Protestors set up encampment in Undercroft

1:54pm – Protestors in the Undercroft. Source: Hariklia Nicola / Canta.

The protestors are led by University of Canterbury Students for Justice in Palestine (UCSJP). A spokesperson for UCSJP, identified simply as Matt, told Canta that the group’s demands “include financial transparency and amnesty for students” and “for UC to condemn the destruction of the Gazan universities and start offering scholarship and placements to Palestinian students and academics.”

The peaceful protest began on the C-Block lawn at 1pm on Tuesday, with speakers including lecturers Dr Jeremy Moses and Dr Josephine Varghese. The group of protestors moved into the Undercroft at about 1:35pm and set up tents for an encampment.

Chants and speeches took place inside the Undercroft. One of the speakers was Will Alexander, an actor on day four of a zero-calorie hunger strike for Palestine.

Some police officers arrived just after 2:40pm but soon left. UC warned protestors that they would be removed by police if they were still at the Undercroft at 5pm; the protestors remained into the evening, but police did not return.

2:43pm – Police at the Undercroft. Source: Hariklia Nicola / Canta.

When asked why the Undercroft was chosen, Matt said, “many of us love the Undercroft and use it regularly, and our student fees pay for the space. Our members are keeping the space clean.” He said that a member was vacuuming the space.

Paul O’Flaherty, UC’s Executive Director – People, Culture and Campus Life, told The Press that UCSJP “shared misinformation” relating to UC’s investments. “The university does not invest in any companies which build or supply weapons or military equipment,” he said, adding that tuition fees do not go toward UC investments.

O’Flaherty said this followed UC’s “investment policies”.

Matt gave Canta a response to O’Flaherty’s comments. “Well, if UC has a policy not to invest in arms, why hasn't it produced them? This is information that can be gained under the OIA [Official Information Act], so it will be released eventually anyway.”

“How can we take Paul O'Flaherty in good faith when he refuses to engage with us and won't produce the ‘policy’ he says proves his position?”

Canta got in contact with an unnamed UC spokesperson and asked them if they planned to release the details of their financial investments. On Wednesday, the spokesperson said that information on UC’s financial management is “openly available on UC’s website”.

They referred to section 7.2 of the Treasury Management Framework, section 6.4 of the UC Foundation Statement of Investment Policy and Objectives Investment Guidelines and Constraints, and the UC Trust Funds Statement of Investment Policy and Objectives, Appendix 2, Constraints and Guidelines.

Section 6.4 of the Foundation Statement reads, “The Board has an ethical investment policy that funds should not directly be invested in the following,” with the list including armaments.

1:36pm – Protestors moving from C-Block lawn to the Undercroft. Source: Hariklia Nicola / Canta.

Matt alleged that UC had refused entry to journalists and that security had confiscated some belongings.

Supporters delivered items to protestors. At about 7pm, UCSJP said that they had received enough food, but were still in need of blankets, sleeping bags, and bed rolls.

Canta spoke to UCSA President Luc MacKay, who said, “I think it’s important that students exercise their right to protest. It’s a very important part of democracy.”

He said that the UCSA will “continue engaging in conversations with the University to ensure that students continue to have this right, and that they’re well-supported by the University to stand up for what they believe in.”

Matt said that MacKay visited the protest a few times, which they were “grateful” for.

Matt said UC was not as communicative. “Despite our best attempts to contact UC administration, UC has not responded to us at all except by inviting the police to shut us down.”

The UC spokesperson said that UC will “continue to engage in good faith with spokespeople from SJP”.

Both MacKay and the UC spokesperson said that they were aware of the protest before it occurred. The latter said the University was unaware of the overnight stay.

O’Flaherty sent out an email to the wider student body shortly after 9pm, which said that a Canterbury Card would now be needed to get into Ilam campus buildings.

Matt said that the UCSJP’s demands are ones that the University “can easily achieve” and that the protest will go on “as long as students want to stop their tuition fees from supporting silence, complicity, and support for the genocide.”

Undercroft shops and services, such as Uni Pharmacy and the food court, remain open and accessible.