Five students at Sussex Uni banned from campus for "peaceful protest"

College students at Sussex University have been suspended for taking component in strike action. Photograph: Occupy Sussex

5 students have been suspended from Sussex University and banned from going on to campus. The choice has sparked an online petition, reaching 3,216 signatories at the time of writing, criticism from MPs on Twitter, and a planned protest at 1pm on Thursday afternoon.

In a letter sent to suspended pupil Michael Segalov, the vice-chancellor, Michael Farthing explains that “reviews have been brought to my interest that connect [these college students] with the recent occupation of the third floor of Bramber House”. He says these actions involved “disruptive and intimidating behaviour” on 3 December.

The suspended college students, now getting labelled the Farthing Five on Twitter, consist of Adraino Marotta, who is chair of the postgraduate association, Hichem Maafi, ethical and environmental officer, Lewis Nielsen and Michael Segalov.

The suspension, which was sent by e mail on Wednesday evening, has brought on outrage between students. On Facebook, 472 men and women have explained they will attend a protest on Thursday afternoon on a Facebook group.

John McDonnell, Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, has supported the online petition, tweeting: “I have signed petition and tweeted it. I will be tabling early day movement in parliament in morning to help you.”

Michael Segalov says: “I’ve been sent an email explaining that I’ve been excluded from campus. I wasn’t on campus on 3 December, and I’m not positive which component of my cinema, pub and homework session was intimidating but I would be interested to uncover out.

“I never understand what I have personally carried out. And I never recognize what’s going on, because we haven’t been offered any kind of evidence.

“We have a campaign at Sussex which is ongoing and involves thousands of men and women – I’m one of people men and women and I am very vocal. It appears like they’ve picked out five students whom they wanted to make an instance of.”

Adraino Marotta says: “I’ve been suspended for protesting against privatisation on campus. I believe it is outragous and ironic that they reply to criticisms and demands for more democracy by suspending college students. I can truthfully say I did not assume this, or in any way see it coming.

“I have a doctor’s appointment on Friday in which I’m due to uncover out regardless of whether I have diabetes or not. I emailed Michael Farthing to get permission to go to the medical doctor and have had no response.

“If I go, I face becoming physically eliminated by safety because I’ve been banned from going anyplace on campus. That isn’t going to just imply review facilities – but from physicians, dentists and psychological services also.

“It truly is indicative of a concern that runs along strands of university management that they chose to suspended three student representatives.”

The Sussex students’ union has condemned the suspensions: “The students’ union believes that improper processes have been followed, and unjust reasons have been provided for the vice-chancellor’s actions.

“The students’ union firmly believes in the proper of college students to peacefully protest against practices they deem unfair, and condemns the intimidation of college students undertaking peaceful protest action by university management.”

John Duffy, registrar and secretary at the University of Sussex, says: “We have suspended and excluded from campus a number of students who, in the view of the University, were actively organising or top these unlawful occupations and connected occasions.

“We believe we had no other choice but to act to make it clear that actions that significantly disrupt our campus local community will carry consequences.

“We have excluded these college students to safeguard the interests of all of the students, employees and site visitors who are entitled to use the campus without fear of intimidation and serious disruption.

“All college students who attend the University of Sussex have given an undertaking to respect its principles and statutes and the University is below a duty to ensure those principles are properly enforced.”

Five students at Sussex Uni banned from campus for "peaceful protest"