The University of Manchester (UoM) has confirmed the heating and Wi-Fi has been turned off in a building that is currently being occupied by student rent strikers. The protesters have been there since February 8.
As today marks one week since the students began occupying buildings on campus, a spokesperson for the university said it is ‘looking at the next steps.’
READ MORE: Why University of Manchester students are protesting and barricading buildings with furniture
“Normally several hundred people would work in the John Owens Building to deliver much needed services for staff, students and the wider community. Unfortunately they continue to be unable to do so due to a small number of students who have gained unauthorised access and barricaded themselves into the offices since last Wednesday,” they said.
The spokesperson also added due to the energy crisis and cost of living, it will be switching off the heating and Wi-Fi in the John Owens building.
“As it is currently a virtually empty large building, and with well-established high costs of energy and utilities, we have taken the decision to temporarily turn off heating and Wi-Fi in the building while it cannot be utilised for its intended purpose.”
In response to the Wi-Fi being switched off, the protestors said it was a ‘cowardly move by senior management’ who ‘refuse to engage’ with students on their demands.
“This is a direct attempt to suppress our voice, and also directly prevents students from doing their university work,” the UoM rent strike 2023 group said.
They have demanded that the Wi-Fi be reinstated and have asked university bosses to engage with them.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, the group said the action will be 'indefinite' until the University meets their demands. As well as a 30% rent cut backdated to October, they are asking for 'no disciplinary action against strikers, a cap on rent for the next three years, and for the university to aim to provide student halls which meet the NUS definition of affordable'.
On Monday night, members of the UoM Rent Strike group ‘gained unauthorised access to the Simon Building’, a spokesperson for the university said.
They also confirmed that the protesters had left the Engineering Building and Samuel Alexander humanities centre.
They added: “Following repeated warnings about their personal safety, unauthorised behaviour and disruption by a small number of students in the John Owens Building, we have sent a further letter requiring them to vacate the building by 4:00 pm today, and have explained the consequences of not doing so.
“Their ongoing presence, and refusal to remove blockades to enable access to the building, continues to risk their safety and disrupt the work of our colleagues who provide essential services to our university community.”
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