SU Support for the Cambridge Liberated Zones Demands

The Cambridge SU Officer Team are working on the action motion passed at Student Council to support the Cambridge Liberated Zones. 

Action Motion Resolves: 

1. To produce a publically accessible document on the SU website chronologically detailing the progress of the campaign for the Cambridge 4 Palestine’s (previously Cambridge Liberated Zone) demands supported by the SU. 

2. This website also details the demands supported by the SU not yet addressed by the university administration.

Previous Motion (from the 2024 Extraordinary Student Members Meeting) Resolves:

• To support the current encampment and any future encampments by allocating the remaining Council Free Budget (£1250) to sustain and support the activities of the Cambridge Liberated Zone. ​

• To officially recognise the encampment's demands and elected negotiation team as a legitimate representative body of the student population, ensuring they remain represented within ongoing dialogue and working groups of the University. 

• To cede SU representative positions in committees discussing the University’s stance on Palestine to student representatives elected through the Cambridge Liberated Zone. 

• To reaffirm and actively promote Cambridge SU’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian people through targeted campaigns, educational initiatives, and solidarity actions as directed by students fighting for justice in Palestine.

Breakdown of Actions from Motion:

1. Council Free Budget

   1. As was explained before, this money should be put towards a fundraiser for charities working on the ground in Palestine - the BME officer, as the person assigned this policy, will be arranging one.

2. To officially recognise the demands; and

3. To cede SU representative positions in committees

   1. When SU membership has been requested on University committees regarding disclosure and divestment, we have refused to take up these positions and have advocated for student members from the taskforce to take them up. We advocated against the removal of these members after subsequent encampments, and advocated for their reinstatement when that decision came before Council.

   2. In every space in which we sit, where it becomes relevant, we advocate for the University to disclose its financial and professional ties with any complicit organisations, divest funds and collaboration away from any such organisations, reinvest in Palestinian students, academics and scholars, and protect students at risk.

4. To reaffirm and actively promote Cambridge SU commitment to supporting the Palestinian people through targeted campaigns, educational initiatives, and solidarity actions as directed by students fighting for justice in Palestine.

   1. We welcome student direction in this matter, and the BME and Welfare and Community officers have liaised with representatives from Cambridge for Palestine.

Chronological Support Timeline – Cambridge SU and the Cambridge4Palestine (C4P) Encampment

• Summer 2024:
  The Black & Minority Ethnic (BME) Officer and Welfare & Community Officer met with the student encampment to express their support for the campaign. During the meeting, the issue of storage space was raised and later discussed in a Senior Management Team (SMT) meeting. However, due to limited resources, Cambridge SU was unable to provide a permanent storage space for the Palestinian movement.

• 1 November 2024:
  The Welfare & Community officer began conversations with SOS-UK about supporting the working group through Ethical Finance training for interested students to build campaigning capacity.

• 11 November 2024:
  The Welfare & Community Officer confirmed ethical finance training for JMCR officers and students for the 29th of January.  

• 22 November 2024:
  The Kanafani House Encampment resumed following the University’s failure to uphold the agreement from the negotiated settlement on Kings Encampment. Over the weekend, the BME Officer engaged in discussions with the University Pro-Vice-Chancellor and representatives from the Cambridge4Palestine (C4P) group.

• 23–24 November 2024:
  The BME Officer discussed funding options for upcoming encampment-related needs. Reassurance and support were offered. The Welfare and Community Officer discussed with sabbatical officers and SU communications staff and began drafting a statement for the encampment for the SU website.

• 25 November 2024:
  The BME Officer convened an urgent meeting with the sabbatical officers team and the democracy & representation team to explore collective support for the Cambridge Liberated Zone and the new encampment under SU policy. The Presidents (PG and UG) attended University Council, lobbying the University to uphold its commitment to the students and advocating against the removal of the taskforce members from the working group on arms divestment.

• 26 November 2024: 

The Welfare & Community Officer created a second draft of the statement. Which was then further reviewed, amended and drafted by the BME officer and all sabbatical officers, as well as SU staff.

• 27 November 2024:
  The Welfare & Community Officer sent the final draft to the SU communications team to be published in public support of the encampment. The BME Officer created a WhatsApp group titled “SU Supports Encampment” with the C4P representative to facilitate communication and added the Welfare & Community Officer to the group. The Senate House encampment resumed, demonstrating the first known instance of two simultaneous occupations.

• 29 November 2024:
  A Statement on the Kanafani & Senate House encampments was published. The statement read as follows:

“Cambridge SU expresses its support for the aims of  Cambridge for Palestine who are currently occupying  Kanafani House (previously known as Greenwich House) and the Senate House. 

The SU notes that the aims of the student-led occupation, beginning on 22nd of November, are to urge the University to honour its agreements made with Cambridge for Palestine. Particularly, to review its financial ties with arms manufacturers and other entities implicated in human rights violations linked to the ongoing crisis in Palestine. 

As part of our student approved mandate to support Cambridge for Palestine, we request the University to take urgent accountability, honour its commitments, and engage meaningfully in constructive dialogue with the students. We stand firmly against any punitive actions taken against those exercising their right to advocate for change. 

We stand behind the students’ demands to:

1. Acknowledge and condemn the crisis in Palestine in accordance with international law.

2. Ensure fair representation in discussions about divestment and University policy through an inclusive task force.

3. Conduct an immediate review and disclosure of the University’s investments in companies financially and professionally complicit in the ongoing crisis in Palestine including weapons production.

Cambridge SU is also proud to support the University and College Union (UCU) in their rally and assembly on 28th November during the National Day of Action for Palestine. 

Cambridge SU believes that our educational institution should not  profit from oppression and war. We will continue to work alongside students and staff to promote transparency, justice, and solidarity.

Cambridge SU also want to highlight the welfare resources available to all students affected by conflict, which can be found on our page here: https://www.cambridgesu.co.uk/advice/information/conflict/

Our student advice service also offers appointments to discuss any issues which may affect you as a student. You can contact them at advice@cambridgesu.co.uk.”

• 9 December 2024:
  The BME Officer continued dialogue between the University administration and the encampment. The BME Officer arranged a meeting with the BME Campaign Executive Committee, advocated and secured a welfare budget of at least £100, providing essential supplies such as basic food, warmers, sleeping mats, and other necessities for those participating in the encampment.

• 19th December 2024:
  The Welfare and Community Officer presented the capacity building workshops being arranged to stakeholders at C4P who were happy to collaborate on the project. The Welfare and Community Officer created graphics to demonstrate the structure of Cambridge university and colleges, - and the different stakeholders involved in financial decision making - to add to the presentation . C4P representatives also reviewed the document, 

• Christmas Break 2024:
  Informal discussions between the BME Officer, C4P representatives, and the University administration continued. A follow-up meeting was scheduled for early Lent term.

• 21 January 2025:
  Both the BME Officer and the Welfare & Community Officer met with the C4P representative to discuss the way forward and explore strategies for continued support and advocacy.

• 27 January 2025:

The Presidents (PG and UG) advocated for reinstating the taskforce members to the working group on arms divestment.

• 29th January 2024:
  The Welfare and Community Officer hosted a successful workshop evening for Divestment and Ethical (re)finance training with over 24 students present total. 

• 30th January 2024:

The Welfare and Community Officer hosted follow up consultations alongside SOS-UK for students interested in 1-1 campaign support for students.