Students...

I have got to say that Sussex university is home to the most stereotypical studentyness you can imagine... This week is a perfect example... Gaza protesters...

















Basically a group of protesters have set up an "occupation" - in other words, they've completely commandeered one of the two most major lecture theatres on campus. They're camping there permanently for a week, even through the night, I think. Even when lectures are on they hang around at the back of the hall - with a policy of not disrupting classes (there was a lecture starting when I took these pictures which is why there are fewer protesters) - although I have heard it has been a disruption.

My initial reaction was "cool, good luck with that", I read their "demands" and they seemd fair. They want Sussex to release an official statement agains the attacks, they want Sussex to boycott any Israeli products sold on campus stores, they want to give free scholarships to some students from Gaza University (which was hit during the bombing), etc. etc.

I had to have a nose in at the occupation in Arts A... Now I'm pretty warm on the hippy thermometer, but even I couldn't help but laugh. Think of an utterly stereotypical protesting hippy student, and you will be picturing the sight in the lecture theatre. Dreadlocked, baggy-clothed promoters of peace, acoustic guitars being tinkered with, the lot. Unfortunately I didnt have my camera handy until things had got a bit quieter.

Interestingly, a lot of students in my lectures were not sympathetic with them. They see the occupiers as self-righteous, annoying, and pointless. Lots of people were saying "what can the uni do?" and "I dont mind them protesting but its getting in the way of our classes".

I kind of disagreed with the skeptics at first, but now I'm thinking about it, I'm not sure if uni is the right place to carry this out. True, a couple of other UK universities did cave in to the protesters early on and meet their "demands", and I don't think that's bad. But is it really wrong for us to allow the university a little political neutrality? I'm not sure if it's appropriate for a university to take sides when general peace is the overriding aim.

The guardian have featured an article on universities' efforts here (mainly about King's College, but mentioning Sussex).

I'm not unsympathetic to their vision, as it were, I'm just undecided on whether I agree with all their demands, or with their take-over of the building.

P.S. I counted 10 "as it were"s in todays Philosophy lecture with our new, mad philosophy lecturer. He looks like a cross between a 17th century philosopher and an 80s doctor who. If Philosophy were to be embodied into a living and breathing being, he would be it. Anyway, it must be catching cause as you can see, I just unintentionally said "as it were" in my own blog. Ugh.