2020 University of Manchester protests

2020 University of Manchester protests
The occupied Owens Park tower
Date5 November 2020 – 25 November 2020
(2 weeks and 6 days)
Location
University of Manchester, Manchester, England
Goals
Methods
Resulted in30% reduction in rent in halls of residence for 2020-21
Parties

The 2020 University of Manchester protests were a series of student protests and rent strikes at the University of Manchester in England. The protests began on 5 November 2020, and occupations ended on 25 November 2020. The protest was in reaction to perceived mishandling of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic by university management.[1] The goals of the protests were a removal of fencing erected during the COVID-19 lockdown[2] and a reduction in rents in halls of residence.[3] This later expanded to goals including improvement of living conditions,[4][5] increased access to support services[6] and the removal of senior university leadership figures, such as Vice-chancellor Nancy Rothwell.[7]

As a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the university closed its teaching campus on 7 October 2020.[8] At the time, cases of the virus were the highest nationally in the Fallowfield ward containing the residential campus amid illegal student parties.[9][10] On 23 October, Greater Manchester was placed into a Tier 3 lockdown.[11] On 5 November, the university erected temporary fencing to prevent mixing of households, notifying students later in the day.[12][13] By the evening, a large demonstration had formed and the fencing was dismantled by protestors, with the fencing cleared by the university the next day.[2] Following this incident, a group of students promoting a rent strike occupied the tower of the Owens Park halls.[14] Concurrent to this, an incident occurred in which a student who was detained and questioned outside a halls of residence accused campus security of racial profiling practises.[15] The protests ended on the 25 November when the tower was vacated following a Students' Union negotiated rent reduction.[16]

Following the protests, an inquiry into the erection of the fences was set up to investigate the events of the 5 November, making a number of recommendations relating to communication with students and COVID-19 management.[12] Additionally, following charges of common assault, on 18 November 2021 two security officers were acquitted of wrongdoing in the case of the racial profiling allegation.[17] Later in March 2021, a referendum was held by the Students' Union on a motion of no confidence in the vice chancellor and other senior management staff.[18] Despite a vote in favour of 89%, the union motion was not binding on the university and the turnout was only 13%.[7] On 12 March 2021, the university board of governors reaffirmed their support for the senior management team.[19]

  1. ^ "Coronavirus: Manchester students pull down COVID security fences in protest". Sky News. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Manchester students tear down campus fencing". BBC News. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :6 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference :7 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b "Elections 2021 Results @ University of Manchester Students' Union". 1 June 2022. Archived from the original on 1 June 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  8. ^ "Two Manchester Universities to move to online teaching as COVID-19 cases rise". The Manc. 6 October 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  9. ^ Abbit, Beth (2 October 2020). "Manchester suburb now has highest number of new Covid cases in country". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  10. ^ "Manchester students organising 'Covid Positive' parties". the Guardian. 6 October 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  11. ^ Otter, Saffron (23 October 2020). "Greater Manchester Tier 3 rules - everything you can and can't do from today". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  12. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ team, Student news (5 November 2020). "Keeping our community safe: Increased security measures from 5 November". Student News. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference :9 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference :10 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ "Manchester University students win 30% rent cut after Covid protests". the Guardian. 26 November 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  17. ^ Cite error: The named reference :11 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference :12 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ Cite error: The named reference :13 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).