60+ students occupy uni building in protest

[exnihilo]

This rally in the Quad - when you counted the "hundred odd" people did you make allowances for all those who were simply going about their business and stopped for a moment to see what the fuss was about?

[Track]

The Press Association is currently running an in-depth piece on the "occupation" for all those who doubted the skill and resourcefulness of the media comity.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpres ... thNtuIvKcg

[Harry]

when you counted the "hundred odd" people did you make allowances for all those who were simply going about their business and stopped for a moment to see what the fuss was about?

On a Sunday. In a quad with only one entrance open.

Has James Pollard had graduated? My bad. I heard his name associated with the protest, as if a whisper on the wind.

That's amazing. I must remember the next time I want something to be true. Like:

- "Where's my coffee?"
- "I never said I'd make you coffee!"
- "I heard it, as if a whisper on the wind."

Or:

- "Harry, Helena Bonham-Carter isn't soming to stay with you tonight
- "But, but! I heard it! As if a whisper on the wind!"

*pause*

goddamn addictiver Sinnering. Someone is wrong on the internet!

[mhuzzell]

In the photo titled 'occupation 131' a group of protesters are playing RISK, how's that for ironic.

That's not 'Risk', that's 'War on Terror: The Board Game'. Which was obviously played totally seriously, without any self-conscious irony -- because, as we all know, hippies are without any tangible sense of humour (much like feminists, socialists, people I disagree with, etc.) That's why they occupied Lower College Hall in reaction against an occupation. And then made settlements in Upper College Hall.

[Hennessy]

In the photo titled 'occupation 131' a group of protesters are playing RISK, how's that for ironic.

That's not 'Risk', that's 'War on Terror: The Board Game'. Which was obviously played totally seriously, without any self-conscious irony -- because, as we all know, hippies are without any tangible sense of humour (much like feminists, socialists, people I disagree with, etc.) That's why they occupied Lower College Hall in reaction against an occupation. And then made settlements in Upper College Hall.

Maybe we should launch missiles at them. It is our land they are occupying illegally, even if we weren't using it at the time.

[777]

The Press Association is currently running an in-depth piece on the "occupation" for all those who doubted the skill and resourcefulness of the media comity.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpres ... thNtuIvKcg

Israeli demo at St Andrews

4 days ago

Students at Prince William's former university said they have occupied one of its buildings to demand that the institution severs all links with Israeli organisations.

More than 60 students from St Andrews University are staging a sit-in protest at the Lower College Hall.

The protesters say they will not move until the Fife university accepts their list of requests.

Automatic deduction of points for the Royal reference.

[Bizarre Atheist]

Not to turn this thread into a 'Where's Pollard?' competition, but I too assumed he hadn't graduated because he tried to run for an SRC position in the last elections. Surely one doesn't run for things in the full knowledge that you'll be on the other end of the planet?

[fluffy]

didn't he get forced into taking a general, and thus doesn't have to come back any more, and will just receive a general at graduation this summer.

[Lukey2]

Not to turn this thread into a 'Where's Pollard?' competition, but I too assumed he hadn't graduated because he tried to run for an SRC position in the last elections. Surely one doesn't run for things in the full knowledge that you'll be on the other end of the planet?

Steve Savage, whose huge, sweating, anti-democratic man-breasts have already been discussed, used a health and safety violation to kick James out of the election. He stuck his head out the window at the Union AGM so that he could hang a banner inviting people to come inside. Because he was being "a danger to himself," he was put before the disciplinary committee about a week before the election started. Even though there was at least one other person standing for election who had a head out a window, James was the only one who was prosecuted. The reason for his execution was because he was one of the founding members of LRN!, and because he stood a very strong chance of winning. With Savage's editing of the Saint article about LGBT being banned from Mansfield, using the disciplinary committee to exclude candidates was one of handsome Steve's final fascist, ham-fingered blunderings.

[irish200]

Not to turn this thread into a 'Where's Pollard?' competition, but I too assumed he hadn't graduated because he tried to run for an SRC position in the last elections. Surely one doesn't run for things in the full knowledge that you'll be on the other end of the planet?

Steve Savage, whose huge, sweating, anti-democratic man-breasts have already been discussed, used a health and safety violation to kick James out of the election. He stuck his head out the window at the Union AGM so that he could hang a banner inviting people to come inside. Because he was being "a danger to himself," he was put before the disciplinary committee about a week before the election started. Even though there was at least one other person standing for election who had a head out a window, James was the only one who was prosecuted. The reason for his execution was because he was one of the founding members of LRN!, and because he stood a very strong chance of winning. With Savage's editing of the Saint article about LGBT being banned from Mansfield, using the disciplinary committee to exclude candidates was one of handsome Steve's final fascist, ham-fingered blunderings.

[pambo]

Not to turn this thread into a 'Where's Pollard?' competition, but I too assumed he hadn't graduated because he tried to run for an SRC position in the last elections. Surely one doesn't run for things in the full knowledge that you'll be on the other end of the planet?

Steve Savage, whose huge, sweating, anti-democratic man-breasts have already been discussed, used a health and safety violation to kick James out of the election. He stuck his head out the window at the Union AGM so that he could hang a banner inviting people to come inside. Because he was being "a danger to himself," he was put before the disciplinary committee about a week before the election started. Even though there was at least one other person standing for election who had a head out a window, James was the only one who was prosecuted. The reason for his execution was because he was one of the founding members of LRN!, and because he stood a very strong chance of winning. With Savage's editing of the Saint article about LGBT being banned from Mansfield, using the disciplinary committee to exclude candidates was one of handsome Steve's final fascist, ham-fingered blunderings.

[Bizarre Atheist]

Steve Savage, whose huge, sweating, anti-democratic man-breasts have already been discussed, used a health and safety violation to kick James out of the election. He stuck his head out the window at the Union AGM so that he could hang a banner inviting people to come inside. Because he was being "a danger to himself," he was put before the disciplinary committee about a week before the election started. Even though there was at least one other person standing for election who had a head out a window, James was the only one who was prosecuted. The reason for his execution was because he was one of the founding members of LRN!, and because he stood a very strong chance of winning. With Savage's editing of the Saint article about LGBT being banned from Mansfield, using the disciplinary committee to exclude candidates was one of handsome Steve's final fascist, ham-fingered blunderings.

Amusing, largely incorrect, lies of omission and oddly obsessed with Steve. There is more than one person on the Union Exec, you know. Also not actually an answer to my question, which luckily fluffy was able to answer without spouting such bile.

[Lukey2]

Not to turn this thread into a 'Where's Pollard?' competition, but I too assumed he hadn't graduated because he tried to run for an SRC position in the last elections. Surely one doesn't run for things in the full knowledge that you'll be on the other end of the planet?

Steve Savage, whose huge, sweating, anti-democratic man-breasts have already been discussed, used a health and safety violation to kick James out of the election. He stuck his head out the window at the Union AGM so that he could hang a banner inviting people to come inside. Because he was being "a danger to himself," he was put before the disciplinary committee about a week before the election started. Even though there was at least one other person standing for election who had a head out a window, James was the only one who was prosecuted. The reason for his execution was because he was one of the founding members of LRN!, and because he stood a very strong chance of winning. With Savage's editing of the Saint article about LGBT being banned from Mansfield, using the disciplinary committee to exclude candidates was one of handsome Steve's final fascist, ham-fingered blunderings.

Oh no Pambo! You have used your sinister intelligence to cruelly burn me! I would be interested in a real dialogue, that is, if you have something to argue with beside such pretty, pretty pictures.

[Lukey2]

Steve Savage, whose huge, sweating, anti-democratic man-breasts have already been discussed, used a health and safety violation to kick James out of the election. He stuck his head out the window at the Union AGM so that he could hang a banner inviting people to come inside. Because he was being "a danger to himself," he was put before the disciplinary committee about a week before the election started. Even though there was at least one other person standing for election who had a head out a window, James was the only one who was prosecuted. The reason for his execution was because he was one of the founding members of LRN!, and because he stood a very strong chance of winning. With Savage's editing of the Saint article about LGBT being banned from Mansfield, using the disciplinary committee to exclude candidates was one of handsome Steve's final fascist, ham-fingered blunderings.

Amusing, largely incorrect, lies of omission and oddly obsessed with Steve. There is more than one person on the Union Exec, you know. Also not actually an answer to my question, which luckily fluffy was able to answer without spouting such bile.

Perhaps I do have a slight bias against Steve Savage. What I don't think can be contested is that the Union chose to selectively enforce its rules in order to exclude a candidate they believed was a "trouble maker." Also, given the enmity between James and Steve, it certainly makes sense that he would be the main engine behind the execution.

[pambo]

Oh no Pambo! You have used your sinister intelligence to cruelly burn me! I would be interested in a real dialogue, that is, if you have something to argue with beside such pretty, pretty pictures.

Bizarre Atheist has already provided the words however I felt that picture effectively dealt with your propaganda/idiocy.

[Lukey2]

Oh no Pambo! You have used your sinister intelligence to cruelly burn me! I would be interested in a real dialogue, that is, if you have something to argue with beside such pretty, pretty pictures.

Bizarre Atheist has already provided the words however I felt that picture effectively dealt with your propaganda/idiocy.

No one in the Steve Savage fan club has really engaged with my claim that the discipline committee selectively enforced health and safety rules to keep an LRN member out of an officer position.

Perhaps so that we can go back to pissing on each other about the occupation, someone should get on the horn to Australia and have Pollard himself settle this (provided he is not hidden somewhere in St.Andrews, secretly pulling the strings of the occupation)?

[jdp29@st-andrews.ac.uk]

Hello,

To clear up a few misconceptions:

1. I wasn't forced to take a general. I chose it. Partly this was conscious, but mostly it was my id guiding me in the form of excessive Dungeons and Dragons, intoxicants, and student politics.

2. I am in Australia, at the University of Melbourne, doing a post-grad degree.

3. Regarding my banning from elections, it's true that it wasn't Steve Savage alone who got me kicked out. He merely instigated the procedure. It was completed by a combination of bureaucratic wankshafts who wouldn't know student politics if a demonstration marched straight up their tight little asses.

Love you all!

(Except you, Steve. Go eat a stick of butter.)

[mhuzzell]

Steve Savage, whose huge, sweating, anti-democratic man-breasts have already been discussed, used a health and safety violation to kick James out of the election. He stuck his head out the window at the Union AGM so that he could hang a banner inviting people to come inside. Because he was being "a danger to himself," he was put before the disciplinary committee about a week before the election started. Even though there was at least one other person standing for election who had a head out a window, James was the only one who was prosecuted. The reason for his execution was because he was one of the founding members of LRN!, and because he stood a very strong chance of winning. With Savage's editing of the Saint article about LGBT being banned from Mansfield, using the disciplinary committee to exclude candidates was one of handsome Steve's final fascist, ham-fingered blunderings.

Amusing, largely incorrect, lies of omission and oddly obsessed with Steve. There is more than one person on the Union Exec, you know.

'Largely incorrect'? Really? REALLY? The embedded opinions you may disagree with (for instance, a political execution is always a question of motive and can therefore rarely be proved), but what inaccuracies do you think you've spotted?

'Oddly obsessed with Steve', perhaps. IIRC, Tom D'Ardenne was also pretty annoyed with James Pollard that day (I wouldn't want to say I knew exactly why, but I suspect the motion James put forward, which Tom found rather indecorous, had something to do with it). Of course, being annoyed with a particular person is hardly justification for the inconsistent application of disciplinary procedures, but then, I wasn't in that meeting. They may have had an entirely different bullshit justification.

[RedCelt69]

In the photo titled 'occupation 131' a group of protesters are playing RISK, how's that for ironic.

That's not 'Risk', that's 'War on Terror: The Board Game'. Which was obviously played totally seriously, without any self-conscious irony -- because, as we all know, hippies are without any tangible sense of humour (much like feminists, socialists, people I disagree with, etc.) That's why they occupied Lower College Hall in reaction against an occupation. And then made settlements in Upper College Hall.

Maybe we should launch missiles at them. It is our land they are occupying illegally, even if we weren't using it at the time.

I vote for launching history books at your head until either:-
a) Some of the details stuck
b) Your anti-Palestinian / pro-Israeli stance was knocked towards a more objective overview of the situation. *

* Both sides have acted atrociously towards the other. One side is armed to the teeth with cutting-edge military hardware and one of the most efficient intelligence services in the world. The other fires unguided rockets in the general direction of the other in the hope of reminding them (and the world at large**) that they're constantly being shat on from a great height.

** A world at large who, according to some of the more prolific posters on the Sinner, would really rather they go do their suffering and misery as quietly as possible so as to not impinge on the consciousness of their otherwise vacuous lives.

You could always go back to filling the Sinner up with posts about the cost of a pint of Tennents.

[Josherick3]

This is from our blog (standrewsunioccupation.wordpress.com):



Following various complaints and queries, we decided it was necessary to address a number of points regarding our continuing occupation of Lower & Upper College Halls.

Q) Aren’t the occupiers disrupting student classes?

A) No lectures take place in Lower & Upper College Halls. We specifically chose this building for this reason.

Q) Do you support Hamas?

A) We categorically condemn all violence against civilians on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including Hamas. Our protest is directed at the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Q) Did the University cut off the water supply?

A) The University never cut off the water supply in this building.

Q) Won’t cutting the University’s contract with Eden Springs damage both British jobs and the economy?

A) It is unlikely that Eden Springs would shed jobs here in Britain as a result of the cancellation or non-renewal of 1 contract. Furthermore, once St Andrews’s contract with Eden Springs had ended the University would be free to sign a contract with another water company, thus the effect on the British economy would be marginal.

Q) Aren’t you all just a bunch of anarchists?

A) We’re not all a bunch of anarchists…

Q) Don’t these students get the irony of protesting Israel’s occupation in Gaza by occupying Lower College Hall?

A) Yeah, that’s kinda the point. Perhaps objectors don’t get the irony.



And another that I've just overheard:

Q) Are you paying for university security?

A) No, the usual number of security are working their usual hours, with no extra duties whatsoever. Might I add that the Estates team have been very helpful and fair in dealing with us, we have never asked them to be there.

Q) Did Bill Bailey come and give an impassioned talk at one of your meetings?

A) Nah, that was just James Morris...


If anyone has any issues that they want to discuss with us, or just wants to find out more about us and how we're doing things, I would encourage them to come to Lower College Hall and see for yourself. You can enter and leave at any time.

You can also check out our blog (address above), our twitter (www.twitter.com/stasolidarity) and our flickr page, which you can access from our blog.

Cheers