Encampment Update Announcement

On behalf of KCLStands4Justice, the encampment at Strand Campus, we welcome open dialogue with the relevant management members, primarily Prof. Kapur as the Vice Chancellor.

We are disappointed in the delayed response we have received from administration, as well as the lack of engagement from Mr. Kapur despite our direct address to him in our letters. The encampment on Strand Campus has received overwhelming support from KCL students, alumni, and staff alike, as exemplified by the open letter endorsing our encampment (which currently holds over 1,150 signatures).

KCLStands4Justice is not a singular student group or ratified society, rather a collective movement founded upon the encampment. We accept the opportunity for formal and direct negotiations between KCLStands4Justice and the Vice Chancellor and management once the following conditions have been agreed to:

1) A written confirmation and commitment to our 5th demand, to safeguard students and staff, before we commence any discussions on the remaining demands. Ensuring the safety of those involved in the encampment is non-negotiable. We require a guarantee that no data is being recorded, stored or exported on individuals’ movements or their identity. Students and staff within the encampment cannot be threatened by future suspensions, reprisal or referrals to PREVENT, for which there’s precedent within the university merely for exercising our right to protest.

2) A written confirmation that all data that has been obtained thus far on students and staff at the encampment has been deleted.

3) To end the increased security of the encampment, including but not limited to, the additional checks after 10pm for using the bathroom and prayer facilities.

4) Since this is a student-staff movement, we expect at least 5 students along with 2 KCL staff-members to be present at our meetings with management. These representatives will be nominated by KCLStands4Justice and must be safeguarded under the same premise of the first condition.

To maintain the integrity of the students’ safety at the encampment, it is imperative that these four demands are met before vice chancellor Prof. Kapur meets with representatives of the encampment. Additionally, it must be noted that the university has not made us feel safe or supported during this time, as illustrated by the following examples:

1) Allowing police to enter the main campus and encampment area through the university gates on multiple occasions, without warning or rationale conveyed to the encampment. This jeopardises the dynamic between students and administration, threatening the safety of all involved in the encampment.

2) Increased security measures specifically for encampment students and staff, including the use of hand-held scanners which capture the data and identity of students wanting to use the bathroom, prayer facilities, or entering and exiting the quad area after 10pm.

3) Prohibiting students from signing guests onto campus - which was previously permitted - limiting support for the students at the encampment.

4) Limiting alumni access hours (to 8pm) to the strand building in direct response to the launch of the encampment, though most alumni work full-time and would be unable to access campus during the new visiting hours.

Ultimately, we feel that it is unreasonable to ask us to attend another group’s previously agreed upon meeting with less than 48 hours’ notice, rather than engaging directly with the encampment. This is dismissive not only of KCLStands4Justice but also of KCL Palestine Action who have been planning their meeting for weeks. Given their history and struggle in organising this meeting, it is unjust to force them to split their time in the meeting with the encampment.

Finally, we extend our invitation for you to attend the public meeting organised by KCL students and staff for today, Wednesday 29th May 2024, 6PM, at the encampment to hear the concerns of the KCL body.

Going forth, we expect regular, direct communication between the management team and the encampment team throughout the negotiation period.