Nottingham Indymedia: 'university_of_nottingham'

Support grows for Uni of Nottingham whistleblower

Sun, 15 May 2011 08:50:59 +0000

There has been growing anger at the University of Nottingham’s attempts to silence Dr Rod Thornton, author of a critical article which exposes the complicity of university management in the wrongful arrests of the ‘Nottingham Two’. A student and a member of staff – Rizwaan Sabir and Hicham Yezza – were arrested as suspected terrorists in May 2008. On Tuesday 10th May, a letter calling for Thornton’s immediate reinstatement, signed by 70 leading academics and scholars from across the world, including Professors Noam Chomsky, Neera Chandhoke, Paul Gilroy and Charles Tripp, was published in the Guardian. On Thursday 12th May, a protest was held on campus.

On the newswire: Nttm 3! Dr.Thornton, Rizwaan Sabir & Hitcham Yezza | Call to reinstate Rod Thornton | The paper Nottingham Uni doesn’t want you to read

Previous features Censorship at University of Nottingham | New light shed on the Nottingham Two | Campaign Victories As Hich And Amdani Are Released On Bail | Hundreds Join Demo for Academic Freedom and Against Deportation | Nottingham Uni Detainee Innocent But Still Facing Deportation | Anger Over “Terror Arrests” at Nottingham University

Censorship at University of Nottingham

Sat, 07 May 2011 16:37:58 +0000

Last week, an article entitled, ‘Radicalisation at universities or radicalisation by universities?’ by University of Nottingham academic Rod Thornton was published, shedding more light on the case of the “Nottingham Two”. This article has now been removed from the website of the British International Studies Association (BISA) allegedly under pressure from the University, who have also now suspended Dr Thornton.

Upcoming Event: Protest calling for the reinstatement of the whistleblower and a public inquiry, Hallward Library, University Park, Thursday May 12th, 12pm

On the newswire: University whistleblower suspended | ‘Al-Qaeda Arrest’ Whistleblower Silenced

Previous features: New light shed on the Nottingham Two | Campaign Victories As Hich And Amdani Are Released On Bail | Hundreds Join Demo for Academic Freedom and Against Deportation | Nottingham Uni Detainee Innocent But Still Facing Deportation | Anger Over “Terror Arrests” at Nottingham University

Article: Executive summary | Full article

University whistleblower suspended

Wed, 04 May 2011 18:39:08 +0000

Dr Rod Thornton was suspended this afternoon by Nottingham University for exposing how the university caused the arrest of two innocent men as suspected terrorists. The new whistle-blowing report from Dr Thornton – ‘How a student’s use of a library book became a “major Islamist plot”’ – exposed how senior University management reported the men and undertook a subsequent campaign to discredit them for being in possession of three publicly available documents, all available from the university’s own library.

'Al-Qaeda Arrest' Whistleblower Silenced

Wed, 04 May 2011 08:59:03 +0000

The website of the British International Studies Association [1] has removed a whistle-blowing article written by Dr Rod Thornton [2], a former soldier turned academic who served in a counter-terrorism role in Northern Ireland. Dr Thornton’s article – ‘How a student’s use of a library book became a “major Islamist plot”’ - exposes how senior management at the University of Nottingham caused two men of ethnic minority background – Rizwaan Sabir, an MA student and Hicham Yezza, a member of staff - to be arrested and detained for six days under the Terrorism Act 2000 [3]. The removal of his article has allegedly come as a result of pressure on the website’s editors by the University of Nottingham, ahead of its general release to the public and media today.

Islamophobia and the Nottingham Two

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 16:44:50 +0000

Rod Thornton, a University of Nottingham lecturer who became embroiled in the struggle for justice for Rizwaan Sabir and Hicham Yezza, has published his extensive account of the case of the Nottingham Two. Pieced together from heavily redacted Freedom of Information requests, Rizwaan's Data Protection Access requests and even meetings with Special Branch officers, it paints a damning picture of the University of Nottingham's management. For those who don't have the time to read the entire paper, this is an attempt to summarise what I thought were some of the most interesting sections.

Administrate This! 19th April

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 19:26:02 +0000

From 18th-20th April, the University of Nottingham hosted a meeting of the Association of University Administrators. Minister for Universities David Willetts was to attend, but had dropped out in advance. In response, Nottingham Students Against Fees and Cuts organised a protest.

Notts Occupation Ends; Resistance Continues

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 16:46:36 +0000

On Friday 3rd December, the students occupying the Great Hall at the University of Nottingham agreed to leave, in return for a meeting with the Vice Chancellor. This is not the end of the campaign and on Saturday, students protested in the Market Square, joining up with other local anti-cuts campaigners.

On the newswire: Action on fees and education cuts in Nottingham | Billy Bragg "I don't Buy It" on Notts Uni Offer | Anti-cuts day of action in Nottingham | Student Protesters on Long Row | Notts students cave in | Sudents End Uni of Nottingham Occupation | Billy Bragg visits Nottingham Uni occupation

Notts students cave in

Sat, 04 Dec 2010 11:12:18 +0000

After university security playing some pretty obvious tricks on them ("you're in contravention of health and safety", "there's a wedding scheduled to take place in the room"), Nottingham students seem to have caved in and ended their occupation of the Great Hall. Leaving the building wasn't necessarily a bad thing. But agreeing to a cosy chat with the Vice Chancellor is a total cop out.

News from the Great Hall Occupation

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 23:43:25 +0000

News from the occupation in the Great Hall, Trent Buildng, University of Nottingham.

Voices from occupied Nottingham

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 18:11:02 +0000

I popped down to the University of Nottingham today to see how the student occupiers were getting on. I found a well organised group making use of the space for workshops, meetings and catching up with their coursework. In between these activities a few of the occupiers found time to chat about what it's all about.