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University shuts during summit to make sure students are safe
Anna Davis31.03.09
A London university will shut during the G20 summit because of fears over students' security.
The University of East London, which has campuses in Docklands and Stratford, will close tomorrow and on Thursday. A spokesman said the move came from a "duty of care" to students and because of "severe transport disruption".
But campaigners criticised the university for cancelling lectures. The closure also means an "alternative summit" at the university to discuss issues raised by the G20 has been cancelled.
One of the university's academic staff was suspended from his post last week after threatening violence against police. Professor Chris Knight is a leading figure in G20 Meltdown, the group behind a carnival-style protest outside the Bank of England tomorrow.
Reader views (5)
What a larf. I live in a university town, once known as a college but they got up themselves as they were not clever enough to be educated at school like I was and it is obvious by the legions who walk our streets how hard they work. No it is official in London take 2 days off. When will this country learn that the only people to be helped are those who help themselves.
- Anon, uk
Are the students getting the missed lectures rescheduled or are they getting a refund for the part of the fees they've paid for these cancelled lectures?
- Thalia, london UK
"Fears over students' security"? That's a riot. There is absolutely no increased security presence here on campus, except for one guard checking IDs at our soon-to-be-locked library. If UEL is so concerned for our safety, why is there no security around our 10 residence halls? Why do we still have the same two, unarmed security guards for over 2,000 students living on campus as we always do? Oh, that's right, its because this isn't about the safety of students at all.
- Lindsey, UEL, London
There probably would not have been many students and lecturers from this so called University attending their lectures tomorrow as they would be too busy rioting.
- Tom, Watford (UK)
The Stratford campus is nowhere near the protests. Nothing else is closing there. The students have paid fees for their courses and exams are near.I suppose the behaviour of their students enables them to be classed as children and treated as such.
- Jack Spratt, Richmond, England
