Conference on Points Based Immigration ULU Malet Street
16 Oct 10AM-4PM
Following a growing mobilisation against the Point-Based Immigration System, and the announcement of an upcoming cap on non-EEA/UK students (as well as the current cap on tier 1 and 2 affecting academics), a conference will be organised on the future of academia. It is important at this time of combined funding cuts and increased populist policies on immigration to combine our efforts and thoughts to find ways to fight this alarming situation. The conference is free; register here
Why are we opposing the Points Based System for Immigration?
The new 'points based' immigration rules represent a serious threat to campus democracy and freedom of speech. They require non-EU students and staff to have biometric ID cards, involve demands on the financial background of applicants and mean that staff are obliged to report students to the UK Border Agency when they have not attended regularly.
We feel these rules are unwarranted, undemocratic and unfair. We feel they destroy the relationship of trust between staff and students, represent a threat to academic freedom, are discriminatory and shut down international dialogue and exchange.
See our motion on noncompliance, which was adopted at the 2009 UCU Congress.
New Report from the Manifesto Club
You can download it here. Please forward widely, including to press contacts. More info on the Manifesto Club's campaign for visiting artists and academics here.
Minutes of the 8 Feb PBSI
Open Public Meeting
You can see them here.
Keep up with the campaign
Join our 'Students Not Suspects' facebook group
Follow our 'Students Not Suspects' blog
Minutes from previous meetings
Minutes from the 13 January meeting available here.
Minutes from the meeting on the 2nd of December available here.
Spread the word
Download our factsheet (with or without a graphic)
Download our poster for the 8 February event.
T-shirts!
Get your t-shirts! They're £5 for staff and free for students. The ones for staff read 'we are not border agents', and for students read 'students, not suspects'. To order a t-shirt, email Kirsten at gucu-admin@gold.ac.uk with your size and preference (student or staff), and if you're a member of staff, please arrange payment with Kirsten.
Freedom of Thought=Freedom of Movement//Students are not Suspects//
Universities are not Border Agents
The Stretch (Students' Union), 5PM, Wednesday 2 December
Agenda:
The
new 'points based' immigration rules represent a serious threat to
campus democracy and freedom of speech. They require non-EU students
and staff to have biometric ID cards, involve demands on the financial
background of applicants and mean that staff are obliged to report
students to the UK Border Agency when they have not attended regularly.
Come and hear why these new immigration controls are unfair, unwarranted and undemocratic.
Organised in collaboration with Goldsmiths Students' Union.
Speakers:
Helena Kennedy QC, Labour Peer and Civil Rights Campaigner)
Manick Govinda, Head of artists' advisory services, Artsadmin, and initiator of the campaign against visa restrictions for artists
Tom Hickey, National Executive, University College Union (UCU)
James Haywood, National Executive, National Union of Students (NUS)
Download a poster here
What you can do:
Follow our campaign on our blog and Facebook group
Sign the Manifesto Club's petition for visiting artists and academics here
Download and endorse this statement against PBSI, put up where it will be visible (your office door, bulletin boards, etc.) and send a photocopy to the Students' Union office.
Get your department to support the following statement (now endorsed by CCS, Media/Communications and Visual Cultures)
If you don't work or study at Goldsmiths, download this statement and adapt for your workplace! Let's spread this everywhere!
