Description

Admin History:

In 1968 student unrest spread across Europe sparked by student protests in France. At Hull protests developed as a result of student dissatisfaction with examination procedures and demands for representation on the administrative bodies of the University, bodies such as the Senate and Council. Tom Fawthrop, then aged 21, was a leading figure in the movement at Hull, whose actions in ripping up his exam paper and walking out of the exam were arguably responsible for mobilising the protest. The university's Socialist Society also played a role in the initiation of events, and 49 members of lecturing staff signed a 'sit-in' book in support of the protests.

Following a 10-day campaign, students voted at a Union meeting to occupy the administration buildings of the university. The initial sit-in on the 30th May lasted a few hours, before the student protestors withdrew to organise themselves. After a further 10 days of debate between the Senate and the student protestors, a renewed sit-in began on 8th June and lasted five and a half days. Eight demands were made by the students, and the sit-in ended on 13th June after a narrow defeat at a union meeting vote after the intervention of the Vice Chancellor, Brynmor Jones.

The events of May and June 1968 became known as the Clearways Campaign and an account of the incident, written by Fawthrop, was published in the July/August 1968 edition of the New Left Review.

Description:

Contains a poster produced by students involved in the 1968 'Clearways Campaign' at the University of Hull