University of Manchester protests (2020–2021)

Beginning in 2020 and continuing into 2021 a series of student protests and rent strikes took place at the University of Manchester in Manchester, UK.

The protests erupted as a result of perceived mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic by university management and wider issues with the marketisation of higher education in the UK. They attracted significant nation-wide support and press coverage leading to a series of victories most importantly what is believed to be the biggest student rent strike victory in UK history..^[1]

Alongside the rent strike, students occupied the Owens Park Tower for 2 weeks from 12 November 2020^[2] eventually leading to the rent concessions. Just one week prior on 5 November 2020 students had also torn down steel fences in protests^[3] after they had been erected by the university without warning around their halls of residence.

Fences Protest[]

On 5 November 2020, the university without notifying students began erecting steel barrier fences around university-owned halls of residence in the Fallowfield campus.

By 8pm on the same day over 1,000 students^[4] had gathered in the center of the campus to protest against the fences but also wider-issues with some claiming it was the "final straw".^[5] Students then began to tear down the fencing across the campus without resistance from security.

Intended originally to address "increasing concerns over security"^[6] the university later apologized for the decision and an inquiry by the university identified "a number of failings in process and decision making"^[7] as the cause of the incident.

The event and the actions of the university were widely reported by the media^[8][9][10] and condemned by many including by celebrities such as Liam Gallagher.^[11]

Rent Strike[]

Starting in October^[12] when rent was first due for students living in university accommodation, students began organizing to collectively withhold their rent from the university until a series of demands were met. Issues cited included; flooding,^[13] rat infestations,^[14] high rent, lack of access to facilities due to the lockdown, lack of support for students during isolation^[15] and a belief that the university had misled students that face-to-face teaching would be taking place^[16] with the decision later reversed and all teaching moved online.

A group called UoM Rentstrike formed and organized hundreds of students to withhold their rent, the university initially refused to meet with students or meet demands but after increased pressure, media scrutiny and an occupation, the university conceded a 30% rent cut for all students in halls from September to January.^[17] This was later extended to include a 100% rent rebate for the period when students could not return to halls during the January national lockdown.^[18]

The initial victory at Manchester spread and led to dozens of other groups forming at universities across the country, with over 55 universities reporting rent strikes at its peak.^[19]

Occupation[]

On 12 November 2020, around 10 students many involved with the rent strike moved into and occupied the 19-storey Owens Park Tower within the Fallowfield campus.^[20]

They pledged to continue the occupation until the demands of the rent strike were met and on the 25 November 2020, ended the occupation after the university announced the 30% rent cut.

On the first day of the occupation the university attempted to stop food deliveries reaching the occupiers and turned off the Wi-Fi in the building but later relented after an intervention by local Manchester Gorton MP, Afzal Khan.^[21]

The occupiers drew increased media scrutiny^[22][23][24] on the university and hung banners across the building, targeted at the university and its Vice Chancellor, Nancy Rothwell.^[25]

They later also organized a projection onto the side of a university campus building, calling for students to join the January rent strike.^[26]

Throughout the occupation the university ensured it was surrounded by university security at all times and condemned the occupation as "not the right way to do things".

Racial Profiling[]

On 16 November 2020, a student named Zac Adan was filmed being racially profiled by university security.^[27] The incident once again led to instant media scrutiny on the university and the university was forced to suspend several members of its security force as a result^[28]

Following the incident, Nancy Rothwell appeared on BBC Newsnight to address it and wider issues at the university. During the interview she refused to meet with Zac Adan but claimed she had written to him to apologise. It later was revealed that she had not in fact written to him and was once again forced to issue a public apology and correction.^[29]

Referendum[]

All of the incidents and protests on campus culminated in the calling of a referendum of no-confidence in Nancy Rothwell and senior management by students. The referendum will take place from the 8–11 March 2021 with results announced shortly after. The referendum calls for the resignations of senior management and for their replacements to be directly elected by staff and students.^[30]

References[]