On February 4th, the McCance building was occupied by 60 students of Strathclyde University Stop the War Coalition, with the following demands:

-SUs Eden Springs contract must be cancelled

-immediately divest of arms manufacturer BAE Systems and find alternative funding for SUs engineering department

-the SU board must issue a statement condemning Israels bombing of Gaza

-pay for and facilitate 50 scholarships for Palestinians to study at SU

-show solidarity with the Islamic University of Gaza. Write a letter of support, twin SU with the university and send money to help rebuild it

-condemn the BBC for refusing to broadcast the DEC appeal for Gaza; show the appeal in lecture theatres and hold a fundraising day on SU campus

-oppose Israeli academics who promote military research at SU

These students then went on to vote through these demands as motions at the union AGM, through a completely misrepresentative vote.

Therefore, the purpose of this petition is to show that we, the silent majority, do not agree with these demands, or the manner in which they became union policy.

Rarely is the outcome of student politics so severe; that is why, even if youve had nothing to do with it so far, you need to get involved, in support of reason and impartiality. Sign this petition so that we may be heard as one in the rebuking of these policies, and the call for a free, fair and fully democratic vote on these issues.