23 March 2018 - 14.00

"JCMB is now open and the student occupations have concluded. We aim to have the building fully operational on Monday."

23 March 2018

"Yesterday evening our students occupying the ground floor of JCMB agreed to move to the 5^th floor where they are safe and comfortable. This means that today we have been able partially to open the building to staff. If students or visitors have an appointment with a member of staff, please notify reception and the member of staff will collect you. We thank students, staff and visitors for their patience and apologise for any disruption."

22 March 2018

“The James Clerk Maxwell Building remains largely closed today due to two separate student occupations. Those JCMB staff who have been relocated to other sites continue to carry out their duties. We continue to ensure our students’ safety and well-being by providing blankets and heating, as well as access to food and drink and toilet facilities. We thank students, staff and visitors for their patience and apologise for any disruption.”

21 March 2018

“The James Clerk Maxwell Building remains closed today due to two separate student occupations. The two groups are being treated as well as possible, given where they have chosen to locate; the group occupying the 5^thfloor corridor brought bedding and belongings with them at the start of their protest on 14 March. The fire risk has been carefully evaluated and mitigations put in place to help manage this.

The group of students who spontaneously occupied the lift lobby area on the ground floor on the evening of 19 March pose a challenge, as permitting an accumulation of combustible materials in this main evacuation thoroughfare would compromise fire safety arrangements and further limit building usage. The university has purchased non-combustible thermal blankets for the students and the heating remains on 24/7.

Both groups have access to food and drink and toilet facilities and we continue to ensure their safety and well-being. They are free to leave at any time.

Those JCMB staff who have been relocated to other sites continue to carry out their duties.”

20 March 2018

“We recognise our student protesters’ right to peaceful protest but we have legal obligations regarding health and safety while they are occupying main thoroughfares and potentially blocking fire exits in the James Clerk Maxwell Building.

Following an open meeting last night to discuss pensions, the welfare of our cleaners and a number of other important student and staff concerns, a group of students occupied the ground floor lift area of the building, preventing safe access this morning for staff and students who normally use this building. The building has been closed until further notice.

We continue to ensure our students’ safety and well-being by providing blankets and heating, as well as access to food and drink and toilet facilities.

We thank students, staff and visitors for their patience and apologise for any disruption.”