University of Brighton students still in vice chancellor's office

A group of students at the University of Brighton, branding themselves as the University of Brighton Solidarity group, have holed themselves up in professor Debra Humphris’ office in a show of support for university staff facing redundancy.

According to the group, they first entered the office in the early hours of Thursday morning.

They have displayed a banner outside the Cockcroft building in Lewes Road which says “stop 110 redundancies”.

A banner has been put outside the building by protesting students (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)

Another group of students are also stationed at the entrance of the building, where they have been handing out leaflets, speaking to fellow students and chanting in protest against the plans.

Staff were told earlier this month that 110 jobs will be lost in a restructuring of the workforce.

They have been given the option to take voluntary redundancy before May 30, at which point compulsory redundancies will be made to fill the gap “as a last resort”.

University of Brighton students appeared on the roof of the Cockcroft building (Image: University of Brighton students)

In an email from vice chancellor Debra Humphris, the university also said that they would be looking to “grow student numbers” despite job losses partially hitting the academic workforce.

A note left on the door of the vice chancellor's office by students (Image: The Argus)

In the email, Professor Humphris wrote: “We have already done everything we can to protect jobs wherever possible.

“However, we have reached the point where we must take difficult but necessary steps to change our staff base in certain areas.”

A University spokesman also cited “generationally high” levels of inflation in the decision to make redundancies.

A student who is taking part in the protest at the entrance of Cockcroft said: “We are here to support the students in the vice chancellor’s office.

• Read more: Live: University students barricade themselves in office over redundancies

“What they are doing is more important.

“They will stay as long it takes for their demands to be met.”

Students at the University of Brighton protesting against staff redundancies (Image: University of Brighton Solidarity group)

The group says it will occupy the management floor "indefinitely" until its "one demand is met".

They have demanded that no redundancies be made.

A group of the students occupying the office appeared on the building's roof earlier this afternoon to thank fellow students for their support of the action.

A University of Brighton spokesman said they would not be commenting at this time.