As of June 14, USyd Management has threatened to vacate the encampment area by confiscating any “unattended” private property.
Honi Soit understands that USyd Management is ordering this removal to rehabilitate the lawns in time for the Semester Two Welcome Fest. This event usually takes place on the Quadrangle lawns and Eastern Avenue.
This morning, USyd security began by removing “rubbish” and broken materials, but now have placed stickers on tents still in use. Encampment members were approached by security staff, who asked to be directed to unattended tents. Stickers placed upon tents read: ‘Personal property on University lands will be regarded as lost property and be removed by the Protective Services Staff. Contact 9351 3487’.
This phone number directs callers to the non-urgent campus security line.
Encampment members plan to ensure tents are attended in the coming days.
A University spokesperson told Honi “Since the encampment began, we have continually removed rubbish and broken items from the encampment site as needed and today we have again begun removing broken items and unattended items.”
Following the failure of multiple rounds of negotiations with the encampment the University spokesperson confirmed that they “have also now instructed the encampment representatives that we require them to vacate the encampment to allow other students to use the space.”
“We consider preparations for Semester 2 to be core University operations, and any activity that impedes our ability to prepare for them in the usual fashion constitutes a significant and unacceptable disruption,” the spokesperson said.