University of Sheffield protesters to be evicted from occupation after judge grants possession order to institution

University confirms possession order has been granted, and that the institution is 'looking forward to the occupation coming to an end very soon'

'We're still going strong and not giving up': Some of the protesters pictured on Monday marking one week since the start of the occupation (The Free University of Sheffield via Facebook)

Students at the University of Sheffield, who had been occupying a lecture theatre against the state of higher education in the UK, look set to be evicted after appearing in court, five days after the institution handed the group a possession order.

The protesters, known as The Free University of Sheffield, had been occupying the institution’s Richard Roberts Auditorium since 29 February to highlight “the current assault on higher education.”

According to local paper The Star - which was present at the county court hearing at Sheffield Combined Court Centre on Tuesday - Judge Graham Robinson granted the order to the University of Sheffield, regarding the auditorium, and also prevented similar occupations from occurring on other campus sites in the future.

Sheffield’s independent student newspaper, Forge Press, was also present at the hearing and, live tweeting throughout, reported how the university’s lawyers reiterated that “students are only allowed to use university space for education, not occupation.”

Forge Press added: “The lawyers note that occupiers sleeping in Richard Roberts overnight is one of the behaviours they’re not allowed, and the university is seeking possession on the whole campus, thinking it likely that occupiers would move to another building otherwise.”

Students’ union president, Christy McMorrow, and education officer, Minesh Parekh, also spoke at the hearing, for which, reports Forge Press, the judge thanked them for their “succinct, eloquent, and comprehensive” statements of support.

More than 40 lecturers and academic staff had provided the Independent with a letter of solidarity on Monday in support of the students’ cause, emphasising how the occupation was “not designed to disrupt learning” but rather “to question and rethink the nature of educational space.”

The university confirmed to the Independent in an email on Tuesday that the possession order had been granted, and that the institution was looking forward to the occupation coming to an end very soon.

Reiterating the only statement to have been released by the university since the occupation began on 29 February, a spokesperson said: “We fully support freedom of speech and the right of students to express their views peacefully and within the law.

“The university recognises the commitment of the occupiers to peaceful protest, however, cannot condone occupation of a building that could cause disruption to our staff and students.”