Today, UCU Glasgow sent the following letter to the Principal at the University of Glasgow.

Dear Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor,

We are writing to voice our support for peaceful protests in solidarity with Palestine at the University of Glasgow, whose Senior Management and Court has chosen to set itself up in opposition to the clear, longstanding will of its students and staff by choosing to continue to invest in and profit from the arms trade.

Such deliberate acts by the governing body of the university will inevitably inflame tensions at such a difficult time.

We therefore wish to convey our deep concern regarding the punitive interim measures taken against students recently engaged in protest actions on campus (by banning them from campus, interfering with their ability to study). We urge that you revoke them and refrain from further disciplinary action against students engaged in peaceful protest on campus.

We note the actions at Glasgow take place during a surge in reports at Higher Education institutions across the UK of threats of disciplinary action, shutdown of student societies, and expulsion of students involved in the pro-Palestinian movement.

We are deeply troubled by such measures against students both at Glasgow and across the sector which amount to an attack on the right to freedom of speech.

Universities are based on values of freedom of expression and sites of political debate and, as such, should be facilitating rather than restricting the right to protest. Such attacks come at a moment when we celebrate the ceasefire in Gaza. However, a ceasefire cannot undo the immense losses suffered nor the continuing occupation and ongoing threats to Palestinian land and people. We will continue to support  protests to end the complicity of the University of Glasgow in the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

UCU Glasgow Committee