The University of Manchester used bailiffs to physically remove rent strikers from the Simon building at 5am .
Students were forcibly carried out of the campus building by bailiffs during a 5:21am raid to evict the strikers occupying the Simon building, which students have been occupying since February.
Videos posted by students present how strikers resorted to lying on the floor in protest to leave while crowds outside can be heard chanting in their support.
The eviction was hours after the security guards from the University barracked striking students using d-locks on all doors and fire exits within the occupied building.
The students were protesting against their inadequate accommodation and advocate a reduction in rent prices by 30% for UoM halls.
The Manchester High Court granted the University a possession order over the Simon building two days prior.
One of the students evicted during the raid, Fraser McGuire, said: “The room that me and a couple others were sleeping in, the doors ripped off its hinges by people dressed in like paramilitary style police officers.
“They’ve got angle grinders, they’ve got their big bolt cutters, storming this room with torches on, body cams on.
“While people are half dressed, just dragging students out of this building.
“I think it’s awful the way they’ve put students, especially students who are more vulnerable, in such a stressful and potentially dangerous situation.”
The movement’s goal is to ensure at least 40% of UoM student halls meet the National Union of Students definition of affordability within three years time – which is rent being no more than 50% of maximum student maintenance loan.
Fraser said: “It’s about making a statement. It’s about showing what the levels the university will stoop to.
“There’s been over 150 students in the occupation at various times, which shows the amount of support as the people are willing to take risks, like trespassing in the building, like sleeping overnight.
“And the fact that the university decided to use private bailiffs but especially at the National eviction team, who they’ve been so much controversy around.
“It shows that the issue is that the university system is now at the point where students cannot get any sort of change.
“Students are suffering custody in price and universities would rather spend a lot of money on lawyers and bailiffs rather than actually just engaging in negotiations.”
Fraser said: “I think we will see these actions continuing. Â
“A lot of what’s going on is to try to put pressure on the university, until the university negotiates.
“People are just really angry and a lot of people are in an incredibly difficult situation, especially on mental health, students and people that are struggling financially.
“It’s really difficult.”
A University of Manchester spokesperson said: “On Wednesday morning officers of the High Court attended the Simon Building to enforce a court order, on a small group of students who had been illegally occupying rooms there since 13 February 2023.
“This action follows multiple requests to those occupying the building to leave, and court hearing papers being served on the occupiers on 15 March 2023. The Court granted the University a possession order on Monday, and copies of the order were served to the occupiers.
“We very much regret having to do this, but the situation has been going on for a significant amount of time and has caused ongoing disruption to students and the people who work in the building.”
