Students rally as Leeds Trinity occupation approaches three weeks

The last seven days in occupation at Leeds Trinity University College have been busy. We have delivered our demands to the principal, broken some records and started planning for the national day of action organised by the TUC and UCU on 29 January in Manchester. As we are approaching our third week in occupation, it is starting to test the limits of even some of the most patient members. We are tired, annoyed, ignored and generally feeling a little stretched but after a night off on Saturday, that is hopefully a thing of the past. After another meeting with Principal Freda Bridge to deliver the amended demands, the group felt that finally we were seeing some movement from the occupation and after some promises, we were asked to justify our stake in the university. Amended demands are discussed Despite all being students at the university, it was suggested that we needed to provide evidence of who we represented and why the governors should listen to our demands, given that some of them are quite contentious. So, we set about gaining some official credibility and after receiving a letter of support from the University UCU branch, affiliation with Youth Fight For Jobs and Education (YFJE), 300 names on a petition, we feel in a week that is quite enough credibility, alhough we are always looking for more and any support, so feel free to drop by and offer some or contact us via our blog . LTSAC (Leeds Trinity Students Against Cuts) had another record set this week, with its first ever student rally. This follows the first-ever political society meeting being held in the occupation and the occupation itself being the first in the university's history. The rally was a great success considering the lack of precedent and the apathy of a largely depoliticised populous. It also acts to show just how shocking the cuts we are opposing are, if they can cause three records in as many weeks then even the foundation of a small community university college are shaken. The rally itself was great, around 70 staff, students and friends of the campaign came along to see Ian Pattison from Leeds University Against Cuts speak, followed by Diane Maguire (Leeds Trinity Tutor and UCU branch secretary), Andrew Smith (LTSAC and LTUC occupation) and Iain Dalton (YFJE) give speeches which inspired the crowds and managed to draw in a few onlookers. The event was seen by everyone as a success and really began the next step of the campaign against the cuts. As we begin to organise our coaches to the national day of action, it is more important than ever to get the students of LTUC and the community informed and active while ensuring everyone involved, our own institution included, acts with integrity and dignity. Guest blogger Andy Smith is a second-year single honours psychology student at Leeds Trinity University College in Horsforth. Check out the Leeds Trinity Students Against Cuts blog for the latest on the occupation.