase their demands, expecting a statement of support for the UCU due to the time that the University is taking to respond.

Mike Shore-Nye, the University’s Registrar, and Janice Kay, Provost, met with the occupiers on the first morning. Shore-Nye also spoke further to the protesters on Tuesday morning, and after the rally. The University of Exeter told Exeposé that “A small number of students have gathered in a meeting room on the University’s Streatham Campus. We respect students’ right to protest, provided they do so in a safe and legal manner.”

The protesters had also been addressed by Becca Hanley, the Guild’s VP Activities, and Kat Karamani, VP Welfare & Diversity, who gave information about support that the Advice Unit can provide, and asked for further information about how the Guild can help. Several members of Guild staff, most of which are Sabbatical Officers, have since assisted in bringing food to the occupiers. A Students’ Guild spokesperson told Exeposé that: “The Students’ Guild has been made aware of the ongoing student occupation here on campus today. The Guild supports every student’s right to voice their opinions and views in a safe and peaceful manner.” They also issued a statement, clearly offering support to those in occupation.

The current industrial action is in its third week. UCU members will remain on strike until Friday this week, before walking out again for the entirety of the following week.

Continue to follow along with updates on the occupations on Twitter with @ExeposeNews

Students occupy Northcote House meeting room

Students are bedding in for the night as they countinue to occupy meeting room in Northcote House in opposition to the ongoning USS Pensions dispute.

The John Usher room, just down the corridor from the University’s Council chamber, was taken over at around 8:30 this morning. They managed to gain access through an open door.

The target of their occupation was the Vice-Chancellor’s Executive Group (VCEG) meeting, which was set to take place in the room from 10am.

The University’s security services have now cut off access to the rooms, with the original door being locked, and the other route being guarded by Estate Patrol. Students are being allowed to leave, but not re-enter. The protesters claimed that this is stopping them from getting food in, and called this new tactic from the University “leave or be starved out.” The Head of Security at the University told protesters that they were “allowing food to be passed through the windows”, and subsequent policy has allowed food to be brought in thorugh Estate Patrol.

The University also informed the occupiers that cameras and microphones in the room have been switched on, and are recording, for their “safety and security”. They later corrected this, stating that the microphones were not on.

The protesters demanded the following in a video statement:

We stand here today in solidarity with our striking lecturers.  We have occupied the Vice-Chancellor’s Executive Group meeting room until such a time that they release a clear statement regarding how they feel about the strikes. We stand in solidarity with our lecturers and we will not be moved.

Mike Shore-Nye, the University’s Registrar, and Janice Kay, Provost, met with the occupiers this morning. The University of Exeter told Exeposé that “A small number of students have gathered in a meeting room on the University’s Streatham Campus. We respect students’ right to protest, provided they do so in a safe and legal manner.”

The protesters were addressed earlier by Becca Hanley, the Guild’s VP Activities, and Kat Karamani, VP Welfare & Diversity, who gave information about support that the Advice Unit can provide, and asked for further information about how the Guild can help. A Students’ Guild spokesperson told Exeposé that: “The Students’ Guild has been made aware of the ongoing student occupation here on campus today. The Guild supports every student’s right to voice their opinions and views in a safe and peaceful manner.”

This occupation comes as the UCU enters its third week of escalating strike action, with academics from across the country walking out until Thursday in opposition to changes to their pension scheme. The UCU’s Exeter Branch issued a statement in support of the occupation.

Find the latest updates here, and follow @ExeposeNews for the latest updates as the occupation continues.

Guild ‘sympathetic to the views of both sides’ in UCU dispute

The Students’ Guild has released a statement on the upcoming UCU strike, in which it describes being “sympathetic to the views of both sides”.

The Guild also describes itself as being “concerned by the likely impact this will have on students at Exeter, especially those in their final year or who teach as part of their studies.” Further, it “intends to hold both parties to account for any impact on the Exeter student experience.”

The press release, which refuses to lend explicit support for either side during the strike, is in contrast to a Large Idea currently live on the Guild website, titled “The Guild should support the upcoming University and College Union (UCU) strike action.” Voting will close on the Idea on 14 February, and a minimum of 475 students must vote in order for it to be quorate.

The UCU’s Exeter branch, along with those at 60 other universities across the UK, authorised strike action in response to a pension dispute. If no deal is made, then academics belonging to the union will walk out for a total of 14 days, beginning with a two day stoppage from 22-23 Feburary.

The full Guild statement can be read below:

This week the University and Colleges Union (UCU) announced that there will be 14 days of escalating strike action over 4 weeks and other industrial action following the proposed changes to the University Pension Schemes.

The Students’ Guild is aware of the situation and is concerned by the likely impact this will have on students at Exeter, especially those who are in their final year or who teach as part of their studies. The Guild sympathetic [sic] to the views of both sides of the dispute, and hopes that an agreement will be reached quickly with minimal impact on all students.

The Guild intends to hold both parties to account for any impact on the Exeter student experience, working hard to ensure that any impact is mitigated against and monitoring the situation as it develops.

If anyone has any further questions or queries, please do get in touch with the Students’ Guild on ucustrike@exeterguild.com.

 

No more Saturday Lemmy this year

The Lemon Grove will no longer open on its trademark Saturday night, until the start of the next academic year.

However, the venue, based in Streatham Campus’ Cornwall House, will continue to host one-off events and gigs, such as Battle of the Bands.

In a press release, the Students’ Guild said that it was “very sad to announce” the change, and that the “difficult decision comes after a dramatic and continuous dip in recent months, costing the Guild thousands of pounds which could be spent elsewhere to support and provide services for our student members.”

The Guild also stressed that it “relies heavily upon the income it receives from its commercial outlets to support its services”, and that it is focussing on “refurbishing the venue and planning for a new and improved student experience come September 2018.”

A decrease in commercial income was one of the causes of the Guild’s recent financial troubles, in which it was forced to find £150,000 of savings over the summer.

#NeverOK posters vandalised

The Students’ Guild has been accused of attempting to cover up the circumstances surrounding the mysterious disappearance of this year’s #NeverOK pledge posters.

Sources have revealed to Exeposé that racist and Islamophobic messages were written on this year’s posters, despite Shades, the Guild President, insisting that they were instead “torn”. They also contained messages relating to Mens’ Rights Activism.

The posters, which also formed part of last year’s campaign, were signed by students who sign up to the #NeverOK pledge, which includes agreeing to take action to prevent sexual harassment, not tolerating jokes about sexual harassment and educating themselves and others about consent. One of last year’s pledge posters remains on display in Devonshire House.

“In the process of moving they got a bit damaged” – shades

Despite the pledge posters being brought out at the #NeverOK launch event on 1 November, they have since disappeared. When questioned at Shadow Council at the end of Term 1, Shades told Councillors that “in the process of moving they got a bit damaged to be honest, and we’re trying to trying to make sure that the presentation is impeccable, and once we have that in place, we can put them up.” When pushed further over how they were damaged, Shades said that she had “no clue”.

However, when the issue was raised again at a later Shadow Council, she instead claimed that they had been “physically torn” and that she had discovered them after she “came in on a weekend.”

In contrast to the claims made by Shades, sources have told Exeposé that the posters were removed by a member of the Sabbatical team not because they had been torn, but because offensive messages were written on them. One eyewitness told Exeposé that: “I walked in and there was this dude kneeling down next to the #NeverOK posters at the bottom of the stairs where they put the Christmas tree. He was writing about Men’s Rights Activism and that people can’t be censored, and implying that the #NeverOK thing was in some way sexist against men.” Another pointed out that there was a “white power slogan”, and words about “women being oppressed by Islam.”

This comes after multiple incidents of a racial or religious nature last year, in which “the Holocaust was a good time” and “don’t talk to me if you’re not white” were written on attendees at a white t-shirt social, a Swastika was carved into a door at Birks Grange Village, and a ‘Rights for Whites’ sticker was found in Llewellyn Mews.

When Exeposé followed up the claims with the Students’ Guild, we were told that “Shades is correct” despite further queries being raised about the inconsistencies between her accounts of the damage, and that “the #NeverOK posters were damaged last term.” When pushed further on the exact damage that had occurred, the Guild declined to comment.

At Shadow Council on Tuesday 23 January, Shades claimed that “they’re [the posters] literally with Comms because they’re torn”. Later that day, Exeposé made a request to the Guild’s Communications Department to see the posters, and were denied. A second request on Thursday 25 January was turned down on the basis that “they have since been disposed of due to this damage and therefore cannot be seen”. When Exeposé asked when the posters had been disposed of, the Guild declined to comment.

Emma Wallace and Tabitha-Levis Jarsdel, co-Presidents of Exeter Feminist Society, told Exeposé: “If it’s true that the #NeverOK posters were vandalised with misogynistic, as well as Islamophobic and white supremacist, language, then that’s disgusting. Not only does this undermine the original campaign to stop sexual assault on campus and the surrounding area, but a potential cover up by the Guild questions their original commitment to #NeverOK.

“The Guild needs to be more accountable and not privilege their own reputation in concealing and failing to acknowledge Exeter’s problems. You cannot protect Muslim, Jewish, BME or non-male students from this type of prejudice by lying about it. The Guild needs to be more transparent and forthcoming if instances like this happen in future.”

“unfortunately, this year’s boards were vandalised and damaged” – guild spokesperson

On the day that this article was set to go to print, a spokesperson for the Students’ Guild admitted that vandalism had occurred, in contrast to what was said by Shades and previous claims from the Guild. The statement read: “For the past two years we have asked Exeter students to pledge to the ideals of the #NeverOK campaign both online and on pledge boards. Unfortunately this year’s boards were vandalised and damaged during this process which resulted in them being removed. Months later, when Exeposé asked to view them we were unable to produce them because they were disposed of as we were unable to use them for display.

“It is unfortunate that this damage and coverage of it will detract from an important campaign that highlighted for two years many of the issues that we are now seeing at the forefront of public consciousness.”

In response to this piece, Shades, the Guild President, wrote:

There are a couple of things brought up by Exeposé in this article seemingly only for the purpose of sensationalising this issue. I stand by the claims about the posters being damaged, they were vandalised which if you look up in a dictionary means deliberately damaged; I wouldn’t want to mention the issues like Islamophobia/ Male-activist views on a public forum like Shadow Council to prevent any triggers/concerns amongst students who might feel vulnerable in this respect. At the time of the vandalism we considered if we could pursue the offenders further and we could not due to a lack of evidence. We seek to promote an inclusive community at Exeter and such sensationalisation only hinders the productivity of our campaigns. It is a shame that the witness did not come forward at the time where we could have taken action. It is important to acknowledge that the Guild never denied to comment at any point, if details were unknown, however, this was made clear.

Idea calls for ‘Almost National Union of Students’

The Guild is set to bring a motion to the NUS National Conference which calls for it to be renamed the ‘Almost National Union of Students’ (ANUS), after Shadow Council refused to veto it.

The motion was first proposed by a Student Idea, which said that the rebrand was required “due to drop outs of many Students’ Unions from being members of the NUS”. 28 students voted on the proposal, and it passed with a 55% score.

A veto proposal was then brought to Shadow Council by NUS Delegate Jack Morewood, who claimed that it was “another of many troll Ideas” and that “it poses a risk to Exeter’s credibility at NUS Conference, and would be embarrassing for the Guild”.

However, with seven of the ten Councillors present, a vote to veto was split at 3-3 with one abstention. Julia Naud, the Guild Chair, used the casting vote to refuse to veto the Idea. As per the Guild website, it has now been “taken to the NUS Delegates to find a proposer”.

After the vote, one Shadow Councillor told Exeposé that they “think it’s a dangerous precedent to set for one delegate to repeatedly ask for Shadow Council to veto Ideas that they personally disagree with”, while another, who had voted to veto, added that “Shadow Council acts as a necessary check on the Ideas system – in this case, the need to protect Exeter’s position at Conference. I would, however, need a wider range of delegates to come forward in order to vote to veto again.”

“WE RESPECT THE DECISIONS OF COUNCIL AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT OUR ELECTED NUS DELEGATES BRING TO NATIONAL CONFERENCE”

This comes just a week after Shadow Council chose to veto another Student Idea calling for a motion for NUS National Conference to no-platform itself.

In a statement given to Exeposé, a spokesperson for the Students’ Guild said that: “Shadow Council is the Guild’s elected scrutiny body that holds elected officers and Guild Policy to account.

“Each Councillor has the right to veto a proposal brought to them and on this occasion they decided not to reject a Student Idea of renaming the NUS to ‘Almost National Union of Students (ANUS)’. In a separate meeting, the Councillors decided to veto a proposal for the NUS to no-platform itself. We respect the decisions of Council and look forward to seeing what our elected NUS Delegates bring to National Conference.”

The current motion comes after a wave of disaffiliations, mostly following the election of now former-President Malia Bouattia, with the most prominent being Loughborough Students’ Union. At that time, students in Exeter voted by a small margin to remain part of the NUS, after a campaign described by those involved as “toxic”.