Lancaster University

Lancaster University (originally created as the University of Lancaster) is a campus university in Lancaster, England. The University has a good academic reputation, doing well in national league tables. It has one of the best environmental science departments in the UK and a world-renowned business school. The physics department has a global reputation for its research in low temperature physics. The sociology department has an excellent reputation as well. Typical offers in most subjects are around BBB at A-level.

George Fox Six

These are six students and members of the local community who are being prosecuted by the university for taking part in a peaceful demonstration against multinational corporations meeting at the university in September 2004. The court case started on 26th Sept 2005 and is currently ongoing.

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In sept 2004 six protestors had gone into the George Fox building at the university to hand out leaflets and talk to people at the "Corporate Venturing" Conference - a networking meeting for multinational corporations. Speakers at the conference were drawn from controversial arms manufacturer BAE Systems, Shell and other companies that campaigners argue pursue unethical policies. While delegates engaged some of the protestors in conversation security removed others from the lecture theatre. The demonstration then continued outside. The police were called and told the demonstrators they were doing nothing illegal.

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However, five months later all six received a court summons for Aggravated Trespass. This is a criminal offence under the 1994 Criminal Justice Act and is defined as trespass 'with intent to intimidate, obstruct or disrupt'. This carries a maximum sentence of three months imprisonment. But trespass is a civil offence which means that the police need the university's approval to press charges, since only they can decide if the protesters were trespassing. Thus the university is taking its own students to court.

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The universities heavy handed response has shocked many staff and students, and attracted an international campaign of support for the 'George Fox Six'. Supporters include eminent international academics such as Noam Chomsky and many lancaster Professors, the Lancaster University Lecturers Union (AUT), the Students Union (NUS), the civil rights group Liberty, local Green Party councillors and the Council for Academic Freedom and Academic Standards.

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On the 30th Sept 2005 the six were found guilty of Aggravated Trespass: specifically of intending to disrupt the conference. They were found not guilty of intending to use, or even of using intimidating behaviour. The six are appealing.

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