CUSU in crisis as occupation continues into second day

The occupation of Lady Mitchell Hall, which began after students prevented a talk by David Willetts from going ahead, continues – though not without controversy

by Andrew Griffin

This article is 14 years old

Wednesday November 23 2011, 9:50am

Activists, many of whom are members of Cambridge Defend Education, remain in occupation of Lady Mitchell Hall on the Sidgwick Site after disrupting a talk by David Willetts yesterday.

Lectures that were due to take place in the room this morning have gone ahead, and protesters have moved out into the lobby of the building in order to allow them to do so.

The protest, however, has not been without controversy.

Last night, Ben Russell and Hannah Capek, president and vice-president of Trinity Hall JCR, wrote to the heads of other JCRs condemning Cambridge Defend Education's (CDE) actions, and asking for support for an extraordinary meeting of CUSU Council.

At the last meeting of CUSU council, members voted to support the 'speak out' protest which took place before Willetts' speech.

The email claims that at that meeting, representatives from CDE "emphatically denied under questioning that they would prevent Willetts from speaking."

They also ask CUSU to condemn CDE's action, and for the union to disafilliate itself from the protest group.

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