70% of courses cut- London Metropolitan University Occupied
A certain area of the Tower Building in Holloway Road is being currently occupied by students in protest against Vice- Chancellor Malcolm Gillies’ decision to axe 70% of courses- including Performing Arts, Philosophy and History. Gillies’ decision came as a shock a couple of weeks ago. None of the university teaching staff was consulted about the cuts. A majority of the excellent, dedicated tutors are under imminent threat of losing their jobs. Students already enrolled on the courses face an uncertain future. There have been rumours about transfers to other universities with which WE DO NOT AGREE. This statement is our call for help to save our university, our future and our dreams: to keep London Metropolitan University open to everyone, regardless of their social class, wealth and chosen subject of study. The purpose of this occupation is to present the Vice-Chancellor with our demands:
THE DEMANDS:
1. Meeting with Vice- Chancellor
2. Transparent process and direct communication
3. University management goes back to HEFCE to renegotiate repayment terms
4. Vice- Chancellor to accept proposals put forward by staff in HALE
5. University retracts decision of cuts of ALL courses
6. Students on existing courses which are being deleted, WILL NOT BE TRANSFERRED.
7. Free access IN and OUT of the Occupation
8. No student is victimized following action taken to occupy the space.
There is no other university which offers such a wide range of courses as London Metropolitan. We do not want to be transferred. We are proud to be London Met. Help us save our university and our future.
artsagainstcuts 
Let’s hope this is the first of many occupations. The more universities are occupied the fewer can get away with changing their raison d’etre from spaces of shared learning to capitalist business enterprises. Knowledge is the key for the masses to escape poverty, control and subjugation. There can be no price by which knowledge is evaluated. The benefits to society cannot be priced, nor to the individual.
Viva London Met students. This is a call to arms!