Brighton university redundancies: Cockcroft building occupation ends

Protesters had been holding a sit-in in the University of Brighton’s Cockcroft Building in protest at over 100 staff being made redundant.

However, after 11 days occupying the office of vice-chancellor Debra Humphris, the students left on Sunday when the building was evacuated due to the alarm.

In a social media statement, a spokesman for University of Brighton Solidarity said: “Yesterday was unexpectedly our last day in occupation of the management floor of the Cockcroft building.

“We are extremely sad to have left the occupation early and against our will. We were fully prepared to stay until our demand was met.

A previous image of the occupiers in the building (Image: University of Brighton solidarity)

“We are pleased that so many people support our university’s staff. The campaign will not end here.”

Protesters told how they left their occupation after an alarm went off in the building warning that a fire had been reported and advising them to leave immediately.

The students added that they were “abandoned” by staff who had been patrolling the site during the occupation.

The statement also claims occupiers were denied food and that security staff had told those dropping supplies to them that the protesters could “eat when they leave”. But the university said they regularly checked on their wellbeing.

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Occupiers holed up in the building unfurled banners in support of the staff facing redundancy.

The Cockcroft Building in Moulsecoomb (Image: The Argus | Uni of Brighton solidarity)

The job cuts come as the university cites “generationally high” inflation and other financial pressures.

A University of Brighton spokesman said:"In the early hours of Thursday 25 May, five masked individuals forced entry into University offices. Over the course of the last week, three of these individuals left the occupation and the remaining two left on Sunday, June 4.
"Throughout this time the University was in regular contact with them to check on their wellbeing. Colleagues have dealt with them respectfully and great care was taken to ensure that they received the supplies that they requested including offering access to alternative toilet facilities.
"The University of Brighton is fundamentally committed to freedom of speech. We have accepted and provided space for students and staff to express themselves during the current period of change within the University. However, the occupiers caused significant damage to premises and disrupted the schedules of students and staff."