The Melbourne Uni anti fees occupation: what happened???

On May 8, 3500 students from around Melbourne marched in the rain and bitter cold to protest against fees and the enormous cuts to higher education funding. The rally's final target was Melbourne Uni, the first University in Australia to introduce up-front fees for domestic undergraduates. About 200 angry students, frustrated at the lack of student input into this decision, stormed and administration building, and then occupied it for 28 hours. The occupation was only possible because of the strength and spirit of the rally.

As soon as students were in the building, Police and the University cut off the power, heating, computers, toilet access and the phones. This made negotiations with the University very difficult.

However, the occupying students, after unanimously voting to continue the occupation, organised into collectives to formulate demands, organise food, space, security, publicity and communication.

The food collective had to be creative as the police intercepted and ate all of the food which supporters were attempting to get to the occupiers, and for which the support crowd had collected money.

The occupation advised the University of its demands; that an open University Council meeting be convened at which the University's Operational Plan (which included up-front fees for undergraduates) was to be rescinded.

The occupation then at various stages invited the Vice Chancellor to speak to them and the crowd of students supporting them, however he did not arrive or respond in any way.

Throughout the night, about 40 students remained downstairs in support of the occupation, releying media coverage and messages of solidarity to us. Student Unions from all around the country, as well as members of the NTEU phoned of faced in messages of support. The occupiers' morale remained incredibly high at all times.

Over a period of three hours, the support crew outside the building organised leaflets, lecture bashes and posters to advertise a rally for 1pm. By lunchtime a crowd of about 1000 students had gathered at the Administration building chanting no fees slogans in support of the occupation.

At 5pm on May 9, after being threatened with trespass, the occupying students peacefully left the building chanting "No ifs, no butts, no fees, no cuts" to join the hundreds of cheering students outside.

The occupation was an overwhelming success as it achieved its primary aim of drawing more and new students into the campaign against the current push towards the privatisation of education. All students involved played an active role in building awareness of the issues facing students today. The occupation received a lot of media attention, as did the students occupying at the same time in Griffith, Adelaide, Sydney and at Northern Metropolitan Tafe.

The occupation was an angry and exciting display of anger and frustration at the lack of student involvement in making the decisions which effect our education, and the opportunities of future generations.

The occupation sends a clear message to the Howard government and to the Vice Chancellors introducing up-front fees; STUDENTS WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT TOGETHER ALL OVER THE COUNTRY IN OPPOSITION TO UP-FRONT FEES UNTIL THERE IS FREE EDUCATION FOR ALL!!!! THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING!!!

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