ALT Statement on Disciplinary Action The University of Manchester has concluded their investigation and confirmed that they are planning to take action against 11 student activists for their role in peaceful protests. They are claiming that we have committed “serious misconduct”, with a list of false allegations including damage, disorderly and offensive language and behaviour, and health & safety breaches. They are attempting to misrepresent us as a small, extreme and violent group – the report even compares us to terrorists – and completely disregards the reasons why we feel the need to protest. This is an unprecedented and heavy-handed response from the University of Manchester. Protest occupations have a long history at this university and across the country. This is a clear attempt to set an example of a small number to deter the wider student body from taking part in protests.

ALT The University has also breached official guidelines in how this process is run, including not providing information or evidence to the students until after the investigation was complete. They are attempting to use collective punishment, accusing students of being responsible for actions that they have no evidence of their involvement in. This should be a fair process, but we believe it is being influenced by senior management’s political disagreements with us. We call on UoM to address our demands for more affordable accommodation, better cost-of-living support and to listen to the UCU, not to take disproportionate punitive action. Please sign the statement in solidarity with the 11 and call on UoM not to punish protesting students, ahead of our hearing in June: tinyurl.com/uom-solidarity.