We, the undersigned, condemn the decision to suspend a student from the University of Cambridge for two and half years for his part in a peaceful protest against the government's higher education policy.
Opposition to the government's higher education policies is a stated aim of a broad range of organisations including the National Union of Students, Cambridge University Students Union and Graduate Union, and the University and College Union nationally and locally. Given that 60 other members of the University publicly stated that they were also involved in the protest for which the student has been punished, we are deeply concerned that the University has singled out one individual.
We believe, irrespective of individual opinions on the action itself, that this exemplary sentence undermines the University's professed commitment to freedom of speech and the right to protest.
We call for the suspended student to be reinstated.
For more information see www.defendeducation.co.uk
Members of Cambridge University should also sign an identical petition on the CUSU website - requires Raven login. http://www.cusu.cam.ac.uk/campaigns/thisisnotjustice/petition/
Cambridge University Students Union have called a demo for Friday 16th March, 1pm, Great St Mary's, Cambridge : http://www.facebook.com/events/164177613703446/
The exhaustion is setting in but we cannot afford to slow down now. If we reach five thousand signatures this week it becomes much harder for the administration to ignore us. Please push this link to anyone who values the right to protest.
March 16, 2012
The silence from the university remains heavy and discouraging. I am exhausted by the cold calculation that singles out one person while ignoring the rest of us who stood alongside him. We keep pushing because this level of injustice cannot be allowed to stand.
Reached 1,000 supporters
March 15, 2012
Reached 100 supporters
March 14, 2012
6 Comments
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
Featured
I find this a repressive punishment, and disproportionate; i also think this is due to the secretary of state for education. i'm not sure entirely what the links are, so I could be wrong. But it seems wrong.
A
Alban Thurston
12 years ago
Featured
Two and a half years? For participation in a PEACEFUL protest? Victimisation and scapegoating of one individual by my old university. Has this absurd diktat by unelected Delegates been revoked yet?
A
Andrew Curry
12 years ago
Featured
Cambridge alumni. Shocked by this disgraceful and disproportionate behaviour by the University authorities, who seem to have no knowledge of the history of Cambridge University as a home to dissenters.
M
mark Ramirez
14 years ago
Featured
Absolute joke. 2.5 years for a protest is insane. The uni should be backing students not destroying their futures over politics.
S
sarah Ingram
14 years ago
Featured
Disgusted by this. Singling out one person when so many were there is cowardly. Reinstate him now.
J
james Morgan
14 years ago
Featured
Cambridge is supposed to value debate. This feels like an attempt to silence anyone who speaks up. Very grim.
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We, the undersigned, condemn the decision to suspend a student from the University of Cambridge for two and half years for his part in a peaceful protest against the government's higher education policy.
Opposition to the government's higher education policies is a stated aim of a broad range of organisations including the National Union of Students, Cambridge University Students Union and Graduate Union, and the University and College Union nationally and locally. Given that 60 other members of the University publicly stated that they were also involved in the protest for which the student has been punished, we are deeply concerned that the University has singled out one individual.
We believe, irrespective of individual opinions on the action itself, that this exemplary sentence undermines the University's professed commitment to freedom of speech and the right to protest.
We call for the suspended student to be reinstated.
For more information see www.defendeducation.co.uk
Members of Cambridge University should also sign an identical petition on the CUSU website - requires Raven login. http://www.cusu.cam.ac.uk/campaigns/thisisnotjustice/petition/
Cambridge University Students Union have called a demo for Friday 16th March, 1pm, Great St Mary's, Cambridge : http://www.facebook.com/events/164177613703446/
The exhaustion is setting in but we cannot afford to slow down now. If we reach five thousand signatures this week it becomes much harder for the administration to ignore us. Please push this link to anyone who values the right to protest.
March 16, 2012
The silence from the university remains heavy and discouraging. I am exhausted by the cold calculation that singles out one person while ignoring the rest of us who stood alongside him. We keep pushing because this level of injustice cannot be allowed to stand.
Reached 1,000 supporters
March 15, 2012
Reached 100 supporters
March 14, 2012
6 Comments
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
Featured
I find this a repressive punishment, and disproportionate; i also think this is due to the secretary of state for education. i'm not sure entirely what the links are, so I could be wrong. But it seems wrong.
A
Alban Thurston
12 years ago
Featured
Two and a half years? For participation in a PEACEFUL protest? Victimisation and scapegoating of one individual by my old university. Has this absurd diktat by unelected Delegates been revoked yet?
A
Andrew Curry
12 years ago
Featured
Cambridge alumni. Shocked by this disgraceful and disproportionate behaviour by the University authorities, who seem to have no knowledge of the history of Cambridge University as a home to dissenters.
M
mark Ramirez
14 years ago
Featured
Absolute joke. 2.5 years for a protest is insane. The uni should be backing students not destroying their futures over politics.
S
sarah Ingram
14 years ago
Featured
Disgusted by this. Singling out one person when so many were there is cowardly. Reinstate him now.
J
james Morgan
14 years ago
Featured
Cambridge is supposed to value debate. This feels like an attempt to silence anyone who speaks up. Very grim.
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach
7,500 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
or sign with Email
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Signing with Google or Facebook verifies your signature instantly — no email needed.
I find this a repressive punishment, and disproportionate; i also think this is due to the secretary of state for education. i'm not sure entirely what the links are, so I could be wrong. But it seems wrong.