Oppose London College of Communication Course Redundancies

Dean of the School of Media Kicked Off LCC

2010-05-03T23:09:00.004+01:00

As per Matthew Bell at The Independent:

High drama at the London College of Communications on Friday when Julian Rodriguez, Dean of the School of Media, was apparently ungallantly escorted out of the building. Nobody was willing to explain the circumstances when I called, but it follows the arrival of Sandra Kemp as head of the college last year, which is part of the University of the Arts, London. Kemp is implementing a radical reorganisation of the budget and seeking 37 redundancies among lecturers, which I gather has not made her terribly popular. And now this. Protests are being planned ...

Gary Naylor resigned shortly after.

The causes behind these measures are still to be clarified, but it is known that Rodriguez was escorted off the premises due to Gross Misconduct.

It is a shame Julian Rodriguez didn't listen to what we had to say and was so stubbornly adamant on sticking with his management pals during occupation and action times.

We could have saved your job and your face Julian...

More soon, soon...

UCU London Region Demonstration: Defend Jobs, Defend Education!

2010-03-17T14:20:00.003Z

The University and College Union (UCU) London regional demo is taking place this Saturday, 20th March 2010.

The idea is to meet at 12pm at Kings College London, then march to Downing Street to hand in a statement to the prime minister, Gordon Brown.

It is a great way of making our own little demo too - join forces, etc!

We should all mobilize our friends/lovers/family/pets - bring the banners and all other gadgets and make a motherf***er fuss!

All aboard?

Facebook Event

Click here for Map

Election Results

2010-03-06T22:09:00.003Z

Here are the results of this year's very exciting, highly participative (in UAL terms) SUARTS elections:

Our little motion PASSED with an overwhelming majority of Yeses!
It is now part of SUARTS constitution to be more active in defending arts education and opposing cuts to courses!

Aaaaand the officers:

Activities & Volunteering Officer - Richard Willsher

Culture & Diversity Officer - Eloise Tomlinson

Education Officer - Robyn Minogue

and

SUARTS President
LOUIS HARTNOLL

Yeay!

We wish all newly elected officers all the luck and specially our Louis, of whom we are so so so proud!

Great year ahead guys - University of the Arts London deserves much more than what the current management team has to offer, we believe you can deliver - bring it on!

Taki's Video Finally Up!

2010-02-28T01:08:00.000Z

VOTE TAKESHI SHIOMITSU #1 CULTURE AND DIVERSITY OFFICER

OUR MOTION

2010-02-25T00:27:00.002Z

As previously announced, a motion is going under scrutiny (parallel to the SUARTS elections), which was proposed by Oppose members.

Should the Student Union be more active in defending arts education and opposing cuts to courses?

If you agree with the stances, vote YES!

Voting takes place from 26th February until 5th March

Visit www.suarts.org/vote

To see our manifesto in full go to page 59 on the Student Elections & Referendum Newspaper.

Louis and Chris present their thoughts on UAL issues and their SUARTS candidacies

2010-02-24T21:48:00.003Z

LOUIS HARTNOLL - #1 SUARTS PRESIDENT

CHRIS LANE - #1 EDUCATION OFFICER

(Taki's video coming soon)

The Candidates

2010-02-23T20:48:00.004Z

images by Arts London News

SUARTS Officers Elections

2010-02-23T12:34:00.007Z

Hi guys!

How are you all doing?

I know, I know, assignments to hand in and dissertations to write and social lives to fulfill and Facebook lives to keep up with...

Anyhow, amidst all that, don't forget to make sure you place your VOTE on this year's elections for SUARTS Student Unions Officers.

It has been years since the campaigns have been this interesting, with six (6!) people running for the role of President and many more for all the other positions.

So, stay tuned and try to meet some of the candidates at the rally taking place on the 2nd of March at LCC Street Lecture Theatre at 7pm (Facebook Event).

Oppose is endorsing 3 candidates:

Takeshi Shiomitsu for #1 Culture & Diversity Officer

Christopher Lane for #1 Education Officer

and

LOUIS HARTNOLL for #1 SU PRESIDENT

Yes, Louis is running and we are all well excited. So there you go, place your vote, make a change.

We will be publishing the tasks of each of these roles, together with the boys' manifestos, so you have a neater clue of what is going on and WHY you should vote for them.

***

DON'T FORGET:

12noon 26th February - 12noon 5th March

go onto

www.suarts.org/elections

and vote, vote, vote

***

For more information:

Facebook Groups

Vote Takeshi Shiomitsu for Culture and Diversity Officer

Vote Chris Lane for Education Officer SUARTS

Vote Louis 'Bigman' Hartnoll for SUARTS President

Create Change & London Activists Meeting

2010-02-13T00:51:00.007Z

Ooh, ooh!

New things to talk about!

1st - Don't forget! If you would like to be part of the SUARTS (our lovely student union) and make a difference, deadline for the hand in of your manifesto is this Monday (15th February).
Visit the SUARTS website for more.

2nd - The National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts (London Region) meeting is taking place this Wednesday (17th February) in Room 205, Bloomsbury Theatre, Gordon Street. All welcome. Click here for the Facebook event or visit www.conventionagainstfeesandcuts.wordpress.com.

Would be good to see you all there - much is about to happen soon, soon!

Keep a watch on this space!

More Very Soon...

2010-02-08T01:26:00.003Z

Hi All,

sorry for the hiatus.

We might be quite but we are far from over!

As you all know UAL's UCU (University and College Union) reps are balloting for strike. Which means that if the balloting goes through, our teachers will stop to work under the current circumstances. This doesn't mean classes will necessarily stop. If we reach that point, join your tutors at the picket line where I am sure many will learn that you can learn as much outside the classroom as inside!
Please show your support to your teachers and general UAL staff by talking directly to them or anonymously leaving your message of solidarity as a comment on this blog.
We need to be united so we can abolish the savagery that is bound to happen at our university if the cuts take place!

On behalf of Oppose we can say that we are dealing with some official procedures that would make all the difference if they turn out to be successful. This is really boring bureaucratic work, but hopefully it will go well and we will announce it to you very very soon. Keep an eye on this blog for more. :)

Last. but not least, a good example on how the struggle has spread inter-campus is the Petition to Stop the Sale and Save Central St Martins Charing Cross Road - a student and staff campaign to save the prestigious building and avoid the move into the infamous Kings Cross building.
Sign their petition HERE.

And so... we say goodbye for now but not for long!

Cheers!

SECOND TERM OPPOSE MEETING

2010-01-26T23:53:00.007Z

WEDNESDAY, 27TH JANUARY at 5.30PM

I will put up the day and time on facebook but not the place, as we don't want Mr Claridge all over us, now do we?

I hope you can come - we'll keep it short and sweet, finished at 6.30pm so we can all go home and back into our assignments/ disso/ final projects/ facebook addictions.

FYI: HERE IS THE AGENDA

- Current situation at LCC/ UAL

- Referendum

- SUARTS cooperation and the new lists

- Possible stunt

'The fields of Athenry'

2010-01-16T04:05:00.000Z

(to to the tune of the Irish ballad)

By a lonely college wall I heard a woman calling
"Sandra, you have ta'en my job away.
The staff have been maligned
And Paul Simpson has resigned
Now maybe every dog will have its day."

Chorus:

Low lies morale at LCC
Where once we saw the free spirits fly
But Sandra's cracked the whip
Our reputation now has slipped
We have to sit and watch our courses die.

In the Upper Street cafe I heard a young girl wailing
"Woe is me, my course is being ditched
My tutor's got the sack
And there's no point looking back
'Cos the smiling viper's got us all well stitched."

Outside the 4th floor doors heard a tutor crying
"What has happened to our hopes and dreams?
Fifteen courses now have gone
And I'm bound for moving on
Before the place is splitting at the seams."

External examiner sends out a message as final meetings between UCU and MT take place

2009-12-17T11:26:00.004Z

As the final meeting between University of the Arts London senior management team and UCU is about to take place, a message from an (unnamed) external examiner springs up in our email box.

Tomorrow (Friday, 18th December) at 9am University and College Union members will meet for the last time before the probable strikes with Rector Nigel Carrington, in a final attempt to save the future of our teachers, our courses and, consequently, our university.

Meanwhile, a Floral Design & Enterprise external examiner has send us a few comments on Dean of Design Faculty Mike Bradshaw.

"I have been an external examiner for the Floral Design & Enterprise course since 2006. I understand the college is closing this course because LCC aspires to be a leading international provider of design & media education... & future plans do not include Flower Design.

It has been a privilege to watch the course grow in reputation & to meet students from a truly diverse range of backgrounds. The quality of the course content & guidance from enthusiastic & dedicated staff result in a happy & productive atmosphere. I am always impressed by the professional & friendly reception I received from students & staff when I visit. I do not believe this is a show being put on to impress an external visitor - it is completely genuine.

It is for this reason I am saddened, shocked & angry to read a reported comment by the Dean of the Faculty: '… well when somebody leaves your course, what are they going to do - end up working in some florist?'.

I am a Landscape Architect in practise & also teach at various Landscape Design & Horticultural Colleges. In this position I have witnessed design teaching across a range of subjects & am pleased to confirm that the quality of design teaching on the Floral Design & Enterprise course is equal to the best I have seen elsewhere.

The Dean’s comment is utterly inappropriate, patronising & disrespectful to the students, staff & to me as external examiner.

During the Exam Board I was able to explain that there is a strong relationship between the Floral Design & Enterprise Board & the wider Horticultural Industry - both need each other. Our current Government has been particularly limp in recognizing the potential of professional Horticulture as a respectable & viable career - it would appear this blinkered thinking has also rubbed off on LCC. Alumni from Floral Design & Enterprise are in good employment or self employed & are among the highest in demand in their field. LCC has the opportunity to bask in this successful record, rather than sweep it from the curriculum."

Things...

London Metropolitan Governors Resign

2009-12-17T08:05:00.004Z

We didn't want to put it on... erm... web page before it was confirmed, but here you go directly from The Times Higher Education:

"According to London Met’s University and College Union branch, the chair of governors, Peter Anwyl, resigned with effect from the end of March 2010 at a governors’ meeting last night."

The resignation comes just after students and teachers joined forces in front of the university's Moorgate building last Tuesday protesting for a solution to the impending cutbacks set up by senior management.

The London Metropolitan University has been amid a students/teacher vs management battle for the last 10 months.

SU Arts Officers Kit Friend and Carly Aslett were at the demo, along with UCU Arts prominent members Kulbir Basra and Tony Sullivan.

Hip, hip hurray to the London Met Govs resignation and lets hope our dear Carrington, Kemp & Co. learn a lil' lesson!

Mike Bradshaw – Send No Flowers

2009-12-08T10:28:00.002Z

by RJ

Mike Bradshaw’s smugly disparaging comments about Floral Design betray, yet again, the dismally shallow intellectual snobbery currently pervading LCC and UAL senior management.

Well, Mike, Floral Design might not have the complexity of point and click photography, but it does involve real creativity and has global appeal across many diverse cultures. UAL had a successful, profitable and world-beating course, created, developed and delivered by Gill Wheeler (a descendant of William Morris - founder of the Arts & Crafts Movement) but her course, like others, has been destroyed and she has been discarded.

Perhaps, with an overwhelmingly male, white, middle-aged, middle-class management team, we can look forward to an increasingly narrow and mechanistic definition of what constitutes creativity and worth, and little respect for the importance of diversity.

Another step in their macho funeral march.

Please, send no flowers.

Letter to Santa

2009-12-07T10:10:00.005Z

we have been real good this year!

We fought for Palestine and tried to bring a little good to our fellow students over in Gaza.
We even asked the management to share our toys (e.g.: our computers, books and materials) with the kiddies over there, but management was little mean and we had to stay in self-induced house-arrest for a few days until they let us do that.

Then we found out the management wanted to close down our courses and fire our teachers. We were real sad! Despite what they say we love our courses and we love our teachers.
We have tried talking to the management several times. They are really big guys, you know?
And there is also this mean lady, who keeps making people cry wherever she goes. We heard a friend from the Royal College of Art saying that she was there before and she made a lot of people really sad.
We don't like her very much.

We have been fighting for each other. Students and teachers - it's real nice!
A few weeks ago we behaved a little naughty - we stayed in house-arrest again. But then the management called the police and we were left out in the cold! How mean those managers are!
We tried to have tea with the big boss, Mr Carrington, but he called the authorities again. We think he thinks we are real mad at him - but we are not!
We just want to talk.

The management has been so unfair! They threw out our dear PR teacher Paul Simpson, they're about to give Kulbir Basra the boot and we don't know how many others will go!
They've put court orders on students and some cannot be in uni anymore - which is really bad, because educational institutions should be areas open to free speech.

So please, dear Santa, this year we really only want the following:

- Bring back our teachers
- Save our courses

and

- Kick the management in their... erm... out of uni

We promise to be just as good next year!

With Love,

Oppose LCC Course Redundancies

Arts London News Reports

2009-12-04T21:43:00.008Z

The wave of discontentment rises, while more and more students and teachers at LCC speak up against the senior managing teams.

Arts London News reports:

In the thick of LCC restructuring
by Lucy Doyle and Harriett Byczok
Students and staff have spoken out about the effects of the restructuring of the London College of Communication and the subsequent redundancies and course closures.

John Kitching, student rep for ABC Flower Design–one of the 16 courses from the former School of Creative Enterprise–claimed that the course is not seen as “trendy enough.”

Kitching described a meeting he had with Mike Bradshaw–dean of the Faculty of Design–where he asked him to explain the course closure: “He (Bradshaw) said:“Well when somebody leaves your course, what are they going to do–end up working in some florist?" which I think was a bit off, so I asked him not to compare it to a ‘McJob’, and not to patronise me with what I’ve chosen to do with my life.”

Meanwhile, Jane Hankin, course director of the Fashion Marketing access course–which will not be running after June 2010–said she felt “gutted” at the closure.

She said: “I have built up the course into one of the most popular FE (further education) courses in the college. Numbers applying have grown, year on year, and we are running with a cohort of 80 students, many of whom fall within the widening participation band.”

Hankin went on to accuse senior management of having a “lack of interest” in widening participation, but admitted that the closure doesn’t necessarily impact current students. Student rep Mica Whyte agreed, and said that her fellow students hadn’t experienced any problems or effects on the quality of teaching.

Kemp insists that the college is proud of its diverse student community, and she is absolutely committed to maintaining and developing diversity. “Widening participation in all courses remains a priority,” she said.

Principal lecturer Kulbir Basra from the former School of Creative Enterprise claims that some lecturers in the marketing area felt “forced to resign”. Basra–who faces redundancy in January, but has already been relieved of teaching duties – said staff have felt demoralised with what’s been going on.

Ronnie McGrath – who faces redundancy at the end of December and currently heads the creative writing part of combined honours course– said he failed to understand why his course is being cut: “We need creative writing in an arts college, and it’s an exciting course.”

In total, nine combined honours degree courses are in the process of being discontinued.
Kemp believes that LCC has a great heritage, and the value of an LCC degree will continue to depend on the success of the college. “We believe that the changes we are making will enhance the college’s reputation and therefore the value of all courses studied here.”

Andy Pandy Goes to Elephant & Castle

2009-11-30T21:21:00.002Z

A funny (and creative) supporter sent this through to the Oppose email.

Thanks AT - it was reason for great laughs!

We found an old broadcast copy of an early Andy Pandy programme.

Andy Pandy goes to the Elephant Castle

Andy Pandy is coming to play

Tra la la la lal la………

(Andy comes in a racing car and jumps out in his stripy suit – the other two come in carried by lesser minions)

Andy: This is my new friend Looby Loo and she was an artist and researcher.

Teddy Tusa: But she looks a bit Looby Loo.

Looby Loo: Shut up Tusa I am running this show now and you’d better shape up or you’re out.

Teddy Tusa: But I’m a very important bear, I’m on the BBC.

Looby Loo: You were you mean, you don’t fit the mission anymore, you’re an ex-bear, a non-performing , used to be bear.

Teddy Tusa: But I picked you as a new friend.

LL: Ha, ha, ha, I don’t have friends, I am Looby Loo.

AP: She is you know, she is as funny as can be.

LL: Listen Pandy boy, just because it’s your show don’t think you can tell me what to do. I have a mission.

AP: OOOH, what’s a mission, is it fun?

LL: For me it is and for the rest of you it might involve tall buildings and jumping off.

TT: Oh, that sounds horrid, you look pretty but you sound like a can of worms.

AP: What’s that mean, Looby Loo looks like Barbie.

TT: Looby Loo has got a Barbie-can. She’s pretty in a tin.

AP: Well if Barbie can, so can I.

LL: You people are completely not on song, the elephant has gone and the castle is following it.

AP: Is that education by formula?

Teddy Tusa: What formula?

AP: It’s Formula One, the fastest, dirtiest , all rubber filth formula that is made of money, runs over the opposition, looks sexy and is completely meaningless.

LL: Forward to Formula One. Long live Formula One!

(They goose step out the room arm in arm)

End episode.

Close education.

Fight Against LCC Cutoffs by Naqisa Silva

2009-11-30T13:58:00.001Z

Letter from Unknown Supporter #3

2009-11-26T22:00:00.009Z

And yet another...

(sent to Oppose LCC Course Redundancies on the 23rd of November 2009)

Is He Qualified To Speak On This?
The Rector, now apparently established in the august world of academe, is using his new-found respectability in the public sector to enlighten others about “Maintaining a successful balance between encouraging individual creativity and developing constitutional consensus.”

Did you read that correctly?

Maintaining a successful balance between encouraging individual creativity and developing constitutional consensus

Can’t help thinking this is a tad ironic.

The intellectual snobbery, which is resulting in the School of Creative Enterprise being destroyed, and which supports whatever vision he thinks he has, does not really qualify Mr Carrington to speak on developing constitutional consensus.

Neither does riding roughshod over legally binding procedures and failing to take the staff body with him, on his journey to who-knows-where. This is presumably not the practice this conference is meant to support, if it has a real purpose.

You might fool the great and the good, but you ain’t fooling anybody here, Nigel.

This latest jolly also begs a very obvious question: who, in their wildest imaginings, would seriously suggest that Mr Carrington (he hasn’t got his knighthood just yet) is qualified to speak on this? You do have to wonder, is this just another opportunity for self-promotion on the back the good name of the University, such as it was.

Still, Zurich is nice this time of year and it’s handy for checking on your Swiss Bank Account, if you happen to be in the area.
Pass me the sick bag … I’m feeling rather nauseous.

http://www.elia-artschools.org/leadership/index

Letter from Unknown Supporter #2

2009-11-26T21:06:00.005Z

Yet another brilliant letter by anonymous.
This one, based on an open letter written by UAL's Board of Governors Chair, Sir John Tusa to Sir Michael Lyons and Mark Thompson (Chairman of the BBC Trust and Director-General of the BBC) criticizing BBC's behaviour on the last couple of years.

SEE SIR JOHN TUSA'S LETTER HERE

This is our supporter's version:

Tusa is quick to criticise other institutions but unable to take on board criticism himself

Dear Sir John Tusa, Dear Nigel Carrington

I will not pretend that this is an easy letter to write still less an enjoyable one. UCU Members have worked for the LCC for many, many decades in one form or another. The LCC is in our DNA. Criticising the LCC — one of the shapers of British culture and identity in the 20th Century — especially when it is under fire, is not something I would go out of my way to do.

Why then write at all? Because we believe that the LCC is falling into a fundamental trap as it negotiates its way past enemies of many stripes. You concentrate too much on what the LCC might do in the name of elitism. I believe you pay too little attention to what students and staff feel about how the LCC behaves. I can’t tell you how often people say of some LCC action, “I didn’t expect the LCC to behave like that?”

This is not a wet, “touchy-feely” reaction to a former broadcaster. It’s about education, isn’t it? Yes, but because the LCC relates to so many parts of national life, it is not just about education, it is about the way the LCC acts as an institution. You may have formerly made great strides in another field - you may be in control of the “effective” side of your relationship with the Court of Governors, but I feel strongly that you have lost control — if you ever had it — over the “affective” side of your relationship with staff and students.

These feelings are important.

You must be aware that the reaction to issues such as LCC’s slashing of courses, diversity in the student body and diversity in the staff group, to name but a few, is not a shallow one. The intensity, and the constancy with which they are felt, suggest to us that these are bellwether issues, which everyone expects you to address. I beg you, don’t kid yourselves that they will go away. They won’t because they strike to the heart of how the students and staff believe the LCC — as a publicly funded body — ought to be behave. Failure to address them complicates and threatens to undermine the progress of the LCC that we all expect.

You will disagree with all or most of that. But don’t stop reading. I have some suggestions to help the LCC to re-connect to the way people would like to feel about it as an institution. Some are for you to do as Chairman of the LCC Court of Governors, John; some for you, Nigel, as Rector.

So here are some suggested action points for the Chairman of the LCC Court of Governors. First, announce that Sandra Kemp’s successor as Head of College will have some managerial ability. You will have no difficulty in recruiting at a “mere” £150k per annum. Second, announce that future recruitment to all other LCC senior posts will be responsibly executed. While you are about it, get the remuneration and LCC pension provision right. These actions are not (just) about safeguarding income; they are about the key public perception of how the LCC uses public money. At present, it doesn’t look too good. Should any would-be candidate pray in aid salaries in the private sector, tell them you will watch their march towards the glittering private sector prizes with huge interest.

Third, patch up your public quarrel with the UCU, very quickly. I know many actions taken lately at LCC were spectacularly ill-judged; I know Sandra Kemp’s staff are holding their heads in dismay; but the LCC cannot afford a row with its staff and students. Help Sandra Kemp out of her hole. You can help her to stop digging.

There is, Nigel, plenty for you to do in a similar vein. First, open up the matter of staff redundancies and course-slashing. Pleading a changed mission statement no longer washes. If any Head of College wants to walk to the private sector, you know the answer. No Head of College is bigger — or better — than the LCC. Remind them of that fact.

Second, talking of which, tell Sandra Kemp that since her contract was negotiated on the basis of having some managerial ability and integrity now that the evidence of this ability is non-existent, she needs to step down, in the light of changed conditions. I suspect that would be hugely popular and would help to dispel the view that the LCC is in thrall to the supposed power of the “talents” of Sandra Kemp, and you, Nigel Carrington.

Third, examine the costs of the “elitism” regime and abolish it. Teaching staff are there to think, to create, to teach, not to concentrate on “elitism” with myriad cuts and course closures. Take an axe to elitism — too often, concerns about the particular niche a the College might — or might not — fit into prevents the idea from being realised.

Fourth, impose a moratorium on any new internally generated staff cuts and course closures. Burn most of the existing elitism agenda. Does anyone agree with this, still less know where it will lead?

Finally, John, I believe you need to think harder about re-stating and reviewing the LCC’s internal sense of the values by which it works. As things stand, my impression is that after years of obfuscation LCC staff don’t know what are the LCC’s core values. Serving the students, distinctiveness, efficiency, just aren’t enough. I guess most LCC staff are nourished by a deep stream of antipathy towards your regime. Your best days were a very long time ago and we need someone both visionary and contemporary who has a professional understanding of education. Many LCC staff know the values by which they work. But they wonder if you do? Having worked together with many staff, who you do not know. my hunch is that they do. Please put into words for the LCC in the 21st Century.

So there you are. I think you would have fun with this agenda. You would find it liberating. I believe the students and staff would say “Ah, now that’s how the LCC should behave!” With them behind you, you could fight the real battles with your real enemies. I know what your advisers will say. But please don’t kid yourselves. The rather noisy public issues will not go away, and unless you address them, you are damaging LCC’s future irreparably.

UCU (Membership with a professional background in Education from 1960’s to 2009)

Letter from Unknown Supporter #1

2009-11-24T14:19:00.004Z

As said before, we are often showered with comments and letters from anonymous (and not so anonymous) supporters.
Often these entail words of support, solidarity, sympathy towards the cause. Sometimes, however, they are something like this:

Senior Managers also in the Firing Line

A warning shot was fired today by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) against poor practice and management in London’s universities.

Neither Governors nor Senior Managers can sit back and take their positions for granted as pressure mounts on the top brass at London Metropolitan University to quit.

Cooking the books and having scant regard to student care, especially when it comes to those students from less privileged backgrounds, simply won’t do.

The current incompetence of the Senior Management at UAL, in their spectacular mishandling of course closures and compulsory staff redundancies at LCC will now draw more scrutiny.

Art London Met Hefce is calling for the mass resignation of the Board of Governors and its Chair. John Tusa might want to take note and satisfy himself that Sandra Kemp and Nigel Carrington are fit for the posts they occupy. Otherwise, his head might be joining theirs on the chopping-block.

False claims about students and mismanaging funding is going to cost London Met dearly. UAL needs to take a careful look at its own practices, not least in the matter of the currently fiasco.

Letter from Uni Arts UCU

2009-11-20T11:57:00.007Z

Dear Joana and Oppose

The University of the Arts UCU College Co-ordinating Committeee (Co-Comm) decided at our meeting on Tuesday 17th November to send you a message of support for your campaign against course cuts, closures and lecturing staff redundancies.

Dear Oppose

Please accept our thanks and support for your campaign against course cuts and job losses at the University of The Arts.
As UCU Co-Comm officers we wholeheartedly appreciate your efforts to campaign to defend quality arts education at the LCC and across the University.
We fully support your right to exercise your democratic rights as students to campaign and protest peacefully to oppose course closures and redundancies because we know that compulsory redundancies and arbitrary course cuts can only damage education.

Yours in solidarity

Tony Sullivan
on behalf of Uni Arts UCU Co-Comm

UCLA Students Protest after 32% Tuition Fees Hike

2009-11-19T18:33:00.002Z

Whose University? Our University!

University of the Arts London v Students

2009-11-19T11:26:00.002Z

Since we have had so much text on here lately (sorry but we are not allowed to copy in pictures from the ALN guys anymore - for reasons of copyrights) I thought it would be nice to keep it short and simple. Just scroll down to see all the details of yesterday's claim.

It is a good example of the university's general attitude towards its students.

Court Order (Claim: University of the Arts London v Students - 12 Nov 2009)

Legales Eingeständnis über London College of Communications 10

2009-11-19T10:51:00.003Z

Bernhard sent me the translated version of yesterday's press release as he felt (which I second) the need for this information to be available to all our colleagues occupying in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Thousands of students are now protesting all across the three countries, with sit-ins taking place in nine Austrian universities and over twenty German cities.

SEE HERE FOR MORE

---

Richter drängt die Kunstuniversität London, eine Entschuldigung in Erwägung zu ziehen

Die Leitung der Kunstuniversität London hat einen weiteren Anlauf ungeschickt vermasselt, die Opposition ihrer chaotischen Versuche die Kurse und Dienstposten am London College of Communication radikal zu kürzen, ruhig zu stellen.

Protestierende welche mutig genug waren die Inkompetenz der Leitung in Frage zu stellen wurden einer arroganten und rachsüchtigen Reaktion ausgesetzt, gemäß derer das Regime der Kunstuniversität London zehn Studenten dem Hohen Gericht namhaft machte, um eine Strafaktion gegen sie zu fordern.

Diese Eingabe erhielt Zustimmung auf oberster Stufe der Kunstuniversität London und wurde jetzt zurückgezogen.

Heute gewährte am Hohen Gericht der ehrenwerte Mr. Justice Lewison der Kunstuniversität London eine gerichtliche Verfügung für den Ausschluss nur einer Person vom Universitätgebäude, einem ehemaligen Studenten des London College of Communications, und wies bewusst die Erstattung der Kosten an die Universität zurück.

Student Oliver Tiersch, einer der Studenten die in den Unterlagen genannt sind, welche letzte Woche am Hohen Gericht eingereicht wurden, sagte heute im Hohen Gericht aus um eine öffentliche Entschuldigung von Seiten der Leitung der Kunstuniversität London zu verlangen.

Der ehrenwerte Herr Justice Lewison, Richter der Chancery-Abteilung des Hohen Gerichts, riet den legalen Vertretern der Kunstuniversität London „Notiz zu nehmen von dem was Herr Tierisch sagte“ und fragte sie, Olivers Anfrage nach einer schriftlichen Entschuldigung bei allen die betroffen sind für den Verfahrensverlauf an ihre Arbeitgeber weiterzuleiten. Der misslungene legale Versuch, der gegen gegenwärtige Studenten gerichtet war, die eine Anfrage nach einer Ausbildung für die sie bezahlt haben stellten, wird als beispiellos in der Geschichte der Gesetzgebung des Vereinigten Königreiches betrachtet.

Die Freiheit der Bitte um Information wird nun von der Oppositions-Gruppe überlegt zu beanspruchen, um herauszufinden wieviel dieser Quatsch genau gekostet hat, der auf die Höhe von 20.000 Pounds geschätzt wird; mit dem einzigen Ziel eine einzelne Studentin, Joana Oliveira Pinto vom „unbefugten Betreten“ des Universitätsgebäudes auszuschließen.

Legal climb-down over LCC 10

2009-11-18T21:37:00.001Z

Judge urges UAL to consider apology

UAL senior management has ham-fistedly bungled another attempt to silence opposition to their chaotic attempts to axe courses and jobs at LCC.

Protestors bold enough to challenge senior management incompetence have been subjected to an over-bearing and vindictive response, whereby the UAL regime entered the names of 10 students’ into the High Court, demanding punitive action against the students.

This action had been sanctioned at the highest level at UAL and has now been abandoned.

In the High Court today The Honourable Mr Justice Lewison granted an injunction to UAL to exclude just one person, a former LCC student, from University premises and pointedly refused to award costs to the University.

Student Oliver Tiersch, one of 10 students named in papers submitted to the High Court last week, spoke out in the High Court today to demand a public apology from UAL senior management.

The Honourable Mr Justice Lewison, judge of the Chancery Division of the High Court, advised UAL legal representatives, hired and in-house, to: “Take note of what Mr Tiersch has said”, asking them to pass on to their employers Oliver’s request for a written apology, for the injunction proceedings, to all those concerned. The botched legal attempt, which had been sought against current students requesting to receive the education they have already paid for, is believed to be unprecedented in UK legal history.

A Freedom of Information request is now being considered by Oppose to find out exactly how much this latest farrago has cost, estimated to be in the region of £20,000.00; with the sole purpose of excluding a solitary female former student, Joana Oliveira Pinto, from “trespassing” on University premises.

11th of November

2009-11-15T12:15:00.000Z

Discourse Analysis of Sandra's Reply

2009-11-14T21:43:00.008Z

I was asked to take off the former version as it contained the author's email, so I just copy pasted the text... sorry less esthetically acceptable, but still brilliant!

Enjoy!

Letter from Sandra Kemp
A Discourse Analysis

Dear all

I know that many colleagues will be uneasy about the University’s decision to deploy security staff around the college entrance area and on the 5th floor at Davies Street this week, so I want to take this opportunity to explain why the Rector and I took this action on the advice of UAL Estates Department management.

> The intention of giving an explanation sets up the immediate assumption that the action was rational and reasonable, rather than self-serving and legitimating the author's general position and actions.

Providing a safe environment for staff, students and visitors is essential for the delivery of education. Over recent weeks, staff have been subjected to students shouting and using threatening language and behaviour in meetings and in ad hoc confrontations in corridors.

> The first sentence is a consensual statement that is here used to immediately set up the current situation as a state of emergency that requires counter-action. The alarming tone of language employed then to describe this state of emergency adds to the urgency for counter-action. The words used here paint a picture of uncontrollable students running up and down corridors, screaming, shouting and swearing at staff and peers, and causing general mayhem, widefelt threat and outrage that every member of staff would readily acknowledge.

No evidence is given of the actual taking place of the alleged incidents. No sources are cited, no minutes quoted from, no images or adequate video footage provided. At this point it remains pure fiction.

The lack of evidence furthermore does not allow an analysis of accuracy of the description of the alleged events. Even if these events have taken place, the description of it may still be disproportionate. The argument that the environment was indeed unsafe remains purely speculative.

The overall function of this paragraph then is the creation of a situation that requires consensal action: in the face of a state of emergency 'something had to be done' and the reader appealed to here should agree with that.

This inappropriately conflictual approach on the part of a small minority of students was escalated on Monday evening when one student and one person external to the College refused to leave the Main Lecture Theatre at the College’s normal closing time.

> The words 'small minority' suddenly used contradicts to what has been established and claimed so far. This is not to say that the effect described above could not be caused by a small group of students as stated here, but it suggests inconsistency and likely disproportionale description of accounts and should make the reader suspect to the author's truthfulness.

The language employed is drawn from the vocabulary of war and battle. The talk of an 'escalation' of a conflict, that has not been proven to have actually taken place (see above) further promotes the image of state of emergency, mayhem and threat.

The undifferentiated use of the word 'refusal' leaves it open to a myriad of readings: a gesture of refusal may range from a very small scale (for example a simple 'I prefer not to') to a violent eruption with possibly physical assault. The image constructed so far encourages a reading along the lines of the latter rather than the former.

I understand that they wished to exercise their right to protest peacefully and I do not want to interfere with this. However, by Wednesday afternoon, despite many reasonable requests to leave the Main Lecture Theatre and after two nights when the College incurred the additional cost of staying open overnight, it was clear that the two instigators of the action were not prepared to do as requested and continue their protests elsewhere.

> This whole paragraph is based on a logical contradiction that it attempts to mask. The author sets out with acknowledging a general right that she claims to support and wishes not to limit, but this right then turns out to be in fact subject to limitations. The author uses reference to an economic situation to distract from the fact that she is contradicting herself here. Further, an appeal is made to the reader's moral disagreement with unneccessary spending, which in the context of a society that rests on reckless spending and encourages such behaviour to an extent that it becomes common sense, seems utterly absurd. The introduction of the argument of economic loss is here also a set up for an argument continued in the following paragraph.

The term 'reasonable' that functions as legitimation for the limitation of the right previously granted, is not specified here and again the lack of proof makes any evaluation of the claim of reasonability impossible.

Providing extra security cover was incurring substantial costs which is all the more frustrating as we are endeavouring to free up resource to support and enhance the student experience.

> The impression given here is that it is the recent events involving students that have caused significant lack of financial resources that, had those events not taken place, would have been allocated to improve the student's situation. The claim made here is first of all disproportionate - two nights is surely an insignificant amount out of the budget required to generally run an educational institution. But more importantly what this argument ignores and indeed does not address further is the wider context of the situation that this letter is refering to - the cause for student unrest. The reader is given the impression that students acted for no other reason than to disrupt day to day order. The order of events is confused here deliberately to expose the student body as the cause for lack of resources and distract from the underlying cause, which is not specified here. Further research quickly reveals that it was precisely the lack of resources that were provided for the enhancement and support of student experience that caused the students to voice concern and invoke their right of protest in the first place.

Having exhausted all internal options to bring the Main Lecture Theatre back under control of the College,

> Again, the vocabulary of war and battle: 'to bring back under control' implies a previous state of disorder and anarchism, a claim still unsupported. No evidence is given for the claim that all other options have been explored, nor is it specified what those options were.

and following disruption to two days of teaching and an Open Day, the University had no option other than to call for police action, which brought matters to a swift and peaceful conclusion. A similar outcome was reached at Davies Street yesterday.

> The claim of disruption of teaching remains unsupported. "No option other", a rethoric well familiar from the discourse of counter-terrorism, functions to legitimize the use of police action to resolve the 'situation'. The language of conflict keeps being used as rethorical device - 'peaceful conclusion' implies a previous real conflict, and the description of the effectiveness of police action supports the claim for it having been the right decision, which also portrays the author as competent leader and decision-maker.

Since Monday evening, I have posted security staff primarily to support facilities staff going about their work of checking ID cards, cleaning and securing the building at closing time or in the event of a fire alarm evacuation. In relation to accusations that contracted staff were instructed to act illegally – they were fully briefed and instructed to stay within advised limits of behaviour when dealing with people clearly disrupting the work of the College.

> The first sentence assures the reintroduction of a state of normality, distracting the reader from the fact that the changes made in response to the state of emergency are still in place - the extra security have not been deployed. Again, a strategy employed by the discourse of counter-terrorism: the threat is no longer immanent, but just in case, we'll keep the laws passed under the terrorist act. The response to the reported aggressive behaviour of security staff is confused. It could be either interpreted that the aggressive behaviour was sanctioned, or that it was an unfortunate incident due to the self-directed behaviour of rogue individuals.

The external security staff will be withdrawn when they are not required for the safety of all staff, students and visitors. I hope this will be very soon.

> The last paragraph echoes the general purpose of the letter: creating the unsupported impression of a state of emergency, justifying the course of action as the only and best option.

Professor Sandra Kemp

Head of College

London College of Communication : Elephant and Castle : London : SE1 6SB

Dear Oppose...

2009-11-14T10:36:00.003Z

A letter sent from Sandra Kemp to all staff has leaked through to us. This has given us a great into the propaganda methods she is using. Paradoxically she appears to be delivering the message that she is on the side of the staff and students; quite clearly it is the reverse. We, Oppose, are on the side of staff and students! I am sure that most who read the below letter can see straight through the b.s.

It reads:

'Dear all,

I know that many colleagues will be uneasy about the University’s decision to deploy security staff around the college entrance area and on the 5th floor at Davies Street this week, so I want to take this opportunity to explain why the Rector and I took this action on the advice of UAL Estates Department management.

Providing a safe environment for staff, students and visitors is essential for the delivery of education. Over recent weeks, staff have been subjected to students shouting and using threatening language and behaviour in meetings and in ad hoc confrontations in corridors. This inappropriately conflictual approach on the part of a small minority of students was escalated on Monday evening when one student and one person external to the College refused to leave the Main Lecture Theatre at the College’s normal closing time. I understand that they wished to exercise their right to protest peacefully and I do not want to interfere with this. However, by Wednesday afternoon, despite many reasonable requests to leave the Main Lecture Theatre and after two nights when the College incurred the additional cost of staying open overnight, it was clear that the two instigators of the action were not prepared to do as requested and continue their protests elsewhere. Providing extra security cover was incurring substantial costs which is all the more frustrating as we are endeavouring to free up resource to support and enhance the student experience. Having exhausted all internal options to bring the Main Lecture Theatre back under control of the College, and following disruption to two days of teaching and an Open Day, the University had no option other than to call for police action, which brought matters to a swift and peaceful conclusion. A similar outcome was reached at Davies Street yesterday.

Since Monday evening, I have posted security staff primarily to support facilities staff going about their work of checking ID cards, cleaning and securing the building at closing time or in the event of a fire alarm evacuation. In relation to accusations that contracted staff were instructed to act illegally – they were fully briefed and instructed to stay within advised limits of behaviour when dealing with people clearly disrupting the work of the College.

The external security staff will be withdrawn when they are not required for the safety of all staff, students and visitors. I hope this will be very soon.

Professor Sandra Kemp

Head of College

Tel: 020 7514 6673'

Whoops she left her telephone number attached to the bottom. We, at Oppose, continue to stress the importance on peaceful and non-violent protest and do NOT condone threatening behaviour. We would encourage anyone wishing to ask Sandra Kemp, or her senior team, to question in a very polite manner. I would however suggest to Sandra, and her team, to view these outbursts as a product of their doing and not due to the aggressive nature of our supporters.

Finally a quote from Dostoyevsky;
'The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons'

Right now I feel as if we are trapped in a prison; where students are the prisoners, security are the guards and senior management are the authoritarian ruler. Let's metaphorically revolt!

Louis @ Oppose

Will we get these answers?

2009-11-13T23:21:00.001Z

This was sent to Oppose by an anonymous author.

We thought it was worth publishing.

Questions to the Board of Governors

Letter from Stephen Marshall 13th November 2009

2009-11-13T23:17:00.002Z

Student Occupation Letter from Stephen Marshall (University Registrar and Director of Admissions)

PICTURE CALL TO ALL OPPOSERS

2009-11-13T11:51:00.001Z

South London News Picture Time - CALL TO ALL OPPOSERS

South London News want a PICTURE OF LCC STUDENTS OPPOSING.

Meet @ LCC ENTRANCE, 2.30PM TODAY!

Thanks!

Worth Watching Again

2009-11-13T11:31:00.000Z

Meeting Today

2009-11-12T22:12:00.004Z

Hey guys,

Firstly a big thank you to everyone who showed their support at Davies St. today. It was so impressive to see everyones commitment to the cause, even if it meant the threat of arrest! Awesome.

So after occupying Nigel Carrington's office for about 6 hours today, we finally managed to initiate talks between Oppose, SU, UCU and senior management. Granted it wasn't Nigel himself, but it was the deputy rector, Elizabeth Rouse.

The meeting took over an hour long and although there was some progress not enough was made.

The senior management still refuse to acknowledge Oppose as representative of the student body and thus continue to ignore our demands. It is at this point that I would like to point out one small issue (I mean in no way to undermine the authority of the SU at this point); however I would like to suggest that Oppose have a greater number of UAL students supporting us than amount of students that voted in the last SU elections. Thus being more representative than the SU. Just a suggestion.

We tried to raise as many points as possible that you guys mentioned to us, although it was more of a general meeting than this. All issues of dissertation supervision were raised, including unspecialised tutors and lack of communication on senior management's behalf. We also tried to bring up, as much as we could, the problems associated with 1st and 2nd years; we let them know that a lot of you are considering leaving the university. The letter from PR students has been passed on to the deputy rector, whether she'll read it or not remains to be seen.

There were some points I think all parties agreed on, in particular the poor communication from senior management to students. It is not acceptable. There is, however, some dispute as to nearly all other points.

There has been another meeting scheduled for, provisionally, 2 weeks time.

We will keep fighting, keep protesting and keep building our strength. This is not over!

A big thank you to all staff who have discreetly sent messages of support, no names.

Also HUGE thanks to Jonathan Leader, from all of us, we are so impressed with the way you reacted to the manhandling of students. Also, good letter.

Watch out for an upcoming protest and further action. A new issue of The Opposer out next week, all contributions are welcome.

Louis @ Oppose.

Photo by Charles Fox

Arts London reporting here.

Jonathan's letter here.

Letter from Sandra Kemp to Staff at LCC.......

2009-11-12T17:10:00.001Z

Dear all,

I am writing to update you on the current situation at LCC

Lecture Theatre Occupation

You will be aware that there has been protest activity in the Main Lecture Theatre since Monday evening. The protesting group is not part of the recognised Student Union, SUARTS, and compromises self-appointed students and at least one prominent member who is not a student at UAL. The University management respects students right to protest, but not at the expense of unduly disrupting College life for students, staff and visitors. We are seeking a resolution to the situation. As always, our priority is to ensure that the College runs normally and that any disruption for students and staff is kept to an absolute minimum.

As in any time of change, it is inevitable that there is a certain amount of rumour in circulation. So I felt it important to write to staff to keep you abreast of matters.

Communications

We have already introduced improved arrangements for students who are affected by the restructuring to speak directly to staff about their concerns. These inculde daily drop-in sessions, regular group discussions and fortnightly transition forums. Senior Management are also meeting with groups of students from affected courses every Wednesday afternoon on a three week rota system.

Full details are on the website http://www.lcc.arts.ac.uk/docs/new developments.contacts.pdf

Course closure

In refocus the College's academic direction and mission, and addressing the deficit of 1.3m Pound, 16 courses will be discontinued and therefore not recruit beyond this academic year. No other courses have been identified for closure. However, the course offering across the University is kept under review, as it would be at any university.

Staff redundancies

Currently 37 staff at the College are, regrettably, facing the prospect of compulsory redundancy. We are continuing to work with HR and the unions to consider all options for affected staff, including redeployment opportunities, in order to reduce this figure to the absolute minimum.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your patience and commitment during this challenging time.

I will continue to use the e-bulletin to email all staff on a regular basis to update you.

Professor Sandra Kemp

Head of College

London College of Communications: Elephant and Castle: London SE1 6SB

Tel. 020 75146673

Meetings after direct action at Davies st.

2009-11-12T15:08:00.002Z

We are currently in a meeting with the managment at Davies street. Please keep up the support and spread the word.

Students on Bond street!!

2009-11-12T14:40:00.005Z

There are a large group of students stood on bond street supporting the students that are occupying the 5th floor od davies st.
Come down be and show your support, it is time to be counted!!!

http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/4192

The Latest!!

2009-11-12T14:21:00.003Z

The students that are occupying the rectors office in dean have complained about the aggressive behaviour of the security team. Will the management allow us to remain non-violently? Or are they just tyring to provoke us?
Come and show your support and be a witness to the management's mistreatment of students.

Boys In Blue!!!

2009-11-12T13:33:00.001Z

The police have arrived again at Davies street to remove the students occupying the Rectors office. We will remain peacefully, but we will not be deterred by managements blatant disregard for us.
Keep up the fight!!!

Seriously LCC

2009-11-12T12:43:00.002Z

The management team have turned off the air conditioning in the rectors office were the students are occupying today.
This is a health and safety hazard, come on N.C what will it take for you to listen to the students.
We will continue to peacefully occupy and not cause any disruption to lectures.

De Javu

2009-11-12T12:21:00.003Z

The students occupying the UAL rectors office in Davies Street have been informed by the security guards that the police are on the way to remove them of the premises! The management have not made any attempts to speak to the students in order to resolve this matter. They will not bully us, they will not mute us- the fight goes on!

Day 4...New Location!

2009-11-12T11:36:00.002Z

Today the UAL Rector Nigel Carrington's office lobby and entrance has been occupied by students and members of the oppose team.(Davies St 5th Floor)
The students are in the reception of Nigel Carrington's office and have been told by security staff that the Police will be called if they do not vacate the building!!
All wireless connections have also been shut down to prevent the students communicating with the outside world. Come down and support the students we will keep you posted!!

Meeting Decision and Press

2009-11-11T20:30:00.004Z

At 4.30 today students met in the canteen and marched to an undisclosed safehouse to discuss the next plan of action.

After a very sucessful discussion, the students are mobilised and continuing to fight.

We will be running a stall from 12-2 tommorrow in between the canteen and library. We will have information and ideas as to how we carry on fighting.

In other news we have articles in SE1 and again on Arts London News.

Come down help out and talk to us.

Good Night

4.30 PM MEETING IN THE CANTEEN

2009-11-11T16:02:00.003Z

After peacefully vacating the main lecture theatre earlier today, an emergency meeting will be held in the university canteen at 4.30pm. Those of you who are able to make at this time please come, we need you in large numbers!

We will be in the canteen from 4.30 onwards so please arrive when you can, we will still be there!

IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO TAKE A STAND!

SUPPORT THE OPPOSE CAUSE... THIS IS YOUR EDUCATION!

VIDEO MESSAGE FROM INSIDE

2009-11-11T14:39:00.000Z

MAIN LECTURE THEATRE

2009-11-11T13:48:00.002Z

Dear Opposers,

We are in DESPERATE need of your support!!!!

As it stands the management are threatening expulsion and to have the police forcably remove us from the premisis. There are already a number of students outside the Main Lecture Theatre showing their support to whom we are extremely grateful.

However we need as big a presence as possible to join those students in peaceful protest!!!!!!!!

WE ARE STAYING IN AND NOT COMING OUT!

2009-11-11T13:23:00.001Z

WE ARE IN AND WE ARE NOT COMING OUT!
Signed:

Joana & Louis @ Oppose

Come and join us blocking the entrance - they will not throw us out!

URGENT CALL!

2009-11-11T12:25:00.002Z

THEY HAVE THREATNED TO THROW US OUT BY FORCE @ 12.30PM!

This is totally unacceptable!

EVERYBODY IN LCC NOW!

Let's prove them that University means STUDENTS & STAFF NOT MANAGEMENT!

---

MAIN LECTURE THEATRE
12.30PM
London College Of Communication
Elephant & Castle

Update & Thank You to everyone in Austria and Germany

2009-11-10T22:42:00.002Z

Day 2 of the occupation

2009-11-10T21:05:00.002Z

Dear opposers,

Today, 10th Nov 2009, we secured the support of more than 200 students to occupy the Main Lecture Theatre throughout the day. Despite the security personel's effort at 4.30pm to restrict entry to the Main Lecture Theatre, our meeting has been well attended.

Also the Oppose team and the SU President had a meeting with Rob Imeson, the Dean of Students today concerning our demands. They have been promised a response by tomorrow. So look out for details in our blog or at the meeting tomorrow.

We are having another meeting tomorrow at 4.30pm (11 Nov 09) in the Main Lecture Theatre. There will also be a mass sleep-in taking place tomorrow night, hope to see you there.

At Oppose, our main priority is the quality of education. For this reason we are opposed to any disruption to teaching.

We would like to thank you for your continued support.

Front Page

2009-11-10T19:49:00.003Z

Front pages -
Arts London News
IndyMedia London

Wait for more!

Maybe Sandra has been taking points from these guys.

Anyone need press releases email us at: lccoppose@gmail.com

Photos from tonight

2009-11-10T19:16:00.006Z

Photos from tonight's meeting. Good photos, better meeting! Please join us tomorrow for more talks and protest. Please come in from 8:30 onwards and another great meeting at 4:30. WE NEED YOUR AMAZING SUPPORT.

All photos by Thom Will.

OCCUPATION Film 2

2009-11-10T18:20:00.000Z

Coverage on Indymedia and support from Austria

2009-11-10T15:58:00.004Z

Read the article here. Very good Website.

and support from these guys in Austria Unsere Uni. If you get the chance have a look at their youtube videos for inspiring stuff.

Messages of Support Worldwide

2009-11-10T13:44:00.002Z

Dear fellow students,

we would like to sent you the following declaration of solidarity...
______________________________________

We, the occupants of the Great Lecture Hall of the University of Potsdam would like to express our solidarity with our fellow students at the LCC who squatted a lecture hall of the university. We underline, that we strongly support their resistance against course redundancies in the departments Creative Entreprise and Printing and the associated job cuts within the college staff.

Our struggle for free education is international!

Best wishes and a lot of stamina!
Your fellow students in the Audimax of the University of Potsdam
_______________________________________

Wir, die BesetzerInnen des Audimax der Universität Potsdam möchten unsere Solidarität mit den KommilitonInnen am London College of Communication (LCC) ausdrücken, die einen dortigen Hörsaal besetzt halten. Wir betonen, dass wir ihren Kampf gegen die Streichung von Studiengängen in den Bereichen Creative Entreprise und Printing und die dazugehörigen Personalstellen befürworten!

Unser Kampf für eine freie Bildung und Wissenschaft ist international!

Solidarische Grüße und viel Durchhaltevermögen
Eure KommilitonInnen im Audimax der Uni Potsdam

We're on Skype!

2009-11-10T13:17:00.007Z

You can call us and take part in our meetings via Skype, our username is lccoppose.

We are not obstructing lectures

2009-11-10T11:50:00.001Z

There have been lectures cancelled in the main lecture theatre because of our occupation, we would like to inform everyone that we are not obstructing anything. This is an occupation FOR education, not against it. Please continue to attend your lectures, your education is important, it is not our intention to take it away from you.

OCCUPATION Film 1

2009-11-10T02:12:00.000Z

SUPPORT THE OCCUPATION

2009-11-10T00:56:00.005Z

These are just some of the amazing people showing their support to LCC's Occupation:

- Universitiy and College Union (UCU)
- Another Education is Possible
- Education Not For Sale
- Leicester Socialist Students
- Westminster University Students
- Kings College Students
- Clare Solomon (from Solomon's Mindfield)
- University of Vienna (Austria)
- Marburg University (Germany)

and many more individuals who have send us lovely messages of solidarity and support.

Send us your messages to (lccoppose@gmail.com) and join us tomorrow at LCC's Main Lecture Theatre.

Oppose on Facebook
Oppose on Twitter

LCC OCCUPIED

2009-11-09T21:08:00.002Z

LONDON COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION IS OCCUPIED

MEET US IN THE MAIN LECTURE THEATRE

JOIN US TOMORROW MORNING AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!

Oh Sad Sad Day - The Elle See See's by LCC Oppose

2009-11-09T01:04:00.001Z

Oh Sad Sad Day - The Elle See See's by LCC Oppose

General Meeting

2009-11-08T20:48:00.002Z

Dear Opposers,

It seems to be of collective agreement that a general meeting is in much need to discuss democratically what students should do concerning the current situation at the London College of Communication.

We would like to have you all in, to share your views and decide how we can have a greater impact on the management imminent authoritarian and dismissive attitude.

Join us this Monday and take a vote in the motions to be passed.

Your Opinion Matters!
Your Opinion Counts!

---

General Meeting
Monday, 9th November
6.30pm
London College of Communication, Main Lecture Theatre

---

Guest Speakers:

Elizabeth Carola (Tower Hamlets UCU)
James Haywood (NUS NEC)
Marieke Mueller (Kings College)
and more

PLUS

official presence of SU Arts representatives

View Larger Map

Another Times Higher Education Article

2009-11-05T16:27:00.007Z

Today, yet another Times Higher Education article has come out on the consequences of LCC's bad management.

THE, Melanie Newman reports how PR director Paul Simpson resigns over the immininent issues concerning teaching support and its consequences on teaching quality.

Will LCC's Senior Management listen to us now?

READ WHOLE ARTICLE HERE

Proud Kempy

2009-11-05T01:51:00.001Z

Oppose Is Bombarded With Further Images

2009-11-04T22:24:00.003Z

We only chose the best two, but our email has been drowning in these. Mr Carrington and Ms Kemp once again feature in all sorts of media.

The Opposer Strikes Again

2009-11-04T16:26:00.007Z

Management Team under fire with latest cartoons from
The Opposer

INFO SESSION @ LCC

2009-11-02T19:33:00.002Z

As promised we are holding a second batch of our information session this Tuesday, 3rd of November at 7pm (just after the PR Futures Session).
Meet us at London College of Communication Main Lecture Theatre (just turn left at the entrance).

Get to know all about what is really going on at LCC and how it will affect you and your peers.
Ask your questions and share your opinion.

Sorry for being this short notice, but it was the only time available.

We promise comprehensible and understandible information on what is happening at UAL and, particularly, at LCC.

Face to face.

From students to students.

No additives and no preservatives.

View Larger Map

Tuesday, 3rd November
7pm
London College of Communication
Main Lecture Theatre
(Elephant & Castle)

LCC HoC Sandra Kemp's Talk (27th October 2009)

2009-11-01T23:12:00.002Z

London College of Communication's Head of College, Sandra Kemp, finally decides to approach the over 130 angry students that stood at her office for two hours protesting about the impending course closures and present timetable chaos.
(© ArtsLondonViews)

Official Email Reply from Sandra Kemp to PR students

2009-10-31T18:46:00.003Z

LCC Head of College (HoC), Sandra Kemp, has issued a standardized, empty answering letter to PR students yesterday.

Here is is, disclosed to the general public, for us all to judge if it does or doesn't satisfy.

For Oppose THIS IS NOT ENOUGH!

Letter From HoC to PR Students 30-10-09-1

And then some

2009-10-30T15:12:00.005Z

Some more brilliant artwork by the guys at
Public Relations Retaliation

Critique & Cartoons

2009-10-29T22:07:00.005Z

Butcher Carrington

(UAL Rector Nigel Carrington performs his art of cost reductions at LCC)

Sandzilla
(LCC Head of College Sandra Kemp knows how to smash her popularity)

Tuesday's Meetings Articles and Feedback

2009-10-29T01:09:00.002Z

After Tuesday's consecutive meetings with LCC Head of College Sandra Kemp and several members of the management team, the level is still of total disatisfaction.

The Arts London News reports:

"Nearly 100 students on the LCC’s BA Public Relations course attempted to occupy the office of the Head of College Sandra Kemp on Tuesday, amid claims of mismanagement and disorganisation over their programme."

Read Full Article HERE

Similarly the guys at Public Relations Retaliation say:

"It was awful when she asked for a show of hands as to who was from PR as it proved she didn’t even know what meeting she was at.
She didn’t make one straight answer and her clear annoyance at our slightly more intimate knowledge was blatant
She clarified nothing, and also didn’t apologise. This is unacceptable."

Everyone was particularly angry when Ms Kemp said:

"It is immaterial to me whether the students like me."

Read Full Article HERE

BAPR students have now issued their own motions. Give it a look.

Basic Requests for BAPR

Oppose & SU List of Demands

2009-10-28T00:36:00.000Z

Oppose & SU Arts List of Demands (27 October 2009)

LCC's Head of PR Steps Out

2009-10-23T02:14:00.003+01:00

It is sad and yet very proud that we let all Opposers know that LCC's Public Relations Course Director, Paul Simpson, has announced he is stepping out of the job.

Paul is a reputed PR, once Head of Press for BBC Radio 1, and was one of the greatest members of staff on LCC's ranks.

At Oppose we want to show all our support and our admiration for Paul's bravery in staying true to his stance, despite that meaning having to leave his beloved job and students.

We hope that Paul's action shows Management Team that people are not going to take the imposed changes lightly.

To send your own messages of support contact Paul on Twitter, Facebook or email us HERE and we will redirect to Paul.

Petition

2009-10-15T14:31:00.001+01:00

Hello Opposers!

Here is the online version of the Petition which is doing the rounds.

Sign up if you haven't done so yet, as it is increasingly important to show Sandra Kemp and her Management Team that we are not going to take these changes lightly.

It's as easy as that!

Petition

Thanks!

Oppose - What We Can do

2009-10-15T14:30:00.001+01:00

Clip from Information Session
(9th October 2009)

@ London College of Communication
Podium Lecture Theatre

Information Session - Why and Why Not

2009-10-15T14:11:00.002+01:00

Clip from Information Session
(9th October 2009)

@ London College of Communication
Podium Lecture Theatre

Information Session - Efficiency Programme Explained

2009-10-15T13:33:00.002+01:00

Clip from Information Session

(9th October 2009)

@London College of Communication

Podium Lecture Theatre

Information Session - Who Are We?

2009-10-13T17:35:00.002+01:00

Clip from Information Session
(9th October 2009)

@ London College of Communication
Podium Lecture Theatre

The Presentation from the Information Session

2009-10-09T20:42:00.001+01:00

Revolution Will Be Twitterized

2009-10-09T02:23:00.002+01:00

Hello Opposers!

I am happy to let you know that tomorrow's Information Session will be broadcasted LIVE on Twitter. So if you can't come to LCC at 5pm, just keep an eye on

http://twitter.com/lccoppose

Also, we will try to film and post the highlights of the event later on next week.

However, if you want to know in full what is going on and ask us all your questions about how much you will be affected by the imminent changes join us tomorrow

Information Session
Friday 9th October
5pm
LCC - Podium Lecture Theatre

INFORMATION SESSION @ LCC

2009-10-06T20:58:00.004+01:00

Hello Fellow Opposers!

As promised we are holding an information session this Friday, 9th October at 5pm.
Meet us at London College of Communication Podium Lecture Theatre (conveniently placed across from the bar).

Get to know all about what is really going on at LCC and how it will affect you and your peers.
Ask your questions and share your opinion.

Guest Speakers to be announced shortly.

View Larger Map

Oppose @ Big Fayre

2009-09-28T16:02:00.003+01:00

Come visit our stall at Freshers Fayre

Truman Brewery (on Brick Lane)

Wednesday 30th September
12pm - 6pm

View Larger Map

Article on the Socialist Worker

2009-09-23T14:17:00.005+01:00

Posted: 6.28pm Tuesday 22 September 2009
Education round-up

(...)

London College of Communication

Lecturers at the London College of Communication (LCC) are to attend a special branch meeting on Friday as part of an ongoing campaign against redundancies, course cuts and closures.

The university executive board wants to cut £7 million over the coming year leading to the closure of 16 specialist arts and media courses.

The meeting will vote on whether to intensify the campaign of resistance by balloting for strike action.

Petition

2009-07-19T15:44:00.002+01:00

Dear Supporters,

There is a petition issued by the University and College Union (UCU), Unison and GMB to show our concern for the redundancies proposed at LCC and at the University of the Arts London, in general.

If you agree with this stance please sign.

Among others, Ken Loach, polemic director and honorary professor at LCC, has expressed his sympathy for the cause.

See here to sign and show your support

Many Thanks,

Oppose

Photos from Protest @ Graduation

2009-07-17T10:26:00.000+01:00

We are so awesome we are on TV!

2009-07-17T09:42:00.007+01:00

Watch the BBC Reporting & Supporting our Cause! Interview with Joana from 2:10 onwards, More pictures of the protest to come later on today.

It's Graduation Day!

2009-07-16T08:47:00.002+01:00