The week at Middlesex...

I thought I'd paste edited highlights from an email by a friend at Middlesex University to let you know about important anti-cuts events there this week!

The lecturers' union UCU will be taking strike action on Thursday 24th March. Middlesex University Students Union (MUSU) in solidarity with the staff are asking students not to cross the picket line, and to stage a walkout. In the next week, you'll be seeing more materials around the campuses from Monday onwards. I have a feeling this could be a big day, the word is spreading quick amongst students and staff.

On Friday 25th March the Rave against the cuts festival will be held in Hendon - during the day we'll have stalls including the Barnet TUC, as well as Defend education society stall. In the evening, there will be a live event night, and tickets are now on sale for the great price of £3. I would urge you all to spread the word and let's make this a great event.

Last but not least is the 26th March National Demonstration in central London organised by the TUC. This will be one of the biggest so far, with numbers expecting to be around a million strong. The Middlesex block will meet at the National Gallery in Trafalgar square (nearest tube Charing Cross), please remember to wear red to signify we're all from Middlesex.

However it is important to remember the 26th is not the end, but the beginning of resistance in this country.

Here's hoping!

Defend philosophy at Middlesex University! Defend Barnet College jobs! Fight for education!

Middlesex University decided recently to axe its philosophy department. I don't know the ins and outs, but I understand it is a highly regarded department. The reasons for axing it probably boil down to cost-cutting. There will be a lot more of this in the coming months.

Some of the students had arranged this morning to meet the Dean to discuss this, but he did not turn up! They are "waiting for him" in his office at the Trent Park campus right now.

Visit the campaign website: http://savemdxphil.wordpress.com.

The students have also planned a demonstration tomorrow, Wednesday 5 May, at the Hendon campus. They are meeting at 9.30am at Hendon Central tube and demonstrating at the campus from 9.45am. It is an essay handing in day so there should be plenty of students about. If you are able to get along, please go.

And tomorrow, Wednesday 5 May, 11 London FE colleges - Barnet College among them - and four universities have strikes organised by the University and College Union, against cuts that could result in thousands of lecturers' jobs being cut and mean tens of thousands fewer college places for students.

Please support these strikes. There will be a central London UCU demonstration on Wednesday, assembling at 1pm at King's College on the Strand and marching to Parliament Square for 2.30pm.