The remaining nine students of a group of McGill University students who occupied a campus administrative building for five days were finally evicted Feb. 12, according to the university’s media relations office.
Twenty-three students, part of a group called the Mob Squad, occupied the sixth floor of the James Administration building Feb. 7 because of a disagreement with administrators over funding for its campus radio station and the Quebec Public Interest Research Group (QPIRG).
University administration didn’t recognize the results of a referendum held in early November, where two-thirds of students voted in favour of the continued funding of the two organizations, according to the McGill Daily. Deputy provost Morton Mendelson declared the referendum results invalid because the question was worded in a confusing manner.
The students occupied Mendelson’s office for a “surprise resignation party,” said Amber Gross, a third-year history and philosophy student who supported the sit-in.
The occupiers have two demands: the recognition of the referendum results, and the resignation of Mendelson, she said.
“When they came in, they wore party hats. They had invitations [and] offered Mendelson cake when he showed up for work,” Gross said. Mendelson could not be reached for comment.
The protesters then blasted music and danced. They live-streamed videos of their “party.”
Gross, along with 20 other students, held a second occupation on the first floor of the building Feb 17. This sit-in lasted for 24 hours
Gross said the security guards didn’t let the students at either protests use the washrooms.
“We had to use a water cooler,” she said.
Supporters were also not allowed to bring food to the occupiers, but on Feb. 11, a group of students managed to set up a pulley system and hoist backpacks full of groceries through a window.
Security soon after cut the rope being used to transport the food, worried that windows could be broken, according to Maclean’s magazine
At that point, there were 11 protesters left, according to the McGill Daily.
“The occupiers were told they had five minutes to collect their belongings and leave the building of their own accord,” according to a press release from Michael Di Grappa, McGill’s vice-principal (finance).
The protesters were told they could also be charged with resisting arrest if they did not leave peacefully.
The university offered food and first aid, according to the press release, but the protesters released a short statement saying they had received neither.
“We will prepare a longer statement after we have a warm meal, but we do want to respond quickly to DiGrappa’s [email],” the statement read. “We were not offered food or counselling services. Our friends partying downstairs, however, have arranged for both.”
Doug Sweet, the university’s director of media relations, said the university did set up a station that offered first aid and food, but the students used a different exit off campus.
“We weren’t going to chase them and say, ‘The food is over here,’ ” he said.
The eviction was done “peacefully and safely,” Sweet said.
A second, smaller demonstration was held Feb. 17 in front of the James Administration building.
