Built in the mid 1960s,<ref name="ds-1"/><ref name="ds-2"/> the '''Graduate Studies Building''', previously known as the '''Graduate Studies Centre''',<ref name="ds-1"/><ref name="ds-2"/> was a building on the [[Westwood Campus]] that was demolished in April 2025.<ref name="dem-fin-post"/> Adjacent to the [[New Education Building]],<ref name="osm"/><ref name="loc-plan"/><ref name="site-plan"/> it housed a number of different things throughout its life, including, for a while, the [[Institute of Education]].<ref name="loc-plan"/> The building featured a one-story section and a two-story section,<ref name="invida"/><ref name="ds-1"/><ref name="ds-2"/> and connected to the New Education Building via a bridge between the first floor of each building.<ref name="bridge-street-view"/><ref name="ds-1"/><ref name="ds-2"/><ref name="el-ex"/><ref name="el-prop"/>

== Location ==
The Graduate Studies Building was located in the eastern-most portion of the [[Westwood Campus]], north of the [[New Education Building]],<ref name="osm"/><ref name="loc-plan"/><ref name="site-plan"/> which it connected to via a bridge.<ref name="bridge-street-view"/><ref name="ds-1"/><ref name="ds-2"/><ref name="el-ex"/><ref name="el-prop"/>

== Previous uses ==
Like the [[New Education Building]], the Graduate Studies Building contained "WE"-coded [[centrally timetabled room]]s.<ref name="standing-group-minutes"/><ref name="signs-street-view"/><ref name="virtual-tour"/><ref name="2007-cttrs"/><ref name="2017-cttrs"/> In November 2007, [[WE0.01]] and [[WE1.17]] were the only centrally timetabled rooms.<ref name="2007-cttrs"/> In May 2015, the rooms [[WE0.29]], [[WE1.16]] and [[WE1.17]], which were centrally timetabled, were closed without notice due to potential structural issues discovered when refurbishing the building.<ref name="standing-group-minutes"/> In August 2017, [[WE0.01]], [[WE0.29]], [[WE1.16]] and [[WE1.17]] were the only centrally timetabled rooms.<ref name="2017-cttrs"/> The centrally timetabled rooms may have still existed until as late as July 2023, as indicated by signs outside the building,<ref name="signs-street-view"/> although whether they were in use this late is unclear.

The building also contained a "Telepresence suite" in [[WE0.20]] for an unknown period of time including May 2015.<ref name="standing-group-minutes"/>

The building also contained "Multimedia Labs" for an unkown period of time including July 2023, as indicated on signs outside the building.<ref name="signs-street-view"/><ref name="virtual-tour"/>

Moreover, [[WMG]] used the building for an unkown period of time also including July 2023 as their logo was present on the main entrance.<ref name="signs-street-view"/><ref name="virtual-tour"/>

The final version of the building's floorplans before being demolished showed it containing
* three rooms housing a "History of Art Image Library" ([[WE0.17]], [[WE0.19]], and [[WE0.20]]),
* several store rooms,
* many rooms (including the entire first floor),
* a few offices, and
* a server room,
along with the usual lobbies, corridoors, toilets and plant rooms.<ref name="invida"/>

== Building history ==
The Graduate Studies Building was constructed in the mid 1960s alongside the [[Avon Building]]. Both wings of the building were originally flat-roofed, but a pitched roof was added in 1994 to the two-storey portion.<ref name="ds-1"/><ref name="ds-2"/>

=== 2012/2013 additions ===
On 6 November 2012, the University applied for planning permission in order to make some relatively minor alterations to the Graduate Studies Building and Avon Building.<ref name="FUL/2012/2089"/> For the Graduate Studies Building, these alterations were to replace the existing building entrance, which went straight into the stairwell, with a new entrance, complete with draft lobby and automatic swing doors. Further, a new breakout space would be added opposite the entrance, and then a new lift tower added adjacent to this, as the building did not previously have a lift. The existing stairwell would be refurbished, and a store would be added where the old entrance was. These alterations would have meant the loss of four offices: [[WE0.27]], [[WE0.28]], [[WE0.29]], and [[WE1.15]]. Moreover, [[WE1.14]] would be refurbished.

These alterations would have led to 50.40 new square metres of floor space. The lift tower was planned to be constructed out of Kalwall radial panels in order for it to look lightweight and translucent, and the same material was to be used on the retained stairwell, along with for a new entrance canopy.<ref name="ds-1"/><ref name="prop-flr-plans"/><ref name="ex-flr-plans"/><ref name="el-prop"/><ref name="el-ex"/>

On 2 January 2013, this planning application was approved,<ref name="plan-1-approv"/> and work started on 25 March 2013.<ref name="plan-app-2"/> However, on 21 June 2013, the University submitted a further planning application.<ref name="FUL/2013/1161"/><ref name="plan-app-2"/> This was because the development had undergone significant changes due to a "value engineering exercise", necessitating a further application.<ref name="email">{{Citation|title=Email from agent dated 25.6.13|date=2013-06-21|author=Sandra Shillingford|url=https://planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk/planning/?fa=downloadDocument&id=417114&public_record_id=258838|access-date=2025-12-16|work=FUL/2012/2089 planning application|via=planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk}}</ref> For the Graduate Studies Building, these changes were making the new entrance smaller, partially by replacing the automatic swing doors with sliding doors, removing the proposed store room from the old entrance and removing this door entirely, and moving the lift tower to be at an angle.<ref name="ds-2"/><ref name="prop-2-flr-plans-ground"/><ref name="prop-2-flr-plans-first"/><ref name="prop-2-flr-plans-roof"/><ref name="prop-2-elev"/><ref name="prop-2-secs"/> These plans line up with the final version of the floorplans available before demolition.<ref name="invida"/>

=== Demolition ===

== Photos ==

== References ==
<references>
<ref name="invida">{{Citation|title=03.020 : Graduate Studies Building|url=https://estates.resolve.warwick.ac.uk/simplified/new-ticket|access-date=2025-12-12|via=Invida Resolve|login=Warwick}}</ref>
<ref name="prop-2-secs">{{Citation|title=SA437-306A GSC Prop Sections|date=2013-07-29|author=Synergy Architects Ltd|url=https://planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk/planning/?fa=downloadDocument&id=142636&public_record_id=207515|access-date=2025-12-16|work=FUL/2013/1161 planning application|via=planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk}}</ref>
<ref name="prop-2-elev">{{Citation|title=SA437-305A GSC Proposed Elevations|date=2013-07-29|author=Synergy Architects Ltd|url=https://planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk/planning/?fa=downloadDocument&id=443780&public_record_id=207515|access-date=2025-12-16|work=FUL/2013/1161 planning application|via=planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk}}</ref>
<ref name="prop-2-flr-plans-roof">{{Citation|title=Proposed Roof Plan and Roof Details SA437 309|date=2013-06-25|author=Synergy Architects Ltd|url=https://planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk/planning/?fa=downloadDocument&id=517629&public_record_id=207515|access-date=2025-12-16|work=FUL/2013/1161 planning application|via=planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk}}</ref>
<ref name="prop-2-flr-plans-ground">{{Citation|title=Proposed Ground Floor Construction Plan SA437 307|date=2013-06-25|author=Synergy Architects Ltd|url=https://planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk/planning/?fa=downloadDocument&id=607442&public_record_id=207515|access-date=2025-12-16|work=FUL/2013/1161 planning application|via=planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk}}</ref>
<ref name="prop-2-flr-plans-first">{{Citation|title=Proposed First Floor Plan DWG SA437 308|date=2013-06-25|author=Synergy Architects Ltd|url=https://planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk/planning/?fa=downloadDocument&id=457413&public_record_id=207515|access-date=2025-12-16|work=FUL/2013/1161 planning application|via=planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk}}</ref>
<ref name="FUL/2013/1161">{{Citation|title=FUL/2013/1161|date=2013-06-21|url=https://planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk/planning/index.html?fa=getApplication&id=207515|access-date=2025-12-16|via=planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk}}</ref>
<ref name="plan-app-2">{{Citation|title=Application Form|date=2013-06-25|author=Jeffrey Atkins|url=https://planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk/planning/?fa=downloadDocument&id=318746&public_record_id=207515|access-date=2025-12-16|work=FUL/2013/1161 planning application|via=planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk}}</ref>
<ref name="plan-1-approv">{{Citation|title=decision notice|date=2013-01-02|author=[[Coventry City Council]]|url=https://planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk/planning/?fa=downloadDocument&id=618003&public_record_id=258838|access-date=2025-12-16|work=FUL/2012/2089 planning application|via=planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk}}</ref>
<ref name="ex-flr-plans">{{Citation|title=Existing Ground & First Floor Plans Dwg 101 Rev A|date=2012-11-06|author=Synergy Architects Ltd|url=https://planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk/planning/?fa=downloadDocument&id=614969&public_record_id=258838|access-date=2025-12-16|work=FUL/2012/2089 planning application|via=planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk}}</ref>
<ref name="prop-flr-plans">{{Citation|title=Ground & First Floor Plans Dwg 103 Rev B|date=2012-11-06|author=Synergy Architects Ltd|url=https://planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk/planning/?fa=downloadDocument&id=339099&public_record_id=258838|access-date=2025-12-16|work=FUL/2012/2089 planning application|via=planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk}}</ref>
<ref name="FUL/2012/2089">{{Citation|title=FUL/2012/2089|date=2012-11-06|url=https://planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk/planning/index.html?fa=getApplication&id=258838|access-date=2025-12-15|via=planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk}}</ref>
<ref name="ds-1">{{Citation|title=Design Statement|date=2012-11-06|author=Synergy Architects Ltd|url=https://planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk/planning/?fa=downloadDocument&id=596721&public_record_id=258838|access-date=2025-12-15|work=FUL/2012/2089 planning application}}</ref>
<ref name="ds-2">{{Citation|title=Design and Access Statement 03B|date=2013-07-03|author=Synergy Architects Ltd|url=https://planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk/planning/?fa=downloadDocument&id=699091&public_record_id=258838|access-date=2025-12-15|work=FUL/2012/2089 planning application}}</ref>
<ref name="dem-fin-post">{{Citation|title=Post on X|date=2025-04-30|author=Freeley|url=https://x.com/JFreeleyLtd/status/1917671595478274230|access-date=2025-12-12|via=X (formally Twitter)|archive-url=https://archive.ph/7Yd36|archive-date=2025-12-12}}</ref>
<ref name="osm">{{Citation|title=OpenStreetMap: 52.389614, -1.558280|publisher=OpenStreetMap|url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=19/52.389614/-1.558280|access-date=2025-12-12|via=openstreetmap.org|archive-url=https://archive.ph/YrrCn|archive-date=2025-12-12}}</ref>
<ref name="loc-plan">{{Citation|title=Location plan Dwg 01|date=2012-11-06|author=Synergy Architects Ltd|url=https://planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk/planning/?fa=downloadDocument&id=630878&public_record_id=258838|access-date=2025-12-14|work=FUL/2012/2089 planning application|via=planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk}}</ref>
<ref name="site-plan">{{Citation|title=Site plan Dwg 02 Rev A|date=2012-11-06|author=Synergy Architects Ltd|url=https://planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk/planning/?fa=downloadDocument&id=559212&public_record_id=258838|access-date=2025-12-14|work=FUL/2012/2089 planning application|via=planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk}}</ref>
<ref name="bridge-street-view">{{Citation|title=Street View: 20 Kirby Corner Rd|date=March 2010|url=https://www.google.com/maps/@52.3892555,-1.5577383,3a,24.2y,285.7h,91.28t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1sYGDmzh35YvEftWdovNTMjw!2e0!5s20100301T000000!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-1.2819679119741494%26panoid%3DYGDmzh35YvEftWdovNTMjw%26yaw%3D285.6999030453663!7i13312!8i6656|access-date=2025-12-12|via=Google Maps}}</ref><ref name="el-ex">{{Citation|title=Existing elevations Dwg 102|date=2012-11-06|author=Synergy Architects Ltd|url=https://planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk/planning/?fa=downloadDocument&id=559212&public_record_id=258838|access-date=2025-12-14|work=FUL/2012/2089 planning application|via=planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk}}</ref>
<ref name="el-prop">{{Citation|title=Proposed Elevations Dwg 104 Rev C|date=2012-11-06|author=Synergy Architects Ltd|url=https://planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk/planning/?fa=downloadDocument&id=546726&public_record_id=258838|access-date=2025-12-14|work=FUL/2012/2089 planning application|via=planandregulatory.coventry.gov.uk}}</ref>
<ref name="virtual-tour">{{Citation|title=#WarwickOpen 360° Virtual Tour|url=https://warwick.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/virtualtour/|access-date=2025-12-12|via=warwick.ac.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251212150429/https://warwick.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/virtualtour/|archive-date=2025-12-12}}</ref>
<ref name="2007-cttrs">{{Citation|title=Centrally Timetabled Room Information|date=2007-11-09|author=[[AV Services]]|url=http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/its/servicessupport/av/lecturerooms/roominformation/|access-date=2025-12-12|via=warwick.ac.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071116215221/http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/its/servicessupport/av/lecturerooms/roominformation/|archive-date=2007-11-16}}</ref>
<ref name="2017-cttrs">{{Citation|title=Centrally Timetabled Room Information|date=2017-11-09|author=[[AV Services]]|url=http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/its/servicessupport/av/lecturerooms/roominformation/|access-date=2025-12-12|via=warwick.ac.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807201223/http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/its/servicessupport/av/lecturerooms/roominformation|archive-date=2017-08-07}}</ref>
<ref name="standing-group-minutes">{{Citation|title=Notes from the meeting of the Group on Friday 22 May 2015|date=2015-05-22|publisher=Standing Group Responsible for the Maintenance and Refurbishment of Centrally Timetabled Rooms|url=https://s2p.studylib.net/store/data/012660536.pdf?k=AwAAAZsTS2H6AAACWInNSQVHykuRVefD3fqXUpzGA5yd|access-date=2025-12-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251212160241/https://s2p.studylib.net/store/data/012660536.pdf?k=AwAAAZsTS2H6AAACWInNSQVHykuRVefD3fqXUpzGA5yd|archive-date=2025-12-12}}</ref>
<ref name="signs-street-view">{{Citation|title=Street View: Coventry, England|date=July 2023|url=https://www.google.com/maps/@52.389227,-1.5586874,3a,35.6y,43.25h,86.64t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sAGPSRI40GL42cQSj9kyTzA!2e0!6shttps:%252F%252Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%252Fv1%252Fthumbnail%253Fcb_client%253Dmaps_sv.tactile%2526w%253D900%2526h%253D600%2526pitch%253D3.3599999999999994%2526panoid%253DAGPSRI40GL42cQSj9kyTzA%2526yaw%253D43.25!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e4?entry=ttu&g|access-date=2025-12-12|via=Google Maps}}</ref>
</references>

[[Category:Demolished buildings on the Westwood Campus]]

Graduate Studies Building

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Graduate Studies Building

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Graduate Studies Building

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Graduate Studies Building

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AlfieG: /* Location */

The '''Graduate Studies Building''' was a now-demolished building on the [[Westwood Campus]]. Adjacent to the [[New Education Building]], it housed a number of different things throughout its life, and was demolished over the summer holiday between the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 academic years.{{source needed}}

== Location ==
The Graduate Studies Building was located in the eastern-most portion of the [[Westwood Campus]], north of the [[New Education Building]], which it connected to via a bridge.

== Previous uses ==

== Demolition ==

== Photos ==

[[Category:Demolished buildings on the Westwood Campus]]

Category:Demolished buildings by campus

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[[Category:Buildings by campus| ]]

Category:Westwood Campus

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[[Category:Campuses]]

Category:Buildings on the Westwood Campus

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[[Category:Buildings by campus]]
[[Category:Westwood Campus]]

Category:Demolished buildings on the Westwood Campus

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[[Category:Buildings on the Westwood Campus| ]]
[[Category:Demolished buildings by campus]]

Category:Demolished buildings on the Westwood Campus

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[[Category:Buildings on the Westwood Campus]]
[[Category:Demolished buildings by campus]]

Graduate Studies Building

2025-12-12T14:47:00Z

AlfieG: Created page with "The '''Graduate Studies Building''' was a now-demolished building on the Westwood Campus. Adjacent to the New Education Building, it housed a number of different things throughout its life, and was demolished over the summer holiday between the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 academic years.{{source needed}} == Location == == Previous uses == == Demolition == == Photos == Category:Demolished buildings on the Westwood Campus"

The '''Graduate Studies Building''' was a now-demolished building on the [[Westwood Campus]]. Adjacent to the [[New Education Building]], it housed a number of different things throughout its life, and was demolished over the summer holiday between the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 academic years.{{source needed}}

== Location ==

== Previous uses ==

== Demolition ==

== Photos ==

[[Category:Demolished buildings on the Westwood Campus]]

Accommodation room naming

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The way that '''student accommodation rooms are named''' varies between accommodation types. This page details the formats used for rooms in addresses: that is, how they appear on the [[Post Room website]]'s [https://postroom.warwick.ac.uk/my-address/ "my address" page].

In general, room names begin with a prefix that identifies which accommodation type it is. These prefixes are listed alphabeticaly below:
{| class="wikitable"
! Prefix !! Accommodation type
|-
|AV || [[#Arthur Vick|Arthur Vick]]
|-
|CC || [[#Claycroft|Claycroft]]
|-
|CH || [[#Cryfield|Cryfield]]
|-
|HB || [[#Heronbank|Heronbank]]
|-
|LS || [[#Lakeside|Lakeside]]
|-
|RR || [[#Rootes|Rootes]]
|-
|SH || [[#Sherbourne|Sherbourne]]
|-
|TO || [[#Tocil|Tocil]]
|-
|WW || [[#Westwood|Westwood]]
|-
|''tba'' || [[#Benefactors|Benefactors]]
|-
|''tba'' || [[#Bluebell|Bluebell]]
|-
|''tba'' || [[#Jack Martin|Jack Martin]]
|}

== Arthur Vick ==
Rooms in [[Arthur Vick]] are named in the following format:
<pre>AV<block number>.<floor number><room number></pre>
There are three blocks. The floor number is given to one digit. The room number is padded to two digits.

For example, AV1.203 would be block 1, floor 2, room 3.

== Benefactors ==
''to be added''

== Bluebell ==
''to be added''

== Claycroft ==
Rooms in [[Claycroft]] are named in the following format:
<pre>CC<block number>/<flat number><room number></pre>
There are three blocks, each containing 30 flats. Flat numbers are given to two digits, and room numbers to one digit.

For example, CC1/203 would be block 1, flat 2, room 3.

== Cryfield ==
Cryfield is split into three types. Blocks are numbered continuously between them. Block 1-3 are [[#Cryfield Standard|Cryfield Standard]]. Blocks ''tba'' are [[#Cryfield Towhouses|Cryfield Towhouses]]. Blocks ''tba'' are [[#Cryfield Appartments|Cryfield Appartments]].

=== Cryfield Appartments ===
''to be added''

=== Cryfield Standard ===
Rooms in [[Cryfield Standard]] are named in the following format:
<pre>CH<block number>/<floor number><room number></pre>
Room number is always padded to two digits.

For example, CH3/001 would be block 3, floor 0, room 1.

=== Cryfield Townhouses ===
Rooms in [[Cryfield Townhouses]] are named in the following format:
<pre>CH<block number>/<flat letter><room number></pre>
Room number is always padded to two digits.

For example, CH11/B02 would be block 11, flat B, room 2.

== Heronbank ==
Rooms in [[Heronbank]] are labelled in the following format:
<pre>HB<flat number>.<room number></pre>
Flat numbers are shared with [[#Lakeside|Lakeside]]. Flats 76-136 are in the [[Heronbank#North and East Courts|North and East Courts]], and flats 137-163 are in [[Heronbank#West Court|West Court]].

For example, HB100.2 would be flat 100 (in the North and East Courts block), room 2.

== Jack Martin ==
''to be added''

== Lakeside ==
Rooms in [[Lakeside (accommodation)|Lakeside]] are labelled in the following format:
<pre>LS<block number>.<flat number><room number></pre>
Flat numbers are padded to two digits and are shared with [[#Heronbank|Heronbank]]. Blocks 1 and 2 are located in the same building, and block 3 and 4 are located in another building. Flats are spread between blocks in the following way:
{| class="wikitable"
! Block || 1 || 2 || 3 || 4
|-
! Flats
| 01-19 || 20-37 || 38-56 || 57-75
|}

For example, LS1.191 would be block 1 (in the blocks 1 and 2 building), flat 19, room 1.

== Rootes ==
Rooms in [[Rootes (accommodation)|Rootes]] are labelled in the following format:
<pre>RR<block letter><room number></pre>
Room numbers are padded to two digits. Blocks are grouped in the following way:
{| class="wikitable
| A to C || D to H || I || J to L || M to P
|}
Blocks A to H are in "Old" Rootes. Block I is [[International House]]. Blocks J to P are in "New" Rootes.

For example, RRA01 would be block A (in the Rootes A to C building), room 1.

== Sherbourne ==
Rooms in [[Sherbourne]] are labelled in the following format:
<pre>SH<flat number>.<room number></pre>
The flat number is padded to two digits. These flats are then split across 9 blocks. Block 1-6 are in [[Sherbourne#"Old" Sherbourne|"Old" Sherbourne]], while blocks 7-9 are in [[Sherbourne#"New" Sherbourne|"New" Sherbourne]]. The flats in each block are given below:
{| class="wikitable"
! Block || 1 || 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 6 || 7 || 8 || 9
|-
! Flats
| 01-08 || 09-16 || 17-24 || 25-32 || 33-39 || 40-47 || 48-55 || 56-63 || 64-71
|}

For example, SH01.2 would be flat 1 (in block 1), room 2.

== Tocil ==
Rooms in [[Tocil]] are labelled in the following format:
<pre>TO<flat number><room letter></pre>
Flat numbers are padded to two digits. Flats are split between blocks in the following way:
{| class="wikitable"
| 01-06 || 07-12 || 13-18 || 19-24 || 35-30 || 31-36 & 37-42 (connected) || 43-48 || 49-54 & 55-60 (connected)
|}

For example, TO01B would be flat 1 (in the 01-06 block), room B.

== Westwood ==
Rooms in [[Westwood (accommodation)|Westwood]] are labelled in the following format:
<pre>WW<block letter><floor number><room number></pre>
Room number is padded to two digits. The block letter is the first letter of the block's name: [[Arden]] is "A", and [[Felden]] is "F".

For example, WWA112 would be [[Arden]], floor 1, room 12.

== Footnotes ==
{{notelist}}

[[Category:Articles]]

Warwick Students' Union 1975 occupation of Senate House and the Telephone Exchange

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AlfieG: /* Initial vote and action */

In 1975, [[Warwick Students' Union]] occupied [[Senate House]] (then the main admin hub of the university) and the [[Telephone Exchange]] for 3.5 weeks throughout April and May due to the rising cost of rent across university accomodation. This occupation followed the [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike|1975 rent strike]], and led to the [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre|1975 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre]].

== Background ==
This occupation was proceeded by a period with several controversies, disagreements between the University and the Students' Union, and occupations. While only the [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike|1975 rent strike]] led directly to the occupation, the other incidents in the run up set the tone and are important for considering this occupation in full context.

=== The "Warwick Files Affair" ===
{{see also|Warwick Files Affair}}
In February 1970, during a [[Warwick SU]] occupation of the [[Registry Building]] - then the administrative hub of the [[university]] - students uncovered files show that the university administration was conducting routine surveillance on students and staff. This high-profile incident has come to be known as the "[[Warwick Files Affair]]".<ref>{{citation|title = Introduction to the New Edition |author = Hugo Radice |work = [[Warwick University Ltd]] |editor = [[E. P. Thompson]] |edition = 2nd |publisher = Spokesman Books |date = October 2013 |publication-date = 2013-12-18 |isbn = 9780851248295 |pages = i-iii}}</ref> This incident set the tone for the many disagreements between the university and its students in the years to come.

=== Senate House ===
By May 1973, construction had begun on a new administrative building, [[Senate House]].<ref>{{Citation|title=BUILDINGS|date=May 1973|publisher=the [[University of Warwick]]|work=[[Notes for Students]]|publication-date=October 1974|page=68-69 (inside back cover)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/NS/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/17/10}}</ref> Speaking in 2004, [[Christopher Zeeman]], founding professor of the [[Warwick Mathematics Institute]] and strong supported of the students and the [[SU]] on most issues, said that the building was built "like a fortress, so as to be able to defend it against the students",<ref name="zeeman-history">{{Citation|title=Early History of the Warwick Mathematics Institute|date=June 2004|author=Professor Sir [[Christopher Zeeman]], FRS|publisher=the [[University of Warwick]]|url=https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/maths/general/institute/histories-big.pdf|access-date=2025-08-16|work=The Histories of Mathematics & Statistics at Warwick|page=12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816152544/https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/maths/general/institute/histories-big.pdf|archive-date=2025-08-16}}</ref> likely as a way of preventing the "[[Warwick Files Affair]]", or something similar, from re-occuring.

=== Multi-storey carpark incident ===
{{see also|Multi-storey carpark incident}}
On 6 November 1973, a £264,000 multi-storey carpark, with a capacity for 465 cars, was approved in a meeting of the [[Council]]. This decision was extremely rushed, with the project not having been discussed beforehand at any prior Council meeting, and at least one member of the Council believing that no firm commitment had been made at the meeting, despite the fact that the University had already been locked into a contract with the contractors hired to build the carpark prior to the meeting on the 6th. This, and other procedural failings, meant that the carpark was extremely controversial. Of particular note here is that roughly £110,000 of the money used to build the carpark was money given by [[Warwickshire County Council]] to build student residences.<ref>{{citation|title = The Genesis of the Multi-Storey Car Park |author = Geoffrey Renshaw |periodical = ''[[University Opinion]]'' 1974-5 |work-ital = no |issue = 2 |date = November 1974 |page = 2-4 |archive-centre = [[Modern Records Centre]] |archive-collection = [[University of Warwick Archive]] |archive-ref = UWA/PUB/OP/5/2 |archive-ref-url = https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/15/4/36}}</ref> The carpark was still an important issue as late as the start of the 1975-1976 academic year, with many believing that an investigation should have taken place when none ever did.<ref name="carpark-sordid">{{Citation|title=That Car Park: The sordid details|date=c. October 1975|publisher=[[Warwick SU]]|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=11 (digital: 13)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/HB/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/11/10}}</ref>

=== Union Building saga ===
{{see also|Campaign for the Students' Union Building}}
{{see also|Warwick Students' Union 1974 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre}}
The [[Senate House]] occupation was not the first occupation of the acadenmic 1974-1975 year. At this time, the [[Students' Union Building]] was not yet open, with negotiations still ongoing with the University about finances and the division of space between students and staff. In 1974, these negotiations included disagreements on the Union appointing its own staff, and with the University witholding funds from the Union. This led to [[Warwick Students' Union 1974 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre|an occupation of the newly-built and about-to-be-opened Warwick Arts Centre in October 1974]], with the goal of disrupting the opening if the University didn't negotiate. The University did negotiate so the occupation was called off after 2 days and the opening was not disrupted.<ref>{{Citation|title=Drawing the Line|date=1974-10-10|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/195/rec/4|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Ray Earwicker|issue=19|page=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924235532/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/195/rec/4|archive-date=2025-09-25|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/19|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/19}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Occupation: What Really Happened|date=1974-10-17|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/204/rec/9|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Ray Earwicker|issue=20|page=2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924233556/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/205/rec/9|archive-date=2025-09-25|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/39|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/20}}</ref><ref name="messy-business"/><ref name="union-building">{{Citation|title=The Union Building|author=Nita Bowes|date=c. October 1975|publisher=[[Warwick SU]]|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=9 (digital: 11)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/HB/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/11/10}}</ref> These negotiations, while not directly linked to this occupation, were always present in the background, with the possible suspension of negotiations a considerable side-consequence of the occupation.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/>

=== The 1975 rent strike ===
{{see also|Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike}}
University [[accommodation]] fell under the remit of a nation-wide rent freeze until the start of 1975.<ref>{{Citation|title=Oh, What A Lovely Term|date=1974-12-05|author=Ray Earwicker|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/259/rec/189|access-date=2025-08-16|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Ray Earwicker|issue=27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250815235844/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/259/rec/189|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/27|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/27}}</ref> This meant that, for the first term of the 1974-1975 academic year, rents were frozen at a level deemed to be affordable. However, while the freeze continued for other types housing, the rent freeze ended for student accommodation at the start of the second term.<ref>{{Citation|title=The Rent Strike|date=1974-12-05|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/263/rec/189|access-date=2025-08-16|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Ray Earwicker|issue=27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002139/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/263/rec/189|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=6|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/27|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/27}}</ref> The [[university]] was making a loss on accommodation at this time due to the loan-based system through which most accommodation blocks were financed.<ref name="reactions-rent-strike">{{citation|title = Reactions to the Rent Strike |author = Rolph Schwarzenberger |periodical = ''[[University Opinion]]'' 1974-5 |work-ital = no |issue = 3 |date = January 1975 |page = 1-3 |archive-centre = [[Modern Records Centre]] |archive-collection = [[University of Warwick Archive]] |archive-ref = UWA/PUB/OP/5/3 |archive-ref-url = https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/15/4/37}}</ref> Hence, following the end of the rent freeze, rents were increased. The increases are sumarised below:<ref name="cost-mooching-scum">{{Citation|title=The cost of being the Mooching Scum|date=c. October 1975|publisher=[[Warwick SU]]|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|access-date=2025-08-16|work=[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=11 (digital: 13)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/HB/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/11/10}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! Accommodation type !! Weekly rents in term 1 !! Weekly rents in terms 2 & 3 !! Increase !! Percentage increase (1 d.p.)
|-
! [[Rootes (accommodation)|Rootes]] Hall self-catered with cleaning
| £4.92 || £6.50 || £1.58 || 31.1%
|-
! [[Tocil]] Flats, [[Whitefields]], [[Cryfield]] Flats self-catered
| £3.99 || £5.40 || £1.41 || 35.3%
|-
! [[Cryfield]] Hall included 5 evening meals per week
| £6.18 || £7.90 || £1.72 || 27.8%
|-
! Average !! £5.03 !! £6.60 !! £1.57 !! 31.2%
|}

These increases were considered too much by the student population, who argued that it wasn't inline with recent 1974 increase to the student grant of 25%.{{note|name=grant|At this time, students received a grant which they did not have to pay back, instead of a loan.}}{{note|There are arguments to be made that this increase was fair. These arguments looked at the average price of rent across the entire year, which worked out to a roughly 25% increase from the previous year, inline with the grants.<ref name="reactions-rent-strike"/> See [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike]] for more details.}}<ref name="cost-mooching-scum"/><ref>{{citation|title = Rents: the Union states its case |author = Penny Mead |periodical = ''[[University Opinion]]'' 1974-5 |work-ital = no |issue = 3 |date = January 1975 |page = 4-5 |archive-centre = [[Modern Records Centre]] |archive-collection = [[University of Warwick Archive]] |archive-ref = UWA/PUB/OP/5/3 |archive-ref-url = https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/15/4/37}}</ref><ref>{{citation|title = The Rent Strike: An Alternative Staff View |author = James Hinton |periodical = ''[[University Opinion]]'' 1974-5 |work-ital = no |issue = 4 |date = March 1975 |page = 1-3 |archive-centre = [[Modern Records Centre]] |archive-collection = [[University of Warwick Archive]] |archive-ref = UWA/PUB/OP/5/4 |archive-ref-url = https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/15/4/38}}</ref> Moreover, the University operated a system by which it would loan itself money from its [[Foundation Appeal Fund]] in order to build new accommodation, and then pay interest to itself on this loan. Many students felt that this system artificially raised rent prices.<ref>{{Citation|title=That Figures|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817000544/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref><ref name="butterworth-interview">{{Citation|title=Are You Still All Right Jack?A|author=David Wilby|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817000544/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=3|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref><ref name="reactions-rent-strike"/> Hence, in a [[Union General Meeting]] on Tuesday 2 December 1974, it was decided to begin [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike|a rent strike]] from the start of term 2.<ref>{{Citation|title=Rent Strike Go Ahead|date=1974-12-05|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/263/rec/189|access-date=2025-08-16|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Ray Earwicker|issue=27|page=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816122829/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/263/rec/189|archive-date=2025-08-16|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/27|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/27}}</ref>

== Events of the occupation ==
=== Initial vote and action ===
By the start of term 3, over 1200 students were part of the rent strike. However, members of the [[SU]] Executive had concerns over potentially victimisation of students involved. In particular, the [[university]] threatened to deny accommodation for the next academic year for those part of the strike, and even to deny degrees to those graduating who were participating. Over the Easter break, the executive discussed the optionas available to them and eventually decided to propose an occupation of [[Senate House]] and the [[Telephone Exchange]]. Sure enough, on the first day of term 3, Monday 21 April, a [[Union General Meeting]] (UGM) attended by over 700 students in the [[Aiport Lounge]] (one of the main social spaces at the time) voted to occupy the two buildings until the following four demands were met:
# freeze the term 2 rent,
# negotiate the term 3 tent,
# have no victimisation,
# keep the rent strike separate from other issues.
During the meeting, a student named Mike Adam adopted a devil's advocate position, warning the student body of the potential negative outcomes of the occupation. These included the possibilities of:
* payments of grants being delayed - while the motion did not propose to occupy the [[Finance Office]], it could be assumed that the administration would abandon the building entirely, even the un-occuped portions;
* the on-campus postal service being delayed;
* examinations being delayed or canceled;
* staff wages being payed late.
[[File:1975 Senate House occupation entry.jpg|thumb|right|Students entering [[Senate House]] through an open window.<ref name="window-photo"/>]]
Despite these concerns, the motion passed roughly 5 to 1.<ref name="united-action">{{Citation|title=United Action By Exec.|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817000544/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref>

Following the UGM, roughly 400 students marched on Senate House.<ref name="united-action"/> Writing in 2004, Professor [[Christopher Zeeman|Zeeman]], said that the students were able to gain access to the building by climbing in through the ventilation fan of the [[Vice-Chancellor]]'s private toilet, which had been added to the otherwise fortress-like building as an afterthought.<ref name="zeeman-history"/> This could be a misremembering of the events as ''[[The Warwick Boar]]'' No. 37 (a special edition devoted almost entirely to the occupation) claimed instead that the students initially gained entry through an open window.<ref name="united-action"/> The attached photo<ref name="window-photo">{{Citation|title=[[The Warwick Boar]]|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/365/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817001723/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/365/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref> shows students going through a window into the Vice-Chancellor's offices,<ref name="architecutral-review">{{Citation|title=Arts Centre and Administration Building, University of Warwick|date=May 1975|work=The Architectural Review|volume=CLVII|issue=939|page=270|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/PC/1/15|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/6/1/15}}</ref>{{note|The upper portion of the window shown in the photo is 3 bricks tall, and the window meets a wall to it's left at a 90° angle. The only window matching this description on the building is located on the second floor and looks into what used to be part of the Vice-Chancellor's offices.<ref name="architecutral-review"/>}} partially corroborating Zeeman's story. Further according to ''[[The Warwick Boar]]'' No. 37, these students were then hand-led away from doors they were trying to open by Professor Mykura, and the Vice-Chancellor, [[Jack Butterworth]], nearly slapped a camera out of the hands of a student trying to record the events.

By 2:30pm, Senate House had been successfully occupied and the first occupation meeting was held. In this meeting, Pat Denny and Mike Adams were elected to Union negoatiating comitee, alongside the SU's president, secretary and treasurer.<ref name="united-action"/> Throughout the occupation, a Union General Meeting would be held every day at 6pm.<ref>{{Citation|title=[[The Warwick Boar]]|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/367/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817001723/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/365/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=4|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref>

=== Early days ===
[[File:1975 Senate House occupation UGM 1.jpg|thumb|left|An early [[Union General Meeting]] held outside (and on top off) [[Senate House]].<ref name="ugm-photo-1">{{Citation|title=[[The Warwick Boar]]|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/365/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817001723/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/365/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=4|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref>]]
On Tuesday morning, the day following the occupation's start, a [[Steering Committee]] was held, with Nita Bowes and Pat Denny delegated to attend and represent the students. Their request for the power to be turned on in [[Senate House]] was denied under the reasoning that the building was closed. Their assurance that the Union was willing to listen to any representation from the University was met with silence.

On Wednesday morning, a meeting of the [[Senate]] was held. In the hour prior to the admittance of student represenatives, the academics on the Senate had met, and several had reluctantly decided to support the University. One academic Senator said "in a time of economic stringency Jack [Butterworth, Vice-Chancellor] delivers the financial goods" and "any academic who wishes to see his department receive a share of the income of this University is well advised to steer clear of any suspicions that he is sympathetic to the students claim". The SU President and the Student Senator, Simon Yates, were accompanied to the meeting by two student observers, Bill Nottage and Nita Bowes. A third observer was refused admission. The students intended to open a discussion of the University's system of finances, claiming that the system where the University pays interest on payments between internal University accounts was raising rents unnecessarily. However, the Vice-Chancellor and the Finance Officer shut this topic of discussion down and, despite several [[Council]] members asking for it to continue, a motion from Professor Griffiths was passed 27 to 2, stating that the question of rent levels had already be discussed heavily and that negotiations would not be re-opened for that year's rent. The motion also stated that negotiations on next year's rent could only commence as usual if the Students' Union left Senate House.

Following this meeting, it was decided, in a SU Executive meeting, to recommend to that evening's Union General Meeting that the occupation continue, and to call for the release of grant cheques for the term,{{note|name=grant}} and to release the Union's funds for the term. In that evening's Union meeting, the motion passed with over 1000 students voting in favour out of the roughly 1200 present. This included the rejection of an ammended motion put forward by a student named Linda Ross that argued that it was in the students' best interest to call off the occupation due to the inevitability of educational expenditure cut backs. This position was rebuked in a speech by Union Secretary Nita Bowes which argued that the educational cutbacks should be opposed, and that to not do so would be to overturn years of Union policy based on the principle that education is a right, not a privelage.<ref name="united-action"/>

=== Immediate support and impacts ===
''[[The Warwick Boar]]'', operating independently from the [[Students' Union]], supported the occupation.<ref>{{Citation|title=Time To Take a Stand|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817000544/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref> Moreover, the staff trade unions largely remained neutral or supported the occupation. The [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] passed a motion supporting the rent strike. [[NALGO]] addopted a neutral position. The [[AUT]] had not resolved anything by the publication of ''[[The Warwick Boar]]'' No. 37.<ref name="united-action"/> However, the Vice-Chancellor, Jack Butterworth, claimed that NALGO refused to let its members enter [[Senate House]] during the occupation.<ref name="butterworth-interview"/>

Despite concerns that the University's postal service would be disrupted, it remained active from its base in [[Rootes Hall]] (now known as Rootes Social Building]]). However, the University had witheld the Students' Union's termly funds, and grant cheques were not being payed.{{note|name=grant}} This was despite the fact that the Finance Office in Senate House remained unoccupied, and despite the setting up of an emergency [[Finance Office]] in [[F3.14]] in the [[Engineering Block]]. This lack of grant cheque payments was considered illegal by the Students' Union, and so, on Friday 25 April, a write was served on Vice-Chancellor Butterworth and Mr. Rowe-Evans, the University Secretary. If uncontested, this would have meant grants would have to be payed to students somehow on Monday 28 April, one week after the start of term. If contested, this would lead to an injunction being heard in the High Court on Tuesday 29 April.<ref name="united-action"/> However, Butterworth didn't feel that any judge would allow the distrubution of grants due to NALGO's refusal to enter Senate House.<ref name="butterworth-interview"/> Indeed, the University took this up in court, and was winning.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/> The University also began seeking a reposession order against the students to dispell them from Senate House.<ref name="messy-business">{{Citation|title=A Messy Business|date=1975-10-07|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Gary Vaux, Dave Wilby, and Godfrey Rust|issue=39|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/39|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/39}}</ref><ref name="costs-confrontation"/>

Moreover, while none of the exams scheduled for the week of the occupation were affected,<ref name="united-action"/> in an intervew for ''[[The Warwick Boar]]'', Professor Phillips-Griffiths warned that there could be a "complete breakdown of the examination system", and Vice-Chancellor Butterworth agreed. This was, at least in part, due to the tight schedule of external examiners, who were required for the marking of finalists' exams. This meant that finalists may not have been able to take their final exams, and so would have had to leave university without a degree, potentially taking their exams the year after instead.<ref name="butterworth-interview"/> Another issue with exams was that, to run them, it would have required the removal of a significant amount of paperwork from Senate House, including 3,300 personal files and examination cards. This would have been impractical,<ref name="costs-confrontation">{{Citation|title=The Costs of Confrontation|author=Mike Adams|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/372/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref> even with the occupiers allowing the University access to this paperwork.<ref>{{Citation|title=Nit-Picketing|author=Rob Walker|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/372/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=4|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref>
[[File:1975 Senate House occupation UGM 2.jpg|thumb|right|A Union General Meeting held on 8 May 1975 outside [[Senate House]].<ref name="occupation-photos">{{Citation|title=Occupation Photos|author=Jake|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/372/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=6|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref>]]

=== Beginning of the end ===
Around two weeks into the occupation, little progress had been made, and a proposal was put forward in an occupation executive meeting to withdraw. This was shot down, although the SU President, Kasper de Graaf, confided to Mike Adams that he had already decided to withdraw once the exam cancellations became iminent.

On 4 May 1975, a member of the [[Steering Committee]] told Mike Adams, who, on the 5th, subsiquently informed other members of the Union and occupation executive, that a number of concessions would be made if the Union withdrew immediately. The other executive members agreed immediately that they would propose an executive motion to withdraw if assurances of the following concessions could be gained in writing:
* dropping of the £3 fee for late payment of accommodation costs,
* immediate accommodation forms (for the next academic year) for all rent strikers,
* no [[Finance and General Purpose Committee]] procedures to be taken against rent strikers.
At 12:30pm on 5 May, it was assured by word that a written assurance would be given at 9:30am on 6 May. However, by 1pm on the 5th, the SU President, Kasper de Graaf, had been convinced by the Union Secretary, Nita Bowes, that his initial decision was wrong. Instead, a motion to fight the injunction to remove the students from Senate House was passed at a subsequent Union General Meeting.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/>

=== End of the occupation ===
[[File:1975 Senate House occupation police 1.jpg|thumb|left|Police at [[Senate House]].<ref name="thrown-out"/>]]
The University succeeded in obtaining a reposession order for [[Senate House]], requiring the student occupiers to leave.<ref name="messy-business">{{Citation|title=A Messy Business|date=1975-10-07|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Gary Vaux, Dave Wilby, and Godfrey Rust|issue=39|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/39|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/39}}</ref><ref name="costs-confrontation"/> Students found out about this order and prepared for 30 to 40 police offiers to arrive to carry out it out.<ref name="thrown-out">{{Citation|title=Thrown Out!|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref> On 15 May 1975,<ref name="events-april-may">{{Citation|title=The Events of April and May 1975|author=Nita Bowes|date=c. October 1975|publisher=[[Warwick SU]]|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=7 (digital: 9)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/HB/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/11/10}}</ref> after 3.5 weeks of occupation, scouting parties were sent out to the nearby Fletchampstead Highway Police Station. These reported back a force of several coaches parked at the rugby grounds opposite the [[Canley College of Education]].{{note|[[Canley College of Education]] used to be a separate institution from the [[University of Warwick]]. However, in 1978, it merged with the University to become the [[Westwood Campus]].}} Sleeping bags and other items were collected so that the occupiers were ready to leave. A constant telephone link was maintained between Senate House and the [[University Telephone Exchange]], which was also occupied.

At 7:30am, 12 coaches full of police officers arived outside [[Whitefields]] opposite Senate House.<ref name="thrown-out"/> The total number of police was over 500.<ref name="events-april-may"/> The executive asked the police for 5 minutes while the occupiers gathered their possessions, which was largely a show of bravery as all possessions had already been collected together. None of the people explicitly named in the writ were present at the time, meaning no arrests were made. Moreover, the repossession order only applied to Senate House and so the police were unable to stop the students marching into the [[Arts Centre]] and beginning another occupation. Once the students had emptied out, the police conducted a search of the building and then left.

At the [[University Telephone Exchange]], two coaches of police arrived and the student occupiers left peacefully.<ref name="thrown-out"/>

== Aftermath ==
=== Arts Centre occupation ===
{{see also|Warwick Students' Union 1975 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre}}
The repossession order which allowed the University to expell the student occupiers from [[Senate House]] on 15 May 1975 did not apply to any other buildings. Hence, the students were able to move directly into [[Warwick Arts Centre]],<ref name="thrown-out"/> which they continued to occupy for another week.<ref name="events-april-may"/> On Monday 19 May, a motion to continue picketing Senate House was passed, although with a number of abstentions. This was an ammended motion, the original one from the Executive instead proposing to switch to a mass lobby. It was also decided to continue occupying the Arts Centre, pending a decision from the [[Senate]].<ref>{{Citation|title=U.G.M.|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/372/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref> The Director of the Arts Centre, Alwyne Scrase-Dickens, estimated that this brief occupation set the Arts Centre back 6 months.<ref>{{Citation|title=Occupation hits the Arts Centre|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/377/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925114859/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/377/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-25|page=9|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref>

=== Rents and the strike ===
Ultimately, the rent strike and occupations were unsuccesful, with rents rising further at the start of the 1975-1976 academic year:<ref name="cost-mooching-scum"/>
{| class="wikitable"
! Accommodation type !! Weekly rents in 1975 terms 2 & 3 !! Weekly rents in 1975 term 1 !! Increase !! Percentage increase (1 d.p.)
|-
! [[Rootes (accommodation)|Rootes]] Hall self-catered with cleaning
| £6.50 || £7.60 || £1.10 || 16.9%
|-
! [[Tocil]] Flats, [[Whitefields]], [[Cryfield]] Flats self-catered
| £5.40 || £6.31 || £0.91 || 16.9%
|-
! [[Cryfield]] Hall included 5 evening meals per week
| £7.90 || £9.22 || £1.32 || 16.7%
|-
! Average !! £6.60 !! £7.71 !! £1.11 !! 16.8%
|}
Indeed, in the first [[Union General Meeting]] of the next academic year, it was decided to continue the [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike|rent strike]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Mulley To Visit Warwick|date=1975-10-07|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/380/rec/1|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=40|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925104410/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/380/rec/1|archive-date=2025-09-25|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/40|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/40}}</ref> However, it was called off not long into term 2.<ref>{{Citation|title=Dixon makes a mark|date=1976-01-15|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/495/rec/7|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=48|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925105235/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/495/rec/7|archive-date=2025-09-25|page=3|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/40|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/48}}</ref>

=== Damages and costs ===
A report was produced detailing the extent of the damage done to [[Senate House]] during the occupation.<ref name="damage-report">{{Citation|title=Damage Report|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref> Had the Union withdrew in early May, the student population would have had equal representation on the damage committee. However, as the occupation didm't end here, this was not the case.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/> The [[Registry]] staff who worked in Senate House were suprised by the lack of damage. The damage report included minor damages such as wax stains from candles, cigarette burns, and broken locks, but the Union was let off other points. One of the major complaints was that a 16-year-old cactus in the building had been killed. The Union was considering buying the owner a new one.<ref name="damage-report"/>

Moreover, the Union was presented with a bill from the bailiffs, possibly running into the thousands of pounds, a bill of around £8,000 for the cost of the police action, and 25% of the costs of two legal actions.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/> Due primarily to these costs and the overall costs of the [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike|rent strike]], the Union was set to make a loss for the year.<ref name="union-news">{{Citation|title=Union News|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/371/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925144002/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/371/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=3|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref>

=== Other impacts ===
As well as the direct financial implications, the occupation also caused a suspension of the then still ongoing talks on the [[Union Building]], as well as a suspension of the talks over the remaning money from the "capitation fee", totaling £20,000, that the University had witheld from the Union at the start of the year and which sparked the initial [[Warwick Students' Union 1974 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre|Arts Centre occupation]] of the year.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/> £14,000 of this money was desparately needed for the Union Building to open at the start of the next academic year.<ref name="union-news"/> Moreover, running the Union Building required an increased capitation fee for the upcoming academic year, and talks on securing this were also suspended.

Moreover, the occupation resulted in a delay, described by Mike Adams as "possibly fatal", in establishing an inquiry into the multi-storey carpark.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/> Indeed, by the start of the next academic year, no inquiry or investigation had occured.<ref name="carpark-sordid"/>

== Gallery ==
<gallery widths=250px heights=250px>
1975 Senate House occupation entry.jpg|Students entering [[Senate House]] through an open window.<ref name="window-photo"/>
1975 Senate House occupation UGM 1.jpg|An early [[Union General Meeting]] held outside (and on top off) Senate House.<ref name="ugm-photo-1"/>
1975 Senate House occupation UGM 2.jpg|A Union General Meeting held on 8 May 1975 outside Senate House.<ref name="occupation-photos"/>
1975 Senate House occupation UGM 3.jpg|Voting at a Union General Meeting held on 8 May 1975 outside Senate House.<ref name="occupation-photos"/>
1975 Senate House occupation UGM 4.jpg|A Union General Meeting held outside Senate House.<ref name="messy-business"/>
File:1975 Senate House occupation students.jpg|Students outside Senate House.<ref name="events-april-may"/>
1975 Senate House occupation police arrive.jpg|Police arrive opposite Senate House.<ref name="occupation-photos"/>
1975 Senate House occupation police 1.jpg|Police at Senate House.<ref name="thrown-out"/>
1975 Senate House occupation police 2.jpg|Police at Senate House.<ref name="thrown-out"/>
1975 Senate House occupation police 3.jpg|Police kicking students out of Senate House.<ref name="occupation-photos"/>
1975 Senate House occupation banner uncropped.jpg|A banner displayed outside Senate House during the occupation.<ref>{{Citation|title=[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]|date=c. October 1975|publisher=[[Warwick SU]]|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|access-date=2025-09-24|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=11 (digital: 13)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/HB/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/11/10}}</ref>
1975 Senate House occupation banner.jpg|Cropped banner.<ref>{{Citation|title=[[The Warwick Boar]]|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925145924/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref>
1975 Senate House occupation lone figure.jpg|A lone figure on top of Senate House during the occupation.<ref name="united-action"/>
1975 Senate House occupation cartoon.jpg|A cartoon jokingly representing how students gained entry to Senate House.<ref name="events-april-may"/>
</gallery>

== Footnoes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Warwick Students' Union occupations]]
[[Category:Events from the 1974-1975 academic year]]

Warwick Students' Union 1975 occupation of Senate House and the Telephone Exchange

2025-10-12T21:07:37Z

AlfieG: /* Background */

In 1975, [[Warwick Students' Union]] occupied [[Senate House]] (then the main admin hub of the university) and the [[Telephone Exchange]] for 3.5 weeks throughout April and May due to the rising cost of rent across university accomodation. This occupation followed the [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike|1975 rent strike]], and led to the [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre|1975 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre]].

== Background ==
This occupation was proceeded by a period with several controversies, disagreements between the University and the Students' Union, and occupations. While only the [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike|1975 rent strike]] led directly to the occupation, the other incidents in the run up set the tone and are important for considering this occupation in full context.

=== The "Warwick Files Affair" ===
{{see also|Warwick Files Affair}}
In February 1970, during a [[Warwick SU]] occupation of the [[Registry Building]] - then the administrative hub of the [[university]] - students uncovered files show that the university administration was conducting routine surveillance on students and staff. This high-profile incident has come to be known as the "[[Warwick Files Affair]]".<ref>{{citation|title = Introduction to the New Edition |author = Hugo Radice |work = [[Warwick University Ltd]] |editor = [[E. P. Thompson]] |edition = 2nd |publisher = Spokesman Books |date = October 2013 |publication-date = 2013-12-18 |isbn = 9780851248295 |pages = i-iii}}</ref> This incident set the tone for the many disagreements between the university and its students in the years to come.

=== Senate House ===
By May 1973, construction had begun on a new administrative building, [[Senate House]].<ref>{{Citation|title=BUILDINGS|date=May 1973|publisher=the [[University of Warwick]]|work=[[Notes for Students]]|publication-date=October 1974|page=68-69 (inside back cover)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/NS/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/17/10}}</ref> Speaking in 2004, [[Christopher Zeeman]], founding professor of the [[Warwick Mathematics Institute]] and strong supported of the students and the [[SU]] on most issues, said that the building was built "like a fortress, so as to be able to defend it against the students",<ref name="zeeman-history">{{Citation|title=Early History of the Warwick Mathematics Institute|date=June 2004|author=Professor Sir [[Christopher Zeeman]], FRS|publisher=the [[University of Warwick]]|url=https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/maths/general/institute/histories-big.pdf|access-date=2025-08-16|work=The Histories of Mathematics & Statistics at Warwick|page=12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816152544/https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/maths/general/institute/histories-big.pdf|archive-date=2025-08-16}}</ref> likely as a way of preventing the "[[Warwick Files Affair]]", or something similar, from re-occuring.

=== Multi-storey carpark incident ===
{{see also|Multi-storey carpark incident}}
On 6 November 1973, a £264,000 multi-storey carpark, with a capacity for 465 cars, was approved in a meeting of the [[Council]]. This decision was extremely rushed, with the project not having been discussed beforehand at any prior Council meeting, and at least one member of the Council believing that no firm commitment had been made at the meeting, despite the fact that the University had already been locked into a contract with the contractors hired to build the carpark prior to the meeting on the 6th. This, and other procedural failings, meant that the carpark was extremely controversial. Of particular note here is that roughly £110,000 of the money used to build the carpark was money given by [[Warwickshire County Council]] to build student residences.<ref>{{citation|title = The Genesis of the Multi-Storey Car Park |author = Geoffrey Renshaw |periodical = ''[[University Opinion]]'' 1974-5 |work-ital = no |issue = 2 |date = November 1974 |page = 2-4 |archive-centre = [[Modern Records Centre]] |archive-collection = [[University of Warwick Archive]] |archive-ref = UWA/PUB/OP/5/2 |archive-ref-url = https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/15/4/36}}</ref> The carpark was still an important issue as late as the start of the 1975-1976 academic year, with many believing that an investigation should have taken place when none ever did.<ref name="carpark-sordid">{{Citation|title=That Car Park: The sordid details|date=c. October 1975|publisher=[[Warwick SU]]|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=11 (digital: 13)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/HB/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/11/10}}</ref>

=== Union Building saga ===
{{see also|Campaign for the Students' Union Building}}
{{see also|Warwick Students' Union 1974 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre}}
The [[Senate House]] occupation was not the first occupation of the acadenmic 1974-1975 year. At this time, the [[Students' Union Building]] was not yet open, with negotiations still ongoing with the University about finances and the division of space between students and staff. In 1974, these negotiations included disagreements on the Union appointing its own staff, and with the University witholding funds from the Union. This led to [[Warwick Students' Union 1974 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre|an occupation of the newly-built and about-to-be-opened Warwick Arts Centre in October 1974]], with the goal of disrupting the opening if the University didn't negotiate. The University did negotiate so the occupation was called off after 2 days and the opening was not disrupted.<ref>{{Citation|title=Drawing the Line|date=1974-10-10|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/195/rec/4|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Ray Earwicker|issue=19|page=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924235532/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/195/rec/4|archive-date=2025-09-25|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/19|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/19}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Occupation: What Really Happened|date=1974-10-17|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/204/rec/9|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Ray Earwicker|issue=20|page=2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924233556/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/205/rec/9|archive-date=2025-09-25|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/39|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/20}}</ref><ref name="messy-business"/><ref name="union-building">{{Citation|title=The Union Building|author=Nita Bowes|date=c. October 1975|publisher=[[Warwick SU]]|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=9 (digital: 11)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/HB/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/11/10}}</ref> These negotiations, while not directly linked to this occupation, were always present in the background, with the possible suspension of negotiations a considerable side-consequence of the occupation.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/>

=== The 1975 rent strike ===
{{see also|Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike}}
University [[accommodation]] fell under the remit of a nation-wide rent freeze until the start of 1975.<ref>{{Citation|title=Oh, What A Lovely Term|date=1974-12-05|author=Ray Earwicker|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/259/rec/189|access-date=2025-08-16|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Ray Earwicker|issue=27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250815235844/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/259/rec/189|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/27|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/27}}</ref> This meant that, for the first term of the 1974-1975 academic year, rents were frozen at a level deemed to be affordable. However, while the freeze continued for other types housing, the rent freeze ended for student accommodation at the start of the second term.<ref>{{Citation|title=The Rent Strike|date=1974-12-05|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/263/rec/189|access-date=2025-08-16|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Ray Earwicker|issue=27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002139/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/263/rec/189|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=6|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/27|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/27}}</ref> The [[university]] was making a loss on accommodation at this time due to the loan-based system through which most accommodation blocks were financed.<ref name="reactions-rent-strike">{{citation|title = Reactions to the Rent Strike |author = Rolph Schwarzenberger |periodical = ''[[University Opinion]]'' 1974-5 |work-ital = no |issue = 3 |date = January 1975 |page = 1-3 |archive-centre = [[Modern Records Centre]] |archive-collection = [[University of Warwick Archive]] |archive-ref = UWA/PUB/OP/5/3 |archive-ref-url = https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/15/4/37}}</ref> Hence, following the end of the rent freeze, rents were increased. The increases are sumarised below:<ref name="cost-mooching-scum">{{Citation|title=The cost of being the Mooching Scum|date=c. October 1975|publisher=[[Warwick SU]]|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|access-date=2025-08-16|work=[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=11 (digital: 13)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/HB/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/11/10}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! Accommodation type !! Weekly rents in term 1 !! Weekly rents in terms 2 & 3 !! Increase !! Percentage increase (1 d.p.)
|-
! [[Rootes (accommodation)|Rootes]] Hall self-catered with cleaning
| £4.92 || £6.50 || £1.58 || 31.1%
|-
! [[Tocil]] Flats, [[Whitefields]], [[Cryfield]] Flats self-catered
| £3.99 || £5.40 || £1.41 || 35.3%
|-
! [[Cryfield]] Hall included 5 evening meals per week
| £6.18 || £7.90 || £1.72 || 27.8%
|-
! Average !! £5.03 !! £6.60 !! £1.57 !! 31.2%
|}

These increases were considered too much by the student population, who argued that it wasn't inline with recent 1974 increase to the student grant of 25%.{{note|name=grant|At this time, students received a grant which they did not have to pay back, instead of a loan.}}{{note|There are arguments to be made that this increase was fair. These arguments looked at the average price of rent across the entire year, which worked out to a roughly 25% increase from the previous year, inline with the grants.<ref name="reactions-rent-strike"/> See [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike]] for more details.}}<ref name="cost-mooching-scum"/><ref>{{citation|title = Rents: the Union states its case |author = Penny Mead |periodical = ''[[University Opinion]]'' 1974-5 |work-ital = no |issue = 3 |date = January 1975 |page = 4-5 |archive-centre = [[Modern Records Centre]] |archive-collection = [[University of Warwick Archive]] |archive-ref = UWA/PUB/OP/5/3 |archive-ref-url = https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/15/4/37}}</ref><ref>{{citation|title = The Rent Strike: An Alternative Staff View |author = James Hinton |periodical = ''[[University Opinion]]'' 1974-5 |work-ital = no |issue = 4 |date = March 1975 |page = 1-3 |archive-centre = [[Modern Records Centre]] |archive-collection = [[University of Warwick Archive]] |archive-ref = UWA/PUB/OP/5/4 |archive-ref-url = https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/15/4/38}}</ref> Moreover, the University operated a system by which it would loan itself money from its [[Foundation Appeal Fund]] in order to build new accommodation, and then pay interest to itself on this loan. Many students felt that this system artificially raised rent prices.<ref>{{Citation|title=That Figures|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817000544/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref><ref name="butterworth-interview">{{Citation|title=Are You Still All Right Jack?A|author=David Wilby|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817000544/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=3|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref><ref name="reactions-rent-strike"/> Hence, in a [[Union General Meeting]] on Tuesday 2 December 1974, it was decided to begin [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike|a rent strike]] from the start of term 2.<ref>{{Citation|title=Rent Strike Go Ahead|date=1974-12-05|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/263/rec/189|access-date=2025-08-16|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Ray Earwicker|issue=27|page=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816122829/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/263/rec/189|archive-date=2025-08-16|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/27|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/27}}</ref>

== Events of the occupation ==
=== Initial vote and action ===
By the start of term 3, over 1200 students were part of the rent strike. However, members of the [[SU]] Executive had concerns over potentially victimisation of students involved. In particular, the [[university]] threatened to deny accommodation for the next academic year for those part of the strike, and even to deny degrees to those graduating who were participating. Over the Easter break, the executive discussed the optionas available to them and eventually decided to propose an occupation of [[Senate House]] and the [[Telephone Exchange]]. Sure enough, on the first day of term 3, Monday 21 April, a [[Union General Meeting]] (UGM) attended by over 700 students in the [[Aiport Lounge]] (one of the main social spaces at the time) voted to occupy the two buildings until the following four demands were met:
# freeze the term 2 rent,
# negotiate the term 3 tent,
# have no victimisation,
# keep the rent strike separate from other issues.
During the meeting, a student named Mike Adam adopted a devil's advocate position, warning the student body of the potential negative outcomes of the occupation. These included the possibilities of:
* payments of grants being delayed - while the motion did not propose to occupy the [[Finance Office]], it could be assumed that the administration would abandon the building entirely, even the un-occuped portions;
* the on-campus postal service being delayed;
* examinations being delayed or canceled;
* staff wages being payed late.
[[File:1975 Senate House occupation entry.jpg|thumb|right|Students entering [[Senate House]] through an open window.<ref name="window-photo"/>]]
Despite these concerns, the motion passed roughly 5 to 1.<ref name="united-action">{{Citation|title=United Action By Exec.|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817000544/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref>

Following the UGM, roughly 400 students marched on Senate House.<ref name="united-action"/> Writing in 2004, Professor [[Christopher Zeeman|Zeeman]], said that the students were able to gain access to the building by climbing in through the ventilation fan of the [[Vice-Chancellor]]'s private toilet, which had been added to the otherwise fortress-like building as an afterthought.<ref name="zeeman-history"/> This could be a misremembering of the events as ''[[The Warwick Boar]]'' No. 37 (a special edition devoted almost entirely to the occupation) claimed instead that the students initially gained entry through an open window.<ref name="united-action"/> The attached photo<ref name="window-photo">{{Citation|title=[[The Warwick Boar]]|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/365/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817001723/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/365/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref> shows students going through a window into the Vice-Chancellor's offices,<ref name="architecutral-review">{{Citation|title=Arts Centre and Administration Building, University of Warwick|date=May 1975|work=The Architectural Review|volume=CLVII|issue=939|page=270|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/PC/1/15|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/6/1/15}}</ref>{{note|The upper portion of the window shown in the photo is 3 bricks tall, and the window meets a wall to it's left at a 90° angle. The only window matching this description on the building is currently borded up, but is located on the second floor and looks into what used to be part of the Vice-Chancellor's offices.<ref name="architecutral-review"/>}} partially corroborating Zeeman's story. Further according to ''[[The Warwick Boar]]'' No. 37, these students were then hand-led away from doors they were trying to open by Professor Mykura, and the Vice-Chancellor, [[Jack Butterworth]], nearly slapped a camera out of the hands of a student trying to record the events.

By 2:30pm, Senate House had been successfully occupied and the first occupation meeting was held. In this meeting, Pat Denny and Mike Adams were elected to Union negoatiating comitee, alongside the SU's president, secretary and treasurer.<ref name="united-action"/> Throughout the occupation, a Union General Meeting would be held every day at 6pm.<ref>{{Citation|title=[[The Warwick Boar]]|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/367/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817001723/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/365/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=4|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref>

=== Early days ===
[[File:1975 Senate House occupation UGM 1.jpg|thumb|left|An early [[Union General Meeting]] held outside (and on top off) [[Senate House]].<ref name="ugm-photo-1">{{Citation|title=[[The Warwick Boar]]|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/365/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817001723/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/365/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=4|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref>]]
On Tuesday morning, the day following the occupation's start, a [[Steering Committee]] was held, with Nita Bowes and Pat Denny delegated to attend and represent the students. Their request for the power to be turned on in [[Senate House]] was denied under the reasoning that the building was closed. Their assurance that the Union was willing to listen to any representation from the University was met with silence.

On Wednesday morning, a meeting of the [[Senate]] was held. In the hour prior to the admittance of student represenatives, the academics on the Senate had met, and several had reluctantly decided to support the University. One academic Senator said "in a time of economic stringency Jack [Butterworth, Vice-Chancellor] delivers the financial goods" and "any academic who wishes to see his department receive a share of the income of this University is well advised to steer clear of any suspicions that he is sympathetic to the students claim". The SU President and the Student Senator, Simon Yates, were accompanied to the meeting by two student observers, Bill Nottage and Nita Bowes. A third observer was refused admission. The students intended to open a discussion of the University's system of finances, claiming that the system where the University pays interest on payments between internal University accounts was raising rents unnecessarily. However, the Vice-Chancellor and the Finance Officer shut this topic of discussion down and, despite several [[Council]] members asking for it to continue, a motion from Professor Griffiths was passed 27 to 2, stating that the question of rent levels had already be discussed heavily and that negotiations would not be re-opened for that year's rent. The motion also stated that negotiations on next year's rent could only commence as usual if the Students' Union left Senate House.

Following this meeting, it was decided, in a SU Executive meeting, to recommend to that evening's Union General Meeting that the occupation continue, and to call for the release of grant cheques for the term,{{note|name=grant}} and to release the Union's funds for the term. In that evening's Union meeting, the motion passed with over 1000 students voting in favour out of the roughly 1200 present. This included the rejection of an ammended motion put forward by a student named Linda Ross that argued that it was in the students' best interest to call off the occupation due to the inevitability of educational expenditure cut backs. This position was rebuked in a speech by Union Secretary Nita Bowes which argued that the educational cutbacks should be opposed, and that to not do so would be to overturn years of Union policy based on the principle that education is a right, not a privelage.<ref name="united-action"/>

=== Immediate support and impacts ===
''[[The Warwick Boar]]'', operating independently from the [[Students' Union]], supported the occupation.<ref>{{Citation|title=Time To Take a Stand|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817000544/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref> Moreover, the staff trade unions largely remained neutral or supported the occupation. The [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] passed a motion supporting the rent strike. [[NALGO]] addopted a neutral position. The [[AUT]] had not resolved anything by the publication of ''[[The Warwick Boar]]'' No. 37.<ref name="united-action"/> However, the Vice-Chancellor, Jack Butterworth, claimed that NALGO refused to let its members enter [[Senate House]] during the occupation.<ref name="butterworth-interview"/>

Despite concerns that the University's postal service would be disrupted, it remained active from its base in [[Rootes Hall]] (now known as Rootes Social Building]]). However, the University had witheld the Students' Union's termly funds, and grant cheques were not being payed.{{note|name=grant}} This was despite the fact that the Finance Office in Senate House remained unoccupied, and despite the setting up of an emergency [[Finance Office]] in [[F3.14]] in the [[Engineering Block]]. This lack of grant cheque payments was considered illegal by the Students' Union, and so, on Friday 25 April, a write was served on Vice-Chancellor Butterworth and Mr. Rowe-Evans, the University Secretary. If uncontested, this would have meant grants would have to be payed to students somehow on Monday 28 April, one week after the start of term. If contested, this would lead to an injunction being heard in the High Court on Tuesday 29 April.<ref name="united-action"/> However, Butterworth didn't feel that any judge would allow the distrubution of grants due to NALGO's refusal to enter Senate House.<ref name="butterworth-interview"/> Indeed, the University took this up in court, and was winning.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/> The University also began seeking a reposession order against the students to dispell them from Senate House.<ref name="messy-business">{{Citation|title=A Messy Business|date=1975-10-07|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Gary Vaux, Dave Wilby, and Godfrey Rust|issue=39|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/39|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/39}}</ref><ref name="costs-confrontation"/>

Moreover, while none of the exams scheduled for the week of the occupation were affected,<ref name="united-action"/> in an intervew for ''[[The Warwick Boar]]'', Professor Phillips-Griffiths warned that there could be a "complete breakdown of the examination system", and Vice-Chancellor Butterworth agreed. This was, at least in part, due to the tight schedule of external examiners, who were required for the marking of finalists' exams. This meant that finalists may not have been able to take their final exams, and so would have had to leave university without a degree, potentially taking their exams the year after instead.<ref name="butterworth-interview"/> Another issue with exams was that, to run them, it would have required the removal of a significant amount of paperwork from Senate House, including 3,300 personal files and examination cards. This would have been impractical,<ref name="costs-confrontation">{{Citation|title=The Costs of Confrontation|author=Mike Adams|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/372/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref> even with the occupiers allowing the University access to this paperwork.<ref>{{Citation|title=Nit-Picketing|author=Rob Walker|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/372/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=4|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref>
[[File:1975 Senate House occupation UGM 2.jpg|thumb|right|A Union General Meeting held on 8 May 1975 outside [[Senate House]].<ref name="occupation-photos">{{Citation|title=Occupation Photos|author=Jake|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/372/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=6|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref>]]

=== Beginning of the end ===
Around two weeks into the occupation, little progress had been made, and a proposal was put forward in an occupation executive meeting to withdraw. This was shot down, although the SU President, Kasper de Graaf, confided to Mike Adams that he had already decided to withdraw once the exam cancellations became iminent.

On 4 May 1975, a member of the [[Steering Committee]] told Mike Adams, who, on the 5th, subsiquently informed other members of the Union and occupation executive, that a number of concessions would be made if the Union withdrew immediately. The other executive members agreed immediately that they would propose an executive motion to withdraw if assurances of the following concessions could be gained in writing:
* dropping of the £3 fee for late payment of accommodation costs,
* immediate accommodation forms (for the next academic year) for all rent strikers,
* no [[Finance and General Purpose Committee]] procedures to be taken against rent strikers.
At 12:30pm on 5 May, it was assured by word that a written assurance would be given at 9:30am on 6 May. However, by 1pm on the 5th, the SU President, Kasper de Graaf, had been convinced by the Union Secretary, Nita Bowes, that his initial decision was wrong. Instead, a motion to fight the injunction to remove the students from Senate House was passed at a subsequent Union General Meeting.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/>

=== End of the occupation ===
[[File:1975 Senate House occupation police 1.jpg|thumb|left|Police at [[Senate House]].<ref name="thrown-out"/>]]
The University succeeded in obtaining a reposession order for [[Senate House]], requiring the student occupiers to leave.<ref name="messy-business">{{Citation|title=A Messy Business|date=1975-10-07|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Gary Vaux, Dave Wilby, and Godfrey Rust|issue=39|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/39|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/39}}</ref><ref name="costs-confrontation"/> Students found out about this order and prepared for 30 to 40 police offiers to arrive to carry out it out.<ref name="thrown-out">{{Citation|title=Thrown Out!|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref> On 15 May 1975,<ref name="events-april-may">{{Citation|title=The Events of April and May 1975|author=Nita Bowes|date=c. October 1975|publisher=[[Warwick SU]]|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=7 (digital: 9)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/HB/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/11/10}}</ref> after 3.5 weeks of occupation, scouting parties were sent out to the nearby Fletchampstead Highway Police Station. These reported back a force of several coaches parked at the rugby grounds opposite the [[Canley College of Education]].{{note|[[Canley College of Education]] used to be a separate institution from the [[University of Warwick]]. However, in 1978, it merged with the University to become the [[Westwood Campus]].}} Sleeping bags and other items were collected so that the occupiers were ready to leave. A constant telephone link was maintained between Senate House and the [[University Telephone Exchange]], which was also occupied.

At 7:30am, 12 coaches full of police officers arived outside [[Whitefields]] opposite Senate House.<ref name="thrown-out"/> The total number of police was over 500.<ref name="events-april-may"/> The executive asked the police for 5 minutes while the occupiers gathered their possessions, which was largely a show of bravery as all possessions had already been collected together. None of the people explicitly named in the writ were present at the time, meaning no arrests were made. Moreover, the repossession order only applied to Senate House and so the police were unable to stop the students marching into the [[Arts Centre]] and beginning another occupation. Once the students had emptied out, the police conducted a search of the building and then left.

At the [[University Telephone Exchange]], two coaches of police arrived and the student occupiers left peacefully.<ref name="thrown-out"/>

== Aftermath ==
=== Arts Centre occupation ===
{{see also|Warwick Students' Union 1975 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre}}
The repossession order which allowed the University to expell the student occupiers from [[Senate House]] on 15 May 1975 did not apply to any other buildings. Hence, the students were able to move directly into [[Warwick Arts Centre]],<ref name="thrown-out"/> which they continued to occupy for another week.<ref name="events-april-may"/> On Monday 19 May, a motion to continue picketing Senate House was passed, although with a number of abstentions. This was an ammended motion, the original one from the Executive instead proposing to switch to a mass lobby. It was also decided to continue occupying the Arts Centre, pending a decision from the [[Senate]].<ref>{{Citation|title=U.G.M.|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/372/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref> The Director of the Arts Centre, Alwyne Scrase-Dickens, estimated that this brief occupation set the Arts Centre back 6 months.<ref>{{Citation|title=Occupation hits the Arts Centre|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/377/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925114859/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/377/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-25|page=9|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref>

=== Rents and the strike ===
Ultimately, the rent strike and occupations were unsuccesful, with rents rising further at the start of the 1975-1976 academic year:<ref name="cost-mooching-scum"/>
{| class="wikitable"
! Accommodation type !! Weekly rents in 1975 terms 2 & 3 !! Weekly rents in 1975 term 1 !! Increase !! Percentage increase (1 d.p.)
|-
! [[Rootes (accommodation)|Rootes]] Hall self-catered with cleaning
| £6.50 || £7.60 || £1.10 || 16.9%
|-
! [[Tocil]] Flats, [[Whitefields]], [[Cryfield]] Flats self-catered
| £5.40 || £6.31 || £0.91 || 16.9%
|-
! [[Cryfield]] Hall included 5 evening meals per week
| £7.90 || £9.22 || £1.32 || 16.7%
|-
! Average !! £6.60 !! £7.71 !! £1.11 !! 16.8%
|}
Indeed, in the first [[Union General Meeting]] of the next academic year, it was decided to continue the [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike|rent strike]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Mulley To Visit Warwick|date=1975-10-07|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/380/rec/1|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=40|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925104410/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/380/rec/1|archive-date=2025-09-25|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/40|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/40}}</ref> However, it was called off not long into term 2.<ref>{{Citation|title=Dixon makes a mark|date=1976-01-15|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/495/rec/7|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=48|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925105235/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/495/rec/7|archive-date=2025-09-25|page=3|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/40|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/48}}</ref>

=== Damages and costs ===
A report was produced detailing the extent of the damage done to [[Senate House]] during the occupation.<ref name="damage-report">{{Citation|title=Damage Report|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref> Had the Union withdrew in early May, the student population would have had equal representation on the damage committee. However, as the occupation didm't end here, this was not the case.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/> The [[Registry]] staff who worked in Senate House were suprised by the lack of damage. The damage report included minor damages such as wax stains from candles, cigarette burns, and broken locks, but the Union was let off other points. One of the major complaints was that a 16-year-old cactus in the building had been killed. The Union was considering buying the owner a new one.<ref name="damage-report"/>

Moreover, the Union was presented with a bill from the bailiffs, possibly running into the thousands of pounds, a bill of around £8,000 for the cost of the police action, and 25% of the costs of two legal actions.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/> Due primarily to these costs and the overall costs of the [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike|rent strike]], the Union was set to make a loss for the year.<ref name="union-news">{{Citation|title=Union News|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/371/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925144002/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/371/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=3|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref>

=== Other impacts ===
As well as the direct financial implications, the occupation also caused a suspension of the then still ongoing talks on the [[Union Building]], as well as a suspension of the talks over the remaning money from the "capitation fee", totaling £20,000, that the University had witheld from the Union at the start of the year and which sparked the initial [[Warwick Students' Union 1974 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre|Arts Centre occupation]] of the year.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/> £14,000 of this money was desparately needed for the Union Building to open at the start of the next academic year.<ref name="union-news"/> Moreover, running the Union Building required an increased capitation fee for the upcoming academic year, and talks on securing this were also suspended.

Moreover, the occupation resulted in a delay, described by Mike Adams as "possibly fatal", in establishing an inquiry into the multi-storey carpark.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/> Indeed, by the start of the next academic year, no inquiry or investigation had occured.<ref name="carpark-sordid"/>

== Gallery ==
<gallery widths=250px heights=250px>
1975 Senate House occupation entry.jpg|Students entering [[Senate House]] through an open window.<ref name="window-photo"/>
1975 Senate House occupation UGM 1.jpg|An early [[Union General Meeting]] held outside (and on top off) Senate House.<ref name="ugm-photo-1"/>
1975 Senate House occupation UGM 2.jpg|A Union General Meeting held on 8 May 1975 outside Senate House.<ref name="occupation-photos"/>
1975 Senate House occupation UGM 3.jpg|Voting at a Union General Meeting held on 8 May 1975 outside Senate House.<ref name="occupation-photos"/>
1975 Senate House occupation UGM 4.jpg|A Union General Meeting held outside Senate House.<ref name="messy-business"/>
File:1975 Senate House occupation students.jpg|Students outside Senate House.<ref name="events-april-may"/>
1975 Senate House occupation police arrive.jpg|Police arrive opposite Senate House.<ref name="occupation-photos"/>
1975 Senate House occupation police 1.jpg|Police at Senate House.<ref name="thrown-out"/>
1975 Senate House occupation police 2.jpg|Police at Senate House.<ref name="thrown-out"/>
1975 Senate House occupation police 3.jpg|Police kicking students out of Senate House.<ref name="occupation-photos"/>
1975 Senate House occupation banner uncropped.jpg|A banner displayed outside Senate House during the occupation.<ref>{{Citation|title=[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]|date=c. October 1975|publisher=[[Warwick SU]]|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|access-date=2025-09-24|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=11 (digital: 13)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/HB/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/11/10}}</ref>
1975 Senate House occupation banner.jpg|Cropped banner.<ref>{{Citation|title=[[The Warwick Boar]]|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925145924/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref>
1975 Senate House occupation lone figure.jpg|A lone figure on top of Senate House during the occupation.<ref name="united-action"/>
1975 Senate House occupation cartoon.jpg|A cartoon jokingly representing how students gained entry to Senate House.<ref name="events-april-may"/>
</gallery>

== Footnoes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Warwick Students' Union occupations]]
[[Category:Events from the 1974-1975 academic year]]

Accommodation room naming

2025-10-05T22:17:00Z

AlfieG:

The way that '''student accommodation rooms are named''' varies between accommodation types. This page details the formats used for rooms in addresses: that is, how they appear on the [[Post Room website]]'s [https://postroom.warwick.ac.uk/my-address/ "my address" page].

In general, room names begin with a prefix that identifies which accommodation type it is. These prefixes are listed alphabeticaly below:
{| class="wikitable"
! Prefix !! Accommodation type
|-
|AV || [[#Author Vick|Author Vick]]
|-
|CC || [[#Claycroft|Claycroft]]
|-
|CH || [[#Cryfield|Cryfield]]
|-
|HB || [[#Heronbank|Heronbank]]
|-
|LS || [[#Lakeside|Lakeside]]
|-
|RR || [[#Rootes|Rootes]]
|-
|SH || [[#Sherbourne|Sherbourne]]
|-
|TO || [[#Tocil|Tocil]]
|-
|WW || [[#Westwood|Westwood]]
|-
|''tba'' || [[#Benefactors|Benefactors]]
|-
|''tba'' || [[#Bluebell|Bluebell]]
|-
|''tba'' || [[#Jack Martin|Jack Martin]]
|}

== Author Vick ==
Rooms in [[Author Vick]] are named in the following format:
<pre>AV<block number>.<floor number><room number></pre>
There are three blocks. The floor number is given to one digit. The room number is padded to two digits.

For example, AV1.203 would be block 1, floor 2, room 3.

== Benefactors ==
''to be added''

== Bluebell ==
''to be added''

== Claycroft ==
Rooms in [[Claycroft]] are named in the following format:
<pre>CC<block number>/<flat number><room number></pre>
There are three blocks, each containing 30 flats. Flat numbers are given to two digits, and room numbers to one digit.

For example, CC1/203 would be block 1, flat 2, room 3.

== Cryfield ==
Cryfield is split into three types. Blocks are numbered continuously between them. Block 1-3 are [[#Cryfield Standard|Cryfield Standard]]. Blocks ''tba'' are [[#Cryfield Towhouses|Cryfield Towhouses]]. Blocks ''tba'' are [[#Cryfield Appartments|Cryfield Appartments]].

=== Cryfield Appartments ===
''to be added''

=== Cryfield Standard ===
Rooms in [[Cryfield Standard]] are named in the following format:
<pre>CH<block number>/<floor number><room number></pre>
Room number is always padded to two digits.

For example, CH3/001 would be block 3, floor 0, room 1.

=== Cryfield Townhouses ===
Rooms in [[Cryfield Townhouses]] are named in the following format:
<pre>CH<block number>/<flat letter><room number></pre>
Room number is always padded to two digits.

For example, CH11/B02 would be block 11, flat B, room 2.

== Heronbank ==
Rooms in [[Heronbank]] are labelled in the following format:
<pre>HB<flat number>.<room number></pre>
Flat numbers are shared with [[#Lakeside|Lakeside]]. Flats 76-136 are in the [[Heronbank#North and East Courts|North and East Courts]], and flats 137-163 are in [[Heronbank#West Court|West Court]].

For example, HB100.2 would be flat 100 (in the North and East Courts block), room 2.

== Jack Martin ==
''to be added''

== Lakeside ==
Rooms in [[Lakeside (accommodation)|Lakeside]] are labelled in the following format:
<pre>LS<block number>.<flat number><room number></pre>
Flat numbers are padded to two digits and are shared with [[#Heronbank|Heronbank]]. Blocks 1 and 2 are located in the same building, and block 3 and 4 are located in another building. Flats are spread between blocks in the following way:
{| class="wikitable"
! Block || 1 || 2 || 3 || 4
|-
! Flats
| 01-19 || 20-37 || 38-56 || 57-75
|}

For example, LS1.191 would be block 1 (in the blocks 1 and 2 building), flat 19, room 1.

== Rootes ==
Rooms in [[Rootes (accommodation)|Rootes]] are labelled in the following format:
<pre>RR<block letter><room number></pre>
Room numbers are padded to two digits. Blocks are grouped in the following way:
{| class="wikitable
| A to C || D to H || I || J to L || M to P
|}
Blocks A to H are in "Old" Rootes. Block I is [[International House]]. Blocks J to P are in "New" Rootes.

For example, RRA01 would be block A (in the Rootes A to C building), room 1.

== Sherbourne ==
Rooms in [[Sherbourne]] are labelled in the following format:
<pre>SH<flat number>.<room number></pre>
The flat number is padded to two digits. These flats are then split across 9 blocks. Block 1-6 are in [[Sherbourne#"Old" Sherbourne|"Old" Sherbourne]], while blocks 7-9 are in [[Sherbourne#"New" Sherbourne|"New" Sherbourne]]. The flats in each block are given below:
{| class="wikitable"
! Block || 1 || 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 6 || 7 || 8 || 9
|-
! Flats
| 01-08 || 09-16 || 17-24 || 25-32 || 33-39 || 40-47 || 48-55 || 56-63 || 64-71
|}

For example, SH01.2 would be flat 1 (in block 1), room 2.

== Tocil ==
Rooms in [[Tocil]] are labelled in the following format:
<pre>TO<flat number><room letter></pre>
Flat numbers are padded to two digits. Flats are split between blocks in the following way:
{| class="wikitable"
| 01-06 || 07-12 || 13-18 || 19-24 || 35-30 || 31-36 & 37-42 (connected) || 43-48 || 49-54 & 55-60 (connected)
|}

For example, TO01B would be flat 1 (in the 01-06 block), room B.

== Westwood ==
Rooms in [[Westwood (accommodation)|Westwood]] are labelled in the following format:
<pre>WW<block letter><floor number><room number></pre>
Room number is padded to two digits. The block letter is the first letter of the block's name: [[Arden]] is "A", and [[Felden]] is "F".

For example, WWA112 would be [[Arden]], floor 1, room 12.

== Footnotes ==
{{notelist}}

[[Category:Articles]]

Room naming systems

2025-10-05T22:14:37Z

AlfieG: /* List of prefixes */

'''Room naming''' at the [[University of Warwick]] is messy and inconsistent. This page is an attempt to outline the various systems used. It does not attempt to outline the many unique and individual names that are also used across campus.

== "Prefix system" ==
The most common system for room naming is to name rooms in the following format
<pre>
<prefix><floor>.<room number>
</pre>
The prefix usually refers to a specific building, but can sometimes refer to a specific wing of a building. In these cases, the room name may not be unique. The ground floor of buildings are usually labelled "0" with subsequent floors labelled by their numerical digit. Room numbers are typically padded with a leading "0" to two digits. Some rooms have a letter after their room number.

Some buildings and rooms use a similar prefix-based format:
<pre>
<prefix><room number>
</pre>

Other slight variations exist.

=== List of prefixes ===
This list does not include accomodation blocks, although those use a similar prefix system.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Prefix !! Building !! Notes
|-
|rowspan=5|A
|[[Gibbet Hill Academic Building]]
|
|-
|[[Millburn House]]
|Used in the side of the building closest to [[iHouse]].
|-
|[[Science Block A]] ([[Engineering Building]])
|Rooms are named in the standard format but without the ".".<ref>{{Citation|title=Science Block A, Science Block A, Central Campus|publisher=[[MazeMap]]|login=Warwick|url=https://link.mazemap.com/q3x4iqfW|access-date=2025-08-13|work=the [[campus map]]|work-ital=no}}</ref><ref name="engineering-people">{{Citation|title=Academic and Research Staff|date=2024-09-03|author=Peter Lever|url=https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/eng/people/ars/|access-date=2025-08-13|via=warwick.ac.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250813202420/https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/eng/people/ars/|archive-date=2025-08-13}}</ref>
|-
|[[Social Science FME]]
|
|-
|[[Zeeman Building]]
|Used in the south-west portion of the building.
|-
|AC
|[[Argent Court]]
|
|-
|rowspan=4|B
|[[Gibbet Hill Academic Building]]
|
|-
|[[Science Block B]] ([[Science Concourse]])
|Rooms on floors other than floors two and three with this prefix in this block are named without the ".".<ref>{{Citation|title=Science Block B, Science Block B, Central Campus|publisher=[[MazeMap]]|login=Warwick|url=https://link.mazemap.com/EI3aimcZ|access-date=2025-08-13|work=the [[campus map]]|work-ital=no}}</ref>
|-
|[[Social sciences B and C]]
|-
|[[Zeeman Building]]
|Used in the south-east portion of the building, and for all rooms on the third floor.
|-
|rowspan=2|BSR
|[[Biomedical Research Building]]
|Just used in this building for [[BSR1]] and [[BSR2]].
|-
|[[Gibbet Hill Academic Building]]
|This building contains [[BSR2]]-[[BSR6]].
|-
|rowspan=4|C
|[[Gibbet Hill Academic Building]]
|Some rooms on the first floor in this part of the building are named in the format "<tt>C1.XX.X</tt>" where each "<tt>X</tt>" is a digit.
|-
|[[Science Block C]]
|
|-
|[[Social Sciences B and C]]
|
|-
|[[Zeeman Building]]
|Used in the north-west portion of the building.
|-
|CMR
|[[University House]]
|On the [[campus map]], rooms in this building are named with a space between the prefix and the floor number.<ref>{{Citation|title=University House, University House, Central Campus|publisher=[[MazeMap]]|login=Warwick|url=https://link.mazemap.com/9gytavSo|access-date=2025-08-13|work=the [[campus map]]|work-ital=no}}</ref>
|-
|CS
|[[Computer Science Building]]
|Within the building, room names are often given without the prefix or ".".
|-
|rowspan=4|D
|[[Biomedical Research Building]]
|Rooms are named in the standard format but without the ".".<ref>{{Citation|title=Biomedical Research, Biomedical Research, Central Campus|publisher=[[MazeMap]]|login=Warwick|url=https://link.mazemap.com/FIOC2lDZ|access-date=2025-08-13|work=the [[campus map]]|work-ital=no}}</ref>
|-
|[[Science Block D]] ([[Engineering Building]])
|The [[campus map]] uses the standard format but, within the [[School of Engineering]], the "." is usually omitted.<ref name="engineering-people"/>
|-
|[[Social Sciences D and E]]
|
|-
|[[Zeeman Building]]
|Used in the north-east portion of the building.
|-
|rowspan=3|E
|[[Biomedical Research Building]]
|Rooms are named in the standard format but without the ".".<ref>{{Citation|title=Biomedical Research, Biomedical Research, Central Campus|publisher=[[MazeMap]]|login=Warwick|url=https://link.mazemap.com/FIOC2lDZ|access-date=2025-08-13|work=the [[campus map]]|work-ital=no}}</ref>
|-
|[[Science Block E]]
|
|-
|[[Social Sciences D and E]]
|
|-
|ESB
|[[Science Block F]] ([[Engineering Building]])
|Used for the three [[Engineering Build Space]] rooms. Unusually, the room numbers for these rooms are all given to one digit, not two.
|-
|rowspan=2|F
|[[Millburn House]]
|Rooms with this prefix in Milburn House are named in the format "<tt>F<number></tt>". "F" likely stands for "first floor" as all rooms with this prefix are found on the first floor (with rooms on the ground floor using a corresponding "G" prefix).
|-
|[[Science Block F]]
|The [[campus map]] uses the standard format but, within the [[School of Engineering]], the "." is usually omitted.<ref name="engineering-people"/>
|-
|FAB
|[[Faculty of Arts Building]]
|The Faculty of Arts Building has a "mezzanine" floor which is labeled "M0" in place of a number.
|-
|rowspan=2|G
|[[Millburn House]]
|Rooms with this prefix in Milburn House are named in the format "<tt>G<number></tt>". "G" likely stands for "ground floor" as all rooms with this prefix are found on the ground floor (with rooms on the first floor using a corresponding "F" prefix).
|-
|[[Science Block G]]
|Rooms with this prefix in this block are named without the ".".<ref>{{Citation|title=Science Block G, Science Block G, Central Campus|publisher=[[MazeMap]]|login=Warwick|url=https://link.mazemap.com/iMIZzGIA|access-date=2025-08-13|work=the [[campus map]]|work-ital=no}}</ref> The basement floor (as determined by the [[campus map]]) has the floor number "0", the ground floor has the floor number "1", and the first floor has the floor number "2".
|-
|GLT
|[[Gibbet Hill Academic Building]]
|Used for [[GLT1]], [[GLT2]], [[GLT3]] and [[GLT4]].
|-
|rowspan=2|H
|[[Humanities Building]]
|
|-
|[[Humanities Extension]]
|
|-
|IBR
|[[Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building]]
|The Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building has a basement floor, which uses "B" in place of a number in room names.
|-
|IH
|[[Institute House]]
|Other than [[IH0.01]], all rooms in this building named with the prefix method use the format "<tt>IH0.01<letter></tt>".
|-
|IHX
|[[iHouse]]
|
|-
|IMC
|[[International Manufacturing Centre]]
|
|-
|JX
|[[Junction]]
|
|-
|rowspan=4|L
|[[Engineering Management Building]]
|
|-
|[[Library]]
|Used for [[L2.07 (Library)|L2.07]], [[L2.22 (Library)|L2.22]] and [[L2.23 (Library)|L2.23]]. All three of these rooms are named without the "L" or "." on the [[campus map]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Library, Library, Central Campus|publisher=[[MazeMap]]|login=Warwick|url=https://link.mazemap.com/BbZujwDZ|access-date=2025-08-13|work=the [[campus map]]|work-ital=no}}</ref>
|-
|[[Mechanochemical Cell Biology Building]]
|The ground floor of this building, as given by the [[campus map]], is labelled as floor "1", while the first floor is "2".<ref>{{Citation|title=Mechanochemical Cell Biology, Mechanochemical Cell Biology, Central Campus|publisher=[[MazeMap]]|login=Warwick|url=https://link.mazemap.com/KmxVxyFd|access-date=2025-08-13|work=the [[campus map]]|work-ital=no}}</ref>
|-
|[[Science Block E]]
|Used for [[L3]], [[L4]] and [[L5]].
|-
|LIB
|[[Library]]
|Used for [[LIB1]] and [[LIB2]].
|-
|rowspan=3|M
|[[Gibbet Hill Academic Building]]
|This part of the Gibbet Hill Academic Building has a basement, which is labelled with "B" in room names.
|-
|[[Radcliffe House]]
|Used both for [[M1]]-[[M4]] on the ground floor, and in the conventional way on the first floor.
|-
|[[Senate House]]
|Used for some rooms on the third floor above the main entrance.
|-
|MAS
|[[Materials and Analytical Sciences Building]]
|The ground floor (as viewed by the [[campus map]]) is given the floor number "1" with further floors continuing the pattern.
|-
|MB
|[[Mathematical Sciences Building]]
|The ground floor (as viewed by the [[campus map]]) is given the floor number "1" with further floors continuing the pattern.
|-
|MD
|[[Medical Teaching Centre]]
|
|-
|rowspan=2|MR
|[[University House]]
|Unusually, the room numbers for these rooms are all given to one digit, not two.
|-
|[[University House Annex]]
|Just used for [[MR1.9]].
|-
|MS
|[[Zeeman Building]]
|Rooms named with this prefix do not have a floor number. Used for the main five lecture theatres in the building. In some Warwick systems, the third floor "<tt>B3.XX</tt>" rooms are referred to as "<tt>MS.B3.XX</tt>" or "<tt>MS_B3.XX</tt>", but this is decreasingly common.<ref "maths-ughandbook-locations">{{Citation|title=Lectures|date=2024-09-21|author=[[Academic Technologist of Mathematics and Statistics]]|url=https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/maths/currentstudents/ughandbook/general-information/lectures/#locations|access-date=2025-08-13|via=warwick.ac.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250813200759/https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/maths/currentstudents/ughandbook/general-information/lectures/#locations|archive-date=2025-08-13|tital-ital=no}}</ref>
|-
|OC
|[[The Oculus]]
|
|-
|P
|[[Physics Building]]
|The ground floor (as viewed by the [[campus map]]) is given the floor number "1" with further floors continuing the pattern.
|-
|PS
|[[Physical Sciences Building]]
|
|-
|rowspan=3|R
|[[IIPSI Building]]
|On the [[campus map]], some rooms in this building on the first, second and third floors use the format "<tt>R:<floor number><room number></tt>".<ref>{{Citation|title=IIPSI, IIPSI, Central Campus|publisher=[[MazeMap]]|login=Warwick|url=https://link.mazemap.com/vqbnYDYg|access-date=2025-08-13|work=the [[campus map]]|work-ital=no}}</ref>
|-
|[[Ramphal Building]]
|
|-
|[[Library]]
|The computer rooms [[R0.39]] and [[R0.41]] are located on the ground floor of the library.
|-
|RIL
|[[Riley Court]]
|Rooms on the ground floor of [[Riley Court]] use the unique format "<tt>RIL.G.<room code></tt>". Other portions of the building are currently part of the [[University of Warwick Science Park]] so do not have standard room names.
|-
|rowspan=2|S
|[[Engineering Management Building]]
|
|-
|[[Social Sciences North and South]]
|
|-
|SH
|[[Senate House]]
|
|-
|SMR
|[[Senate House]]
|Used uniquely for [[SMR 1.1]]
|-
|T
|[[Clinical Trial Unit]]
|
|-
|UH
|[[University House]]
|
|-
|W
|[[Westwood House]]
|Rooms are named in the standard format but without the ".".<ref>{{Citation|title=Westwood House, Westwood House, Central Campus|publisher=[[MazeMap]]|login=Warwick|url=https://link.mazemap.com/y3Q8OKKG|access-date=2025-08-13|work=the [[campus map]]|work-ital=no}}</ref>
|-
|WA
|[[Avon Building]]
|
|-
|WCE
|[[Centre for Lifelong Learning Building]]
|
|-
|WE
|[[New Education Building]]
|On the [[campus map]], rooms in this building are named with a space between the prefix and the floor number.<ref>{{Citation|title=New Education, New Education, Central Campus|publisher=[[MazeMap]]|login=Warwick|url=https://link.mazemap.com/CxsX8aHX|access-date=2025-08-13|work=the [[campus map]]|work-ital=no}}</ref>
|-
|WT
|[[Westwood Teaching Centre]]
|
|}

== Named and numbered rooms ==
Some sets of rooms use a naming system that looks like:
<pre><name> <number></pre>

These are listed below.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Name !! Number range !! Building !! Notes
|-
|[[Chancellors Suite]]
|1-3
|[[Rootes Building]]
|
|-
|[[Copper Rooms]]
|1-2
|[[SU Atrium]]<ref name="su-spaces"/>
|
|-
|Cubicle
|1-4
|[[Humanities Extension]] ([[Psychology]])
|All part of [[H0.90]].
|-
|Gallery
|1-3
|[[Warwick Arts Centre]]
|Part of the [[Mead Gallery]].
|-
|[[HR]] Meeting Room
|1-3
|[[University House]]<ref name="av-local-rooms"/>
|-
|[[IDG]] Training Room
|1-2
|[[The Beehive]]<ref name="av-local-rooms"/>
|
|-
|[[Learning Grid]]
|1-2
|[[University House]]
|There are also un-numbered Learning Grids in the [[Rootes Building]] and the [[Gibbet Hill Academic Building]].
|-
|Meeting Room
|2-4
|[[SUHQ]]<ref name="su-spaces"/>
|
|-
|Music
|1-3
|[[Westwood Music Centre]]
|
|-
|[[Panorama Suite]]
|1-3
|[[Rootes Building]]
|
|-
|Pod
|1-4
|[[University House]]
|
|-
|Presentation Room
|1-2
|[[University House]]<ref name="av-local-rooms"/>
|
|-
|Room
|1-12
|[[University House]]
|Mising 8.
|-
|[[Rootes Learning Grid]] Room
|1-2
|[[Rootes Building]]<ref name="av-local-rooms">{{Citation|title=Locally Timetabled Rooms|date=2024-09-30|author=[[IDG]]|login=Warwick|url=https://warwick.ac.uk/services/idg/services-support/av/lecturerooms/local/|access-date=2025-08-13|via=warwick.ac.uk}}</ref>
|
|-
|Screen
|1-3
|[[Warwick Arts Centre]]
|
|-
|rowspan=3|Space
|1-26
|[[Radcliffe House]]
|Space 2 is split into [[Space 2A]] and [[Space 2B]].
|-
|1-54
|[[Scarman House]]
|
|-
|1-6
|[[Sports and Wellness Hub]]<ref name="av-local-rooms"/>
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Studio
|1-4
|[[Sports and Wellness Hub]]<ref name="av-local-rooms"/>
|
|-
|1-2
|[[SU Atrium]]<ref name="su-spaces">{{Citation|title=SU/University Room Bookings|publisher=[[Warwick SU]]|url=https://www.warwicksu.com/societies-sports/exec-resources/activities-and-planning/room-bookings/|access-date=2025-08-14|via=warwicksu.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250813231847/https://www.warwicksu.com/societies-sports/exec-resources/activities-and-planning/room-bookings/|archive-date=2025-08-14}}</ref>
|
|-
|[[Zeeman Building Supervision Areas|Supervision Area]]
|1-26
|[[Zeeman Building]]
|Missing 22.
|-
|[[Wolfson Research Exchange|Wolfson]]
|1-3
|[[Library Extension]]<ref name="av-local-rooms"/>
|
|}

== Building-specific ==
Some buildings have consistent naming schemes that don't fit with either of the above.

=== Conference accomodation ===
Hotel rooms in both [[Scarman House]] and [[Radcliffe House]] are named in the following format:
<pre><one digit floor number><two digit room number></pre>
The floor numbers are as expected in Scarman House; however, in Radcliffe House, the ground floor has a floor number of "1" and the first floor has a floor number of "2".

=== Cryfield Sports Pavillion ===
The changing areas on the ground floor of the [[Cryfield Sports Pavillion]], along with one office, are simply assigned numbers from 1 to 27.

=== Energy Innovation Centre meeting rooms ===
Most meeting rooms on the second, third and fourth floors of the [[Energy Innovation Centre]] are named in the following format:
<pre><one digit floor number><two digit room number></pre>

=== Library ===
The [[Library]] primarily uses the following naming format:
<pre><one digit floor number><two digit room number></pre>
The ground floor has a floor number of "0". The [[Library accessible study rooms|accessible study rooms]] are named with this format.<ref>{{Citation|title=Accessible study rooms|date=2025-07-23|publisher=[[Library]]|url=https://warwick.ac.uk/services/library/using/accessibility/accessible-study-rooms/|access-date=2025-08-14|via=warwick.ac.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250814011106/https://warwick.ac.uk/services/library/using/accessibility/accessible-study-rooms/|archive-date=2025-08-14}}</ref> However, some rooms are instead called "01" through "04" - these names are not unique, even being repeated on some floors.

=== Materials Engineering Centre ===
Most rooms on floor one and two rooms on floor two of the [[Materials Engineering Centre]] are named in the following format:
<pre><one digit floor number><two digit room number></pre>
Floor one also contains a room named "01" and a room named "02". Most rooms on floor two are named in the following format:
<pre><one digit floor number>.<two digit room numbner></pre>

=== Sports and Wellness Hub ===
In addition to any other names given to some of the rooms, all rooms and spaces in the [[Sports and Wellness Hub]] are given a name in the following format:
<pre><two digit floor number>.<three digit room number></pre>
The basement floor uses "B1".

=== SUHQ ===
Most rooms in floors one and two of the [[SUHQ]] building are named in the following format:
<pre><one digit floor number>.<one digit room number></pre>
Room numbers are always one digit.

=== Warwick Business School ===
The [[Warwick Business School Building]] names rooms with the following format:<ref>{{Citation|title=Room Bookings & Timetabling|date=2025-05-10|author=Michelle Sidhu|url=https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/wbs/central/academic-services/services/roombookingsandtimetabling|access-date=2025-08-15|via=warwick.ac.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250815102119/https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/wbs/central/academic-services/services/roombookingsandtimetabling|archive-date=2025-08-15|tital-ital=no}}</ref>
<pre><one digit floor number>.<one digit zone number><two digit room number><optional letter></pre>

== Accommodation flat and bedroom names ==
{{see also|Accommodation room naming}}
The way accommodation rooms are named varies from type to type. See the [[accommodation room naming|dedicated article for details]].

== Internal naming scheme ==
All rooms and spaces on campus have an "internal" code used by [[Estates]]. These are shown on the [[campus map]] when no other name is set. The format for these are:<ref>All of the following information has been derived by observing the [[campus map]] and the [[Estates service desk]] system.</ref>
<pre><campus>.<building>.<floor>.<room></pre>

The campus numbers are as follows:
{| class="wikitable"
! Number !! Campus !! Range of building numbers
|-
|01 || [[Main Campus]] || 000-479
|-
|02 || [[Gibbet Hill Campus]] || 000-044
|-
|03 || [[Westwood Campus]] || 000-077
|-
|04 || [[Stratford Innovation Campus]] || 000-205
|-
|06 || [[University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire]] || 001-004
|-
|09 || [[Barford Boat House]] || 002
|-
|10 || Various "satellite campuses" based in [[Coventry]] || 001-003
|-
|11 || Various "satellite campuses" based in [[Birmingham]] || 001-002
|-
|12 || [[Warwick Innovation Centre]] || 001, 003
|-
|13 || [[China World Tower B]] || 001
|-
|15 || [[Port Talbot]] ([[Bay Technology Centre]]) || 001
|-
|16 || [[Westwood Business Park]] ([[The Beehive]]) || 000-006
|-
|17 || [[The Shard]] || 001
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Articles]]

Warwick Students' Union 1975 occupation of Senate House and the Telephone Exchange

2025-09-25T21:51:24Z

AlfieG: /* Gallery */

In 1975, [[Warwick Students' Union]] occupied [[Senate House]] (then the main admin hub of the university) and the [[Telephone Exchange]] for 3.5 weeks throughout April and May due to the rising cost of rent across university accomodation. This occupation followed the [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike|1975 rent strike]], and led to the [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre|1975 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre]].

== Background ==
This occupation was proceeded by a period with several controversies, disagreements between the University and the Students' Union, and occupations. While only the [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike|1975 rent strike]] led directly to the occupation, the other incidents in the run up set the tone and are important for considering this occupation in full context.

=== The "Warwick Files Affair" and Senate House ===
{{see also|Warwick Files Affair}}
In February 1970, during a [[Warwick SU]] occupation of the [[Registry Building]] - then the administrative hub of the [[university]] - students uncovered files show that the university administration was conducting routine surveillance on students and staff. This high-profile incident has come to be known as the "[[Warwick Files Affair]]".<ref>{{citation|title = Introduction to the New Edition |author = Hugo Radice |work = [[Warwick University Ltd]] |editor = [[E. P. Thompson]] |edition = 2nd |publisher = Spokesman Books |date = October 2013 |publication-date = 2013-12-18 |isbn = 9780851248295 |pages = i-iii}}</ref> This incident set the tone for the many disagreements between the university and its students in the years to come.

By May 1973, construction had begun on a new administrative building, [[Senate House]].<ref>{{Citation|title=BUILDINGS|date=May 1973|publisher=the [[University of Warwick]]|work=[[Notes for Students]]|publication-date=October 1974|page=68-69 (inside back cover)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/NS/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/17/10}}</ref> Speaking in 2004, [[Christopher Zeeman]], founding professor of the [[Warwick Mathematics Institute]] and strong supported of the students and the [[SU]] on most issues, said that the building was built "like a fortress, so as to be able to defend it against the students",<ref name="zeeman-history">{{Citation|title=Early History of the Warwick Mathematics Institute|date=June 2004|author=Professor Sir [[Christopher Zeeman]], FRS|publisher=the [[University of Warwick]]|url=https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/maths/general/institute/histories-big.pdf|access-date=2025-08-16|work=The Histories of Mathematics & Statistics at Warwick|page=12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816152544/https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/maths/general/institute/histories-big.pdf|archive-date=2025-08-16}}</ref> likely as a way of preventing the "[[Warwick Files Affair]]", or something similar, from re-occuring.

=== Multi-storey carpark incident ===
{{see also|Multi-storey carpark incident}}
On 6 November 1973, a £264,000 multi-storey carpark, with a capacity for 465 cars, was approved in a meeting of the [[Council]]. This decision was extremely rushed, with the project not having been discussed beforehand at any prior Council meeting, and at least one member of the Council believing that no firm commitment had been made at the meeting, despite the fact that the University had already been locked into a contract with the contractors hired to build the carpark prior to the meeting on the 6th. This, and other procedural failings, meant that the carpark was extremely controversial. Of particular note here is that roughly £110,000 of the money used to build the carpark was money given by [[Warwickshire County Council]] to build student residences.<ref>{{citation|title = The Genesis of the Multi-Storey Car Park |author = Geoffrey Renshaw |periodical = ''[[University Opinion]]'' 1974-5 |work-ital = no |issue = 2 |date = November 1974 |page = 2-4 |archive-centre = [[Modern Records Centre]] |archive-collection = [[University of Warwick Archive]] |archive-ref = UWA/PUB/OP/5/2 |archive-ref-url = https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/15/4/36}}</ref> The carpark was still an important issue as late as the start of the 1975-1976 academic year, with many believing that an investigation should have taken place when none ever did.<ref name="carpark-sordid">{{Citation|title=That Car Park: The sordid details|date=c. October 1975|publisher=[[Warwick SU]]|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=11 (digital: 13)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/HB/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/11/10}}</ref>

=== Union Building saga ===
{{see also|Campaign for the Students' Union Building}}
{{see also|Warwick Students' Union 1974 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre}}
The [[Senate House]] occupation was not the first occupation of the acadenmic 1974-1975 year. At this time, the [[Students' Union Building]] was not yet open, with negotiations still ongoing with the University about finances and the division of space between students and staff. In 1974, these negotiations included disagreements on the Union appointing its own staff, and with the University witholding funds from the Union. This led to [[Warwick Students' Union 1974 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre|an occupation of the newly-built and about-to-be-opened Warwick Arts Centre in October 1974]], with the goal of disrupting the opening if the University didn't negotiate. The University did negotiate so the occupation was called off after 2 days and the opening was not disrupted.<ref>{{Citation|title=Drawing the Line|date=1974-10-10|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/195/rec/4|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Ray Earwicker|issue=19|page=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924235532/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/195/rec/4|archive-date=2025-09-25|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/19|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/19}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Occupation: What Really Happened|date=1974-10-17|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/204/rec/9|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Ray Earwicker|issue=20|page=2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924233556/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/205/rec/9|archive-date=2025-09-25|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/39|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/20}}</ref><ref name="messy-business"/><ref name="union-building">{{Citation|title=The Union Building|author=Nita Bowes|date=c. October 1975|publisher=[[Warwick SU]]|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=9 (digital: 11)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/HB/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/11/10}}</ref> These negotiations, while not directly linked to this occupation, were always present in the background, with the possible suspension of negotiations a considerable side-consequence of the occupation.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/>

=== The 1975 rent strike ===
{{see also|Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike}}
University [[accommodation]] fell under the remit of a nation-wide rent freeze until the start of 1975.<ref>{{Citation|title=Oh, What A Lovely Term|date=1974-12-05|author=Ray Earwicker|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/259/rec/189|access-date=2025-08-16|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Ray Earwicker|issue=27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250815235844/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/259/rec/189|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/27|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/27}}</ref> This meant that, for the first term of the 1974-1975 academic year, rents were frozen at a level deemed to be affordable. However, while the freeze continued for other types housing, the rent freeze ended for student accommodation at the start of the second term.<ref>{{Citation|title=The Rent Strike|date=1974-12-05|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/263/rec/189|access-date=2025-08-16|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Ray Earwicker|issue=27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002139/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/263/rec/189|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=6|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/27|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/27}}</ref> The [[university]] was making a loss on accommodation at this time due to the loan-based system through which most accommodation blocks were financed.<ref name="reactions-rent-strike">{{citation|title = Reactions to the Rent Strike |author = Rolph Schwarzenberger |periodical = ''[[University Opinion]]'' 1974-5 |work-ital = no |issue = 3 |date = January 1975 |page = 1-3 |archive-centre = [[Modern Records Centre]] |archive-collection = [[University of Warwick Archive]] |archive-ref = UWA/PUB/OP/5/3 |archive-ref-url = https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/15/4/37}}</ref> Hence, following the end of the rent freeze, rents were increased. The increases are sumarised below:<ref name="cost-mooching-scum">{{Citation|title=The cost of being the Mooching Scum|date=c. October 1975|publisher=[[Warwick SU]]|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|access-date=2025-08-16|work=[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=11 (digital: 13)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/HB/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/11/10}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! Accommodation type !! Weekly rents in term 1 !! Weekly rents in terms 2 & 3 !! Increase !! Percentage increase (1 d.p.)
|-
! [[Rootes (accommodation)|Rootes]] Hall self-catered with cleaning
| £4.92 || £6.50 || £1.58 || 31.1%
|-
! [[Tocil]] Flats, [[Whitefields]], [[Cryfield]] Flats self-catered
| £3.99 || £5.40 || £1.41 || 35.3%
|-
! [[Cryfield]] Hall included 5 evening meals per week
| £6.18 || £7.90 || £1.72 || 27.8%
|-
! Average !! £5.03 !! £6.60 !! £1.57 !! 31.2%
|}

These increases were considered too much by the student population, who argued that it wasn't inline with recent 1974 increase to the student grant of 25%.{{note|name=grant|At this time, students received a grant which they did not have to pay back, instead of a loan.}}{{note|There are arguments to be made that this increase was fair. These arguments looked at the average price of rent across the entire year, which worked out to a roughly 25% increase from the previous year, inline with the grants.<ref name="reactions-rent-strike"/> See [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike]] for more details.}}<ref name="cost-mooching-scum"/><ref>{{citation|title = Rents: the Union states its case |author = Penny Mead |periodical = ''[[University Opinion]]'' 1974-5 |work-ital = no |issue = 3 |date = January 1975 |page = 4-5 |archive-centre = [[Modern Records Centre]] |archive-collection = [[University of Warwick Archive]] |archive-ref = UWA/PUB/OP/5/3 |archive-ref-url = https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/15/4/37}}</ref><ref>{{citation|title = The Rent Strike: An Alternative Staff View |author = James Hinton |periodical = ''[[University Opinion]]'' 1974-5 |work-ital = no |issue = 4 |date = March 1975 |page = 1-3 |archive-centre = [[Modern Records Centre]] |archive-collection = [[University of Warwick Archive]] |archive-ref = UWA/PUB/OP/5/4 |archive-ref-url = https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/15/4/38}}</ref> Moreover, the University operated a system by which it would loan itself money from its [[Foundation Appeal Fund]] in order to build new accommodation, and then pay interest to itself on this loan. Many students felt that this system artificially raised rent prices.<ref>{{Citation|title=That Figures|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817000544/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref><ref name="butterworth-interview">{{Citation|title=Are You Still All Right Jack?A|author=David Wilby|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817000544/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=3|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref><ref name="reactions-rent-strike"/> Hence, in a [[Union General Meeting]] on Tuesday 2 December 1974, it was decided to begin [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike|a rent strike]] from the start of term 2.<ref>{{Citation|title=Rent Strike Go Ahead|date=1974-12-05|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/263/rec/189|access-date=2025-08-16|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Ray Earwicker|issue=27|page=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816122829/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/263/rec/189|archive-date=2025-08-16|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/27|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/27}}</ref>

== Events of the occupation ==
=== Initial vote and action ===
By the start of term 3, over 1200 students were part of the rent strike. However, members of the [[SU]] Executive had concerns over potentially victimisation of students involved. In particular, the [[university]] threatened to deny accommodation for the next academic year for those part of the strike, and even to deny degrees to those graduating who were participating. Over the Easter break, the executive discussed the optionas available to them and eventually decided to propose an occupation of [[Senate House]] and the [[Telephone Exchange]]. Sure enough, on the first day of term 3, Monday 21 April, a [[Union General Meeting]] (UGM) attended by over 700 students in the [[Aiport Lounge]] (one of the main social spaces at the time) voted to occupy the two buildings until the following four demands were met:
# freeze the term 2 rent,
# negotiate the term 3 tent,
# have no victimisation,
# keep the rent strike separate from other issues.
During the meeting, a student named Mike Adam adopted a devil's advocate position, warning the student body of the potential negative outcomes of the occupation. These included the possibilities of:
* payments of grants being delayed - while the motion did not propose to occupy the [[Finance Office]], it could be assumed that the administration would abandon the building entirely, even the un-occuped portions;
* the on-campus postal service being delayed;
* examinations being delayed or canceled;
* staff wages being payed late.
[[File:1975 Senate House occupation entry.jpg|thumb|right|Students entering [[Senate House]] through an open window.<ref name="window-photo"/>]]
Despite these concerns, the motion passed roughly 5 to 1.<ref name="united-action">{{Citation|title=United Action By Exec.|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817000544/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref>

Following the UGM, roughly 400 students marched on Senate House.<ref name="united-action"/> Writing in 2004, Professor [[Christopher Zeeman|Zeeman]], said that the students were able to gain access to the building by climbing in through the ventilation fan of the [[Vice-Chancellor]]'s private toilet, which had been added to the otherwise fortress-like building as an afterthought.<ref name="zeeman-history"/> This could be a misremembering of the events as ''[[The Warwick Boar]]'' No. 37 (a special edition devoted almost entirely to the occupation) claimed instead that the students initially gained entry through an open window.<ref name="united-action"/> The attached photo<ref name="window-photo">{{Citation|title=[[The Warwick Boar]]|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/365/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817001723/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/365/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref> shows students going through a window into the Vice-Chancellor's offices,<ref name="architecutral-review">{{Citation|title=Arts Centre and Administration Building, University of Warwick|date=May 1975|work=The Architectural Review|volume=CLVII|issue=939|page=270|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/PC/1/15|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/6/1/15}}</ref>{{note|The upper portion of the window shown in the photo is 3 bricks tall, and the window meets a wall to it's left at a 90° angle. The only window matching this description on the building is currently borded up, but is located on the second floor and looks into what used to be part of the Vice-Chancellor's offices.<ref name="architecutral-review"/>}} partially corroborating Zeeman's story. Further according to ''[[The Warwick Boar]]'' No. 37, these students were then hand-led away from doors they were trying to open by Professor Mykura, and the Vice-Chancellor, [[Jack Butterworth]], nearly slapped a camera out of the hands of a student trying to record the events.

By 2:30pm, Senate House had been successfully occupied and the first occupation meeting was held. In this meeting, Pat Denny and Mike Adams were elected to Union negoatiating comitee, alongside the SU's president, secretary and treasurer.<ref name="united-action"/> Throughout the occupation, a Union General Meeting would be held every day at 6pm.<ref>{{Citation|title=[[The Warwick Boar]]|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/367/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817001723/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/365/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=4|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref>

=== Early days ===
[[File:1975 Senate House occupation UGM 1.jpg|thumb|left|An early [[Union General Meeting]] held outside (and on top off) [[Senate House]].<ref name="ugm-photo-1">{{Citation|title=[[The Warwick Boar]]|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/365/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817001723/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/365/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=4|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref>]]
On Tuesday morning, the day following the occupation's start, a [[Steering Committee]] was held, with Nita Bowes and Pat Denny delegated to attend and represent the students. Their request for the power to be turned on in [[Senate House]] was denied under the reasoning that the building was closed. Their assurance that the Union was willing to listen to any representation from the University was met with silence.

On Wednesday morning, a meeting of the [[Senate]] was held. In the hour prior to the admittance of student represenatives, the academics on the Senate had met, and several had reluctantly decided to support the University. One academic Senator said "in a time of economic stringency Jack [Butterworth, Vice-Chancellor] delivers the financial goods" and "any academic who wishes to see his department receive a share of the income of this University is well advised to steer clear of any suspicions that he is sympathetic to the students claim". The SU President and the Student Senator, Simon Yates, were accompanied to the meeting by two student observers, Bill Nottage and Nita Bowes. A third observer was refused admission. The students intended to open a discussion of the University's system of finances, claiming that the system where the University pays interest on payments between internal University accounts was raising rents unnecessarily. However, the Vice-Chancellor and the Finance Officer shut this topic of discussion down and, despite several [[Council]] members asking for it to continue, a motion from Professor Griffiths was passed 27 to 2, stating that the question of rent levels had already be discussed heavily and that negotiations would not be re-opened for that year's rent. The motion also stated that negotiations on next year's rent could only commence as usual if the Students' Union left Senate House.

Following this meeting, it was decided, in a SU Executive meeting, to recommend to that evening's Union General Meeting that the occupation continue, and to call for the release of grant cheques for the term,{{note|name=grant}} and to release the Union's funds for the term. In that evening's Union meeting, the motion passed with over 1000 students voting in favour out of the roughly 1200 present. This included the rejection of an ammended motion put forward by a student named Linda Ross that argued that it was in the students' best interest to call off the occupation due to the inevitability of educational expenditure cut backs. This position was rebuked in a speech by Union Secretary Nita Bowes which argued that the educational cutbacks should be opposed, and that to not do so would be to overturn years of Union policy based on the principle that education is a right, not a privelage.<ref name="united-action"/>

=== Immediate support and impacts ===
''[[The Warwick Boar]]'', operating independently from the [[Students' Union]], supported the occupation.<ref>{{Citation|title=Time To Take a Stand|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817000544/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref> Moreover, the staff trade unions largely remained neutral or supported the occupation. The [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] passed a motion supporting the rent strike. [[NALGO]] addopted a neutral position. The [[AUT]] had not resolved anything by the publication of ''[[The Warwick Boar]]'' No. 37.<ref name="united-action"/> However, the Vice-Chancellor, Jack Butterworth, claimed that NALGO refused to let its members enter [[Senate House]] during the occupation.<ref name="butterworth-interview"/>

Despite concerns that the University's postal service would be disrupted, it remained active from its base in [[Rootes Hall]] (now known as Rootes Social Building]]). However, the University had witheld the Students' Union's termly funds, and grant cheques were not being payed.{{note|name=grant}} This was despite the fact that the Finance Office in Senate House remained unoccupied, and despite the setting up of an emergency [[Finance Office]] in [[F3.14]] in the [[Engineering Block]]. This lack of grant cheque payments was considered illegal by the Students' Union, and so, on Friday 25 April, a write was served on Vice-Chancellor Butterworth and Mr. Rowe-Evans, the University Secretary. If uncontested, this would have meant grants would have to be payed to students somehow on Monday 28 April, one week after the start of term. If contested, this would lead to an injunction being heard in the High Court on Tuesday 29 April.<ref name="united-action"/> However, Butterworth didn't feel that any judge would allow the distrubution of grants due to NALGO's refusal to enter Senate House.<ref name="butterworth-interview"/> Indeed, the University took this up in court, and was winning.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/> The University also began seeking a reposession order against the students to dispell them from Senate House.<ref name="messy-business">{{Citation|title=A Messy Business|date=1975-10-07|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Gary Vaux, Dave Wilby, and Godfrey Rust|issue=39|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/39|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/39}}</ref><ref name="costs-confrontation"/>

Moreover, while none of the exams scheduled for the week of the occupation were affected,<ref name="united-action"/> in an intervew for ''[[The Warwick Boar]]'', Professor Phillips-Griffiths warned that there could be a "complete breakdown of the examination system", and Vice-Chancellor Butterworth agreed. This was, at least in part, due to the tight schedule of external examiners, who were required for the marking of finalists' exams. This meant that finalists may not have been able to take their final exams, and so would have had to leave university without a degree, potentially taking their exams the year after instead.<ref name="butterworth-interview"/> Another issue with exams was that, to run them, it would have required the removal of a significant amount of paperwork from Senate House, including 3,300 personal files and examination cards. This would have been impractical,<ref name="costs-confrontation">{{Citation|title=The Costs of Confrontation|author=Mike Adams|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/372/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref> even with the occupiers allowing the University access to this paperwork.<ref>{{Citation|title=Nit-Picketing|author=Rob Walker|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/372/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=4|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref>
[[File:1975 Senate House occupation UGM 2.jpg|thumb|right|A Union General Meeting held on 8 May 1975 outside [[Senate House]].<ref name="occupation-photos">{{Citation|title=Occupation Photos|author=Jake|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/372/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=6|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref>]]

=== Beginning of the end ===
Around two weeks into the occupation, little progress had been made, and a proposal was put forward in an occupation executive meeting to withdraw. This was shot down, although the SU President, Kasper de Graaf, confided to Mike Adams that he had already decided to withdraw once the exam cancellations became iminent.

On 4 May 1975, a member of the [[Steering Committee]] told Mike Adams, who, on the 5th, subsiquently informed other members of the Union and occupation executive, that a number of concessions would be made if the Union withdrew immediately. The other executive members agreed immediately that they would propose an executive motion to withdraw if assurances of the following concessions could be gained in writing:
* dropping of the £3 fee for late payment of accommodation costs,
* immediate accommodation forms (for the next academic year) for all rent strikers,
* no [[Finance and General Purpose Committee]] procedures to be taken against rent strikers.
At 12:30pm on 5 May, it was assured by word that a written assurance would be given at 9:30am on 6 May. However, by 1pm on the 5th, the SU President, Kasper de Graaf, had been convinced by the Union Secretary, Nita Bowes, that his initial decision was wrong. Instead, a motion to fight the injunction to remove the students from Senate House was passed at a subsequent Union General Meeting.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/>

=== End of the occupation ===
[[File:1975 Senate House occupation police 1.jpg|thumb|left|Police at [[Senate House]].<ref name="thrown-out"/>]]
The University succeeded in obtaining a reposession order for [[Senate House]], requiring the student occupiers to leave.<ref name="messy-business">{{Citation|title=A Messy Business|date=1975-10-07|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Gary Vaux, Dave Wilby, and Godfrey Rust|issue=39|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/39|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/39}}</ref><ref name="costs-confrontation"/> Students found out about this order and prepared for 30 to 40 police offiers to arrive to carry out it out.<ref name="thrown-out">{{Citation|title=Thrown Out!|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref> On 15 May 1975,<ref name="events-april-may">{{Citation|title=The Events of April and May 1975|author=Nita Bowes|date=c. October 1975|publisher=[[Warwick SU]]|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=7 (digital: 9)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/HB/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/11/10}}</ref> after 3.5 weeks of occupation, scouting parties were sent out to the nearby Fletchampstead Highway Police Station. These reported back a force of several coaches parked at the rugby grounds opposite the [[Canley College of Education]].{{note|[[Canley College of Education]] used to be a separate institution from the [[University of Warwick]]. However, in 1978, it merged with the University to become the [[Westwood Campus]].}} Sleeping bags and other items were collected so that the occupiers were ready to leave. A constant telephone link was maintained between Senate House and the [[University Telephone Exchange]], which was also occupied.

At 7:30am, 12 coaches full of police officers arived outside [[Whitefields]] opposite Senate House.<ref name="thrown-out"/> The total number of police was over 500.<ref name="events-april-may"/> The executive asked the police for 5 minutes while the occupiers gathered their possessions, which was largely a show of bravery as all possessions had already been collected together. None of the people explicitly named in the writ were present at the time, meaning no arrests were made. Moreover, the repossession order only applied to Senate House and so the police were unable to stop the students marching into the [[Arts Centre]] and beginning another occupation. Once the students had emptied out, the police conducted a search of the building and then left.

At the [[University Telephone Exchange]], two coaches of police arrived and the student occupiers left peacefully.<ref name="thrown-out"/>

== Aftermath ==
=== Arts Centre occupation ===
{{see also|Warwick Students' Union 1975 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre}}
The repossession order which allowed the University to expell the student occupiers from [[Senate House]] on 15 May 1975 did not apply to any other buildings. Hence, the students were able to move directly into [[Warwick Arts Centre]],<ref name="thrown-out"/> which they continued to occupy for another week.<ref name="events-april-may"/> On Monday 19 May, a motion to continue picketing Senate House was passed, although with a number of abstentions. This was an ammended motion, the original one from the Executive instead proposing to switch to a mass lobby. It was also decided to continue occupying the Arts Centre, pending a decision from the [[Senate]].<ref>{{Citation|title=U.G.M.|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/372/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref> The Director of the Arts Centre, Alwyne Scrase-Dickens, estimated that this brief occupation set the Arts Centre back 6 months.<ref>{{Citation|title=Occupation hits the Arts Centre|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/377/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925114859/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/377/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-25|page=9|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref>

=== Rents and the strike ===
Ultimately, the rent strike and occupations were unsuccesful, with rents rising further at the start of the 1975-1976 academic year:<ref name="cost-mooching-scum"/>
{| class="wikitable"
! Accommodation type !! Weekly rents in 1975 terms 2 & 3 !! Weekly rents in 1975 term 1 !! Increase !! Percentage increase (1 d.p.)
|-
! [[Rootes (accommodation)|Rootes]] Hall self-catered with cleaning
| £6.50 || £7.60 || £1.10 || 16.9%
|-
! [[Tocil]] Flats, [[Whitefields]], [[Cryfield]] Flats self-catered
| £5.40 || £6.31 || £0.91 || 16.9%
|-
! [[Cryfield]] Hall included 5 evening meals per week
| £7.90 || £9.22 || £1.32 || 16.7%
|-
! Average !! £6.60 !! £7.71 !! £1.11 !! 16.8%
|}
Indeed, in the first [[Union General Meeting]] of the next academic year, it was decided to continue the [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike|rent strike]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Mulley To Visit Warwick|date=1975-10-07|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/380/rec/1|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=40|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925104410/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/380/rec/1|archive-date=2025-09-25|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/40|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/40}}</ref> However, it was called off not long into term 2.<ref>{{Citation|title=Dixon makes a mark|date=1976-01-15|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/495/rec/7|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=48|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925105235/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/495/rec/7|archive-date=2025-09-25|page=3|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/40|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/48}}</ref>

=== Damages and costs ===
A report was produced detailing the extent of the damage done to [[Senate House]] during the occupation.<ref name="damage-report">{{Citation|title=Damage Report|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref> Had the Union withdrew in early May, the student population would have had equal representation on the damage committee. However, as the occupation didm't end here, this was not the case.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/> The [[Registry]] staff who worked in Senate House were suprised by the lack of damage. The damage report included minor damages such as wax stains from candles, cigarette burns, and broken locks, but the Union was let off other points. One of the major complaints was that a 16-year-old cactus in the building had been killed. The Union was considering buying the owner a new one.<ref name="damage-report"/>

Moreover, the Union was presented with a bill from the bailiffs, possibly running into the thousands of pounds, a bill of around £8,000 for the cost of the police action, and 25% of the costs of two legal actions.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/> Due primarily to these costs and the overall costs of the [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike|rent strike]], the Union was set to make a loss for the year.<ref name="union-news">{{Citation|title=Union News|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/371/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925144002/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/371/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=3|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref>

=== Other impacts ===
As well as the direct financial implications, the occupation also caused a suspension of the then still ongoing talks on the [[Union Building]], as well as a suspension of the talks over the remaning money from the "capitation fee", totaling £20,000, that the University had witheld from the Union at the start of the year and which sparked the initial [[Warwick Students' Union 1974 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre|Arts Centre occupation]] of the year.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/> £14,000 of this money was desparately needed for the Union Building to open at the start of the next academic year.<ref name="union-news"/> Moreover, running the Union Building required an increased capitation fee for the upcoming academic year, and talks on securing this were also suspended.

Moreover, the occupation resulted in a delay, described by Mike Adams as "possibly fatal", in establishing an inquiry into the multi-storey carpark.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/> Indeed, by the start of the next academic year, no inquiry or investigation had occured.<ref name="carpark-sordid"/>

== Gallery ==
<gallery widths=250px heights=250px>
1975 Senate House occupation entry.jpg|Students entering [[Senate House]] through an open window.<ref name="window-photo"/>
1975 Senate House occupation UGM 1.jpg|An early [[Union General Meeting]] held outside (and on top off) Senate House.<ref name="ugm-photo-1"/>
1975 Senate House occupation UGM 2.jpg|A Union General Meeting held on 8 May 1975 outside Senate House.<ref name="occupation-photos"/>
1975 Senate House occupation UGM 3.jpg|Voting at a Union General Meeting held on 8 May 1975 outside Senate House.<ref name="occupation-photos"/>
1975 Senate House occupation UGM 4.jpg|A Union General Meeting held outside Senate House.<ref name="messy-business"/>
File:1975 Senate House occupation students.jpg|Students outside Senate House.<ref name="events-april-may"/>
1975 Senate House occupation police arrive.jpg|Police arrive opposite Senate House.<ref name="occupation-photos"/>
1975 Senate House occupation police 1.jpg|Police at Senate House.<ref name="thrown-out"/>
1975 Senate House occupation police 2.jpg|Police at Senate House.<ref name="thrown-out"/>
1975 Senate House occupation police 3.jpg|Police kicking students out of Senate House.<ref name="occupation-photos"/>
1975 Senate House occupation banner uncropped.jpg|A banner displayed outside Senate House during the occupation.<ref>{{Citation|title=[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]|date=c. October 1975|publisher=[[Warwick SU]]|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|access-date=2025-09-24|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=11 (digital: 13)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/HB/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/11/10}}</ref>
1975 Senate House occupation banner.jpg|Cropped banner.<ref>{{Citation|title=[[The Warwick Boar]]|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925145924/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref>
1975 Senate House occupation lone figure.jpg|A lone figure on top of Senate House during the occupation.<ref name="united-action"/>
1975 Senate House occupation cartoon.jpg|A cartoon jokingly representing how students gained entry to Senate House.<ref name="events-april-may"/>
</gallery>

== Footnoes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Warwick Students' Union occupations]]
[[Category:Events from the 1974-1975 academic year]]

Category:SU Atrium images

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[[Category:Images by building]]

Category:SU Atrium images

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[[Category:Buildings by image]]

File:1975 Senate House occupation police arrive.jpg

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== Summary ==
{{Citation|title=Occupation Photos|author=Jake|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/372/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=6|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}
== Licensing ==
{{file license|license=fair|copyright holder=[[The Warwick Boar]]|type of file=photo|intent=to illustrate [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 occupation of Senate House and the Telephone Exchange]]|source=''[[The Warwick Boar]]'' No. 38, page 6|subject=police arriving on campus to kick occupying students out of [[Senate House]]|category=SU Atrium images}}

[[Category:Warwick Students' Union 1975 occupation of Senate House and the Telephone Exchange images]]

Warwick Students' Union 1975 occupation of Senate House and the Telephone Exchange

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In 1975, [[Warwick Students' Union]] occupied [[Senate House]] (then the main admin hub of the university) and the [[Telephone Exchange]] for 3.5 weeks throughout April and May due to the rising cost of rent across university accomodation. This occupation followed the [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike|1975 rent strike]], and led to the [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre|1975 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre]].

== Background ==
This occupation was proceeded by a period with several controversies, disagreements between the University and the Students' Union, and occupations. While only the [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike|1975 rent strike]] led directly to the occupation, the other incidents in the run up set the tone and are important for considering this occupation in full context.

=== The "Warwick Files Affair" and Senate House ===
{{see also|Warwick Files Affair}}
In February 1970, during a [[Warwick SU]] occupation of the [[Registry Building]] - then the administrative hub of the [[university]] - students uncovered files show that the university administration was conducting routine surveillance on students and staff. This high-profile incident has come to be known as the "[[Warwick Files Affair]]".<ref>{{citation|title = Introduction to the New Edition |author = Hugo Radice |work = [[Warwick University Ltd]] |editor = [[E. P. Thompson]] |edition = 2nd |publisher = Spokesman Books |date = October 2013 |publication-date = 2013-12-18 |isbn = 9780851248295 |pages = i-iii}}</ref> This incident set the tone for the many disagreements between the university and its students in the years to come.

By May 1973, construction had begun on a new administrative building, [[Senate House]].<ref>{{Citation|title=BUILDINGS|date=May 1973|publisher=the [[University of Warwick]]|work=[[Notes for Students]]|publication-date=October 1974|page=68-69 (inside back cover)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/NS/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/17/10}}</ref> Speaking in 2004, [[Christopher Zeeman]], founding professor of the [[Warwick Mathematics Institute]] and strong supported of the students and the [[SU]] on most issues, said that the building was built "like a fortress, so as to be able to defend it against the students",<ref name="zeeman-history">{{Citation|title=Early History of the Warwick Mathematics Institute|date=June 2004|author=Professor Sir [[Christopher Zeeman]], FRS|publisher=the [[University of Warwick]]|url=https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/maths/general/institute/histories-big.pdf|access-date=2025-08-16|work=The Histories of Mathematics & Statistics at Warwick|page=12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816152544/https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/maths/general/institute/histories-big.pdf|archive-date=2025-08-16}}</ref> likely as a way of preventing the "[[Warwick Files Affair]]", or something similar, from re-occuring.

=== Multi-storey carpark incident ===
{{see also|Multi-storey carpark incident}}
On 6 November 1973, a £264,000 multi-storey carpark, with a capacity for 465 cars, was approved in a meeting of the [[Council]]. This decision was extremely rushed, with the project not having been discussed beforehand at any prior Council meeting, and at least one member of the Council believing that no firm commitment had been made at the meeting, despite the fact that the University had already been locked into a contract with the contractors hired to build the carpark prior to the meeting on the 6th. This, and other procedural failings, meant that the carpark was extremely controversial. Of particular note here is that roughly £110,000 of the money used to build the carpark was money given by [[Warwickshire County Council]] to build student residences.<ref>{{citation|title = The Genesis of the Multi-Storey Car Park |author = Geoffrey Renshaw |periodical = ''[[University Opinion]]'' 1974-5 |work-ital = no |issue = 2 |date = November 1974 |page = 2-4 |archive-centre = [[Modern Records Centre]] |archive-collection = [[University of Warwick Archive]] |archive-ref = UWA/PUB/OP/5/2 |archive-ref-url = https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/15/4/36}}</ref> The carpark was still an important issue as late as the start of the 1975-1976 academic year, with many believing that an investigation should have taken place when none ever did.<ref name="carpark-sordid">{{Citation|title=That Car Park: The sordid details|date=c. October 1975|publisher=[[Warwick SU]]|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=11 (digital: 13)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/HB/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/11/10}}</ref>

=== Union Building saga ===
{{see also|Campaign for the Students' Union Building}}
{{see also|Warwick Students' Union 1974 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre}}
The [[Senate House]] occupation was not the first occupation of the acadenmic 1974-1975 year. At this time, the [[Students' Union Building]] was not yet open, with negotiations still ongoing with the University about finances and the division of space between students and staff. In 1974, these negotiations included disagreements on the Union appointing its own staff, and with the University witholding funds from the Union. This led to [[Warwick Students' Union 1974 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre|an occupation of the newly-built and about-to-be-opened Warwick Arts Centre in October 1974]], with the goal of disrupting the opening if the University didn't negotiate. The University did negotiate so the occupation was called off after 2 days and the opening was not disrupted.<ref>{{Citation|title=Drawing the Line|date=1974-10-10|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/195/rec/4|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Ray Earwicker|issue=19|page=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924235532/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/195/rec/4|archive-date=2025-09-25|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/19|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/19}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Occupation: What Really Happened|date=1974-10-17|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/204/rec/9|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Ray Earwicker|issue=20|page=2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924233556/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/205/rec/9|archive-date=2025-09-25|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/39|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/20}}</ref><ref name="messy-business"/><ref name="union-building">{{Citation|title=The Union Building|author=Nita Bowes|date=c. October 1975|publisher=[[Warwick SU]]|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=9 (digital: 11)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/HB/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/11/10}}</ref> These negotiations, while not directly linked to this occupation, were always present in the background, with the possible suspension of negotiations a considerable side-consequence of the occupation.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/>

=== The 1975 rent strike ===
{{see also|Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike}}
University [[accommodation]] fell under the remit of a nation-wide rent freeze until the start of 1975.<ref>{{Citation|title=Oh, What A Lovely Term|date=1974-12-05|author=Ray Earwicker|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/259/rec/189|access-date=2025-08-16|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Ray Earwicker|issue=27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250815235844/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/259/rec/189|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/27|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/27}}</ref> This meant that, for the first term of the 1974-1975 academic year, rents were frozen at a level deemed to be affordable. However, while the freeze continued for other types housing, the rent freeze ended for student accommodation at the start of the second term.<ref>{{Citation|title=The Rent Strike|date=1974-12-05|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/263/rec/189|access-date=2025-08-16|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Ray Earwicker|issue=27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002139/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/263/rec/189|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=6|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/27|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/27}}</ref> The [[university]] was making a loss on accommodation at this time due to the loan-based system through which most accommodation blocks were financed.<ref name="reactions-rent-strike">{{citation|title = Reactions to the Rent Strike |author = Rolph Schwarzenberger |periodical = ''[[University Opinion]]'' 1974-5 |work-ital = no |issue = 3 |date = January 1975 |page = 1-3 |archive-centre = [[Modern Records Centre]] |archive-collection = [[University of Warwick Archive]] |archive-ref = UWA/PUB/OP/5/3 |archive-ref-url = https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/15/4/37}}</ref> Hence, following the end of the rent freeze, rents were increased. The increases are sumarised below:<ref name="cost-mooching-scum">{{Citation|title=The cost of being the Mooching Scum|date=c. October 1975|publisher=[[Warwick SU]]|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|access-date=2025-08-16|work=[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=11 (digital: 13)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/HB/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/11/10}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! Accommodation type !! Weekly rents in term 1 !! Weekly rents in terms 2 & 3 !! Increase !! Percentage increase (1 d.p.)
|-
! [[Rootes (accommodation)|Rootes]] Hall self-catered with cleaning
| £4.92 || £6.50 || £1.58 || 31.1%
|-
! [[Tocil]] Flats, [[Whitefields]], [[Cryfield]] Flats self-catered
| £3.99 || £5.40 || £1.41 || 35.3%
|-
! [[Cryfield]] Hall included 5 evening meals per week
| £6.18 || £7.90 || £1.72 || 27.8%
|-
! Average !! £5.03 !! £6.60 !! £1.57 !! 31.2%
|}

These increases were considered too much by the student population, who argued that it wasn't inline with recent 1974 increase to the student grant of 25%.{{note|name=grant|At this time, students received a grant which they did not have to pay back, instead of a loan.}}{{note|There are arguments to be made that this increase was fair. These arguments looked at the average price of rent across the entire year, which worked out to a roughly 25% increase from the previous year, inline with the grants.<ref name="reactions-rent-strike"/> See [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike]] for more details.}}<ref name="cost-mooching-scum"/><ref>{{citation|title = Rents: the Union states its case |author = Penny Mead |periodical = ''[[University Opinion]]'' 1974-5 |work-ital = no |issue = 3 |date = January 1975 |page = 4-5 |archive-centre = [[Modern Records Centre]] |archive-collection = [[University of Warwick Archive]] |archive-ref = UWA/PUB/OP/5/3 |archive-ref-url = https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/15/4/37}}</ref><ref>{{citation|title = The Rent Strike: An Alternative Staff View |author = James Hinton |periodical = ''[[University Opinion]]'' 1974-5 |work-ital = no |issue = 4 |date = March 1975 |page = 1-3 |archive-centre = [[Modern Records Centre]] |archive-collection = [[University of Warwick Archive]] |archive-ref = UWA/PUB/OP/5/4 |archive-ref-url = https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/15/4/38}}</ref> Moreover, the University operated a system by which it would loan itself money from its [[Foundation Appeal Fund]] in order to build new accommodation, and then pay interest to itself on this loan. Many students felt that this system artificially raised rent prices.<ref>{{Citation|title=That Figures|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817000544/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref><ref name="butterworth-interview">{{Citation|title=Are You Still All Right Jack?A|author=David Wilby|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817000544/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=3|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref><ref name="reactions-rent-strike"/> Hence, in a [[Union General Meeting]] on Tuesday 2 December 1974, it was decided to begin [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike|a rent strike]] from the start of term 2.<ref>{{Citation|title=Rent Strike Go Ahead|date=1974-12-05|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/263/rec/189|access-date=2025-08-16|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Ray Earwicker|issue=27|page=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816122829/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/263/rec/189|archive-date=2025-08-16|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/27|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/27}}</ref>

== Events of the occupation ==
=== Initial vote and action ===
By the start of term 3, over 1200 students were part of the rent strike. However, members of the [[SU]] Executive had concerns over potentially victimisation of students involved. In particular, the [[university]] threatened to deny accommodation for the next academic year for those part of the strike, and even to deny degrees to those graduating who were participating. Over the Easter break, the executive discussed the optionas available to them and eventually decided to propose an occupation of [[Senate House]] and the [[Telephone Exchange]]. Sure enough, on the first day of term 3, Monday 21 April, a [[Union General Meeting]] (UGM) attended by over 700 students in the [[Aiport Lounge]] (one of the main social spaces at the time) voted to occupy the two buildings until the following four demands were met:
# freeze the term 2 rent,
# negotiate the term 3 tent,
# have no victimisation,
# keep the rent strike separate from other issues.
During the meeting, a student named Mike Adam adopted a devil's advocate position, warning the student body of the potential negative outcomes of the occupation. These included the possibilities of:
* payments of grants being delayed - while the motion did not propose to occupy the [[Finance Office]], it could be assumed that the administration would abandon the building entirely, even the un-occuped portions;
* the on-campus postal service being delayed;
* examinations being delayed or canceled;
* staff wages being payed late.
[[File:1975 Senate House occupation entry.jpg|thumb|right|Students entering [[Senate House]] through an open window.<ref name="window-photo"/>]]
Despite these concerns, the motion passed roughly 5 to 1.<ref name="united-action">{{Citation|title=United Action By Exec.|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817000544/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref>

Following the UGM, roughly 400 students marched on Senate House.<ref name="united-action"/> Writing in 2004, Professor [[Christopher Zeeman|Zeeman]], said that the students were able to gain access to the building by climbing in through the ventilation fan of the [[Vice-Chancellor]]'s private toilet, which had been added to the otherwise fortress-like building as an afterthought.<ref name="zeeman-history"/> This could be a misremembering of the events as ''[[The Warwick Boar]]'' No. 37 (a special edition devoted almost entirely to the occupation) claimed instead that the students initially gained entry through an open window.<ref name="united-action"/> The attached photo<ref name="window-photo">{{Citation|title=[[The Warwick Boar]]|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/365/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817001723/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/365/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref> shows students going through a window into the Vice-Chancellor's offices,<ref name="architecutral-review">{{Citation|title=Arts Centre and Administration Building, University of Warwick|date=May 1975|work=The Architectural Review|volume=CLVII|issue=939|page=270|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/PC/1/15|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/6/1/15}}</ref>{{note|The upper portion of the window shown in the photo is 3 bricks tall, and the window meets a wall to it's left at a 90° angle. The only window matching this description on the building is currently borded up, but is located on the second floor and looks into what used to be part of the Vice-Chancellor's offices.<ref name="architecutral-review"/>}} partially corroborating Zeeman's story. Further according to ''[[The Warwick Boar]]'' No. 37, these students were then hand-led away from doors they were trying to open by Professor Mykura, and the Vice-Chancellor, [[Jack Butterworth]], nearly slapped a camera out of the hands of a student trying to record the events.

By 2:30pm, Senate House had been successfully occupied and the first occupation meeting was held. In this meeting, Pat Denny and Mike Adams were elected to Union negoatiating comitee, alongside the SU's president, secretary and treasurer.<ref name="united-action"/> Throughout the occupation, a Union General Meeting would be held every day at 6pm.<ref>{{Citation|title=[[The Warwick Boar]]|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/367/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817001723/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/365/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=4|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref>

=== Early days ===
[[File:1975 Senate House occupation UGM 1.jpg|thumb|left|An early [[Union General Meeting]] held outside (and on top off) [[Senate House]].<ref name="ugm-photo-1">{{Citation|title=[[The Warwick Boar]]|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/365/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817001723/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/365/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=4|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref>]]
On Tuesday morning, the day following the occupation's start, a [[Steering Committee]] was held, with Nita Bowes and Pat Denny delegated to attend and represent the students. Their request for the power to be turned on in [[Senate House]] was denied under the reasoning that the building was closed. Their assurance that the Union was willing to listen to any representation from the University was met with silence.

On Wednesday morning, a meeting of the [[Senate]] was held. In the hour prior to the admittance of student represenatives, the academics on the Senate had met, and several had reluctantly decided to support the University. One academic Senator said "in a time of economic stringency Jack [Butterworth, Vice-Chancellor] delivers the financial goods" and "any academic who wishes to see his department receive a share of the income of this University is well advised to steer clear of any suspicions that he is sympathetic to the students claim". The SU President and the Student Senator, Simon Yates, were accompanied to the meeting by two student observers, Bill Nottage and Nita Bowes. A third observer was refused admission. The students intended to open a discussion of the University's system of finances, claiming that the system where the University pays interest on payments between internal University accounts was raising rents unnecessarily. However, the Vice-Chancellor and the Finance Officer shut this topic of discussion down and, despite several [[Council]] members asking for it to continue, a motion from Professor Griffiths was passed 27 to 2, stating that the question of rent levels had already be discussed heavily and that negotiations would not be re-opened for that year's rent. The motion also stated that negotiations on next year's rent could only commence as usual if the Students' Union left Senate House.

Following this meeting, it was decided, in a SU Executive meeting, to recommend to that evening's Union General Meeting that the occupation continue, and to call for the release of grant cheques for the term,{{note|name=grant}} and to release the Union's funds for the term. In that evening's Union meeting, the motion passed with over 1000 students voting in favour out of the roughly 1200 present. This included the rejection of an ammended motion put forward by a student named Linda Ross that argued that it was in the students' best interest to call off the occupation due to the inevitability of educational expenditure cut backs. This position was rebuked in a speech by Union Secretary Nita Bowes which argued that the educational cutbacks should be opposed, and that to not do so would be to overturn years of Union policy based on the principle that education is a right, not a privelage.<ref name="united-action"/>

=== Immediate support and impacts ===
''[[The Warwick Boar]]'', operating independently from the [[Students' Union]], supported the occupation.<ref>{{Citation|title=Time To Take a Stand|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817000544/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref> Moreover, the staff trade unions largely remained neutral or supported the occupation. The [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] passed a motion supporting the rent strike. [[NALGO]] addopted a neutral position. The [[AUT]] had not resolved anything by the publication of ''[[The Warwick Boar]]'' No. 37.<ref name="united-action"/> However, the Vice-Chancellor, Jack Butterworth, claimed that NALGO refused to let its members enter [[Senate House]] during the occupation.<ref name="butterworth-interview"/>

Despite concerns that the University's postal service would be disrupted, it remained active from its base in [[Rootes Hall]] (now known as Rootes Social Building]]). However, the University had witheld the Students' Union's termly funds, and grant cheques were not being payed.{{note|name=grant}} This was despite the fact that the Finance Office in Senate House remained unoccupied, and despite the setting up of an emergency [[Finance Office]] in [[F3.14]] in the [[Engineering Block]]. This lack of grant cheque payments was considered illegal by the Students' Union, and so, on Friday 25 April, a write was served on Vice-Chancellor Butterworth and Mr. Rowe-Evans, the University Secretary. If uncontested, this would have meant grants would have to be payed to students somehow on Monday 28 April, one week after the start of term. If contested, this would lead to an injunction being heard in the High Court on Tuesday 29 April.<ref name="united-action"/> However, Butterworth didn't feel that any judge would allow the distrubution of grants due to NALGO's refusal to enter Senate House.<ref name="butterworth-interview"/> Indeed, the University took this up in court, and was winning.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/> The University also began seeking a reposession order against the students to dispell them from Senate House.<ref name="messy-business">{{Citation|title=A Messy Business|date=1975-10-07|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Gary Vaux, Dave Wilby, and Godfrey Rust|issue=39|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/39|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/39}}</ref><ref name="costs-confrontation"/>

Moreover, while none of the exams scheduled for the week of the occupation were affected,<ref name="united-action"/> in an intervew for ''[[The Warwick Boar]]'', Professor Phillips-Griffiths warned that there could be a "complete breakdown of the examination system", and Vice-Chancellor Butterworth agreed. This was, at least in part, due to the tight schedule of external examiners, who were required for the marking of finalists' exams. This meant that finalists may not have been able to take their final exams, and so would have had to leave university without a degree, potentially taking their exams the year after instead.<ref name="butterworth-interview"/> Another issue with exams was that, to run them, it would have required the removal of a significant amount of paperwork from Senate House, including 3,300 personal files and examination cards. This would have been impractical,<ref name="costs-confrontation">{{Citation|title=The Costs of Confrontation|author=Mike Adams|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/372/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref> even with the occupiers allowing the University access to this paperwork.<ref>{{Citation|title=Nit-Picketing|author=Rob Walker|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/372/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=4|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref>
[[File:1975 Senate House occupation UGM 2.jpg|thumb|right|A Union General Meeting held on 8 May 1975 outside [[Senate House]].<ref name="occupation-photos">{{Citation|title=Occupation Photos|author=Jake|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/372/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=6|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref>]]

=== Beginning of the end ===
Around two weeks into the occupation, little progress had been made, and a proposal was put forward in an occupation executive meeting to withdraw. This was shot down, although the SU President, Kasper de Graaf, confided to Mike Adams that he had already decided to withdraw once the exam cancellations became iminent.

On 4 May 1975, a member of the [[Steering Committee]] told Mike Adams, who, on the 5th, subsiquently informed other members of the Union and occupation executive, that a number of concessions would be made if the Union withdrew immediately. The other executive members agreed immediately that they would propose an executive motion to withdraw if assurances of the following concessions could be gained in writing:
* dropping of the £3 fee for late payment of accommodation costs,
* immediate accommodation forms (for the next academic year) for all rent strikers,
* no [[Finance and General Purpose Committee]] procedures to be taken against rent strikers.
At 12:30pm on 5 May, it was assured by word that a written assurance would be given at 9:30am on 6 May. However, by 1pm on the 5th, the SU President, Kasper de Graaf, had been convinced by the Union Secretary, Nita Bowes, that his initial decision was wrong. Instead, a motion to fight the injunction to remove the students from Senate House was passed at a subsequent Union General Meeting.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/>

=== End of the occupation ===
[[File:1975 Senate House occupation police 1.jpg|thumb|left|Police at [[Senate House]].<ref name="thrown-out"/>]]
The University succeeded in obtaining a reposession order for [[Senate House]], requiring the student occupiers to leave.<ref name="messy-business">{{Citation|title=A Messy Business|date=1975-10-07|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Gary Vaux, Dave Wilby, and Godfrey Rust|issue=39|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/39|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/39}}</ref><ref name="costs-confrontation"/> Students found out about this order and prepared for 30 to 40 police offiers to arrive to carry out it out.<ref name="thrown-out">{{Citation|title=Thrown Out!|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref> On 15 May 1975,<ref name="events-april-may">{{Citation|title=The Events of April and May 1975|author=Nita Bowes|date=c. October 1975|publisher=[[Warwick SU]]|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=7 (digital: 9)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/HB/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/11/10}}</ref> after 3.5 weeks of occupation, scouting parties were sent out to the nearby Fletchampstead Highway Police Station. These reported back a force of several coaches parked at the rugby grounds opposite the [[Canley College of Education]].{{note|[[Canley College of Education]] used to be a separate institution from the [[University of Warwick]]. However, in 1978, it merged with the University to become the [[Westwood Campus]].}} Sleeping bags and other items were collected so that the occupiers were ready to leave. A constant telephone link was maintained between Senate House and the [[University Telephone Exchange]], which was also occupied.

At 7:30am, 12 coaches full of police officers arived outside [[Whitefields]] opposite Senate House.<ref name="thrown-out"/> The total number of police was over 500.<ref name="events-april-may"/> The executive asked the police for 5 minutes while the occupiers gathered their possessions, which was largely a show of bravery as all possessions had already been collected together. None of the people explicitly named in the writ were present at the time, meaning no arrests were made. Moreover, the repossession order only applied to Senate House and so the police were unable to stop the students marching into the [[Arts Centre]] and beginning another occupation. Once the students had emptied out, the police conducted a search of the building and then left.

At the [[University Telephone Exchange]], two coaches of police arrived and the student occupiers left peacefully.<ref name="thrown-out"/>

== Aftermath ==
=== Arts Centre occupation ===
{{see also|Warwick Students' Union 1975 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre}}
The repossession order which allowed the University to expell the student occupiers from [[Senate House]] on 15 May 1975 did not apply to any other buildings. Hence, the students were able to move directly into [[Warwick Arts Centre]],<ref name="thrown-out"/> which they continued to occupy for another week.<ref name="events-april-may"/> On Monday 19 May, a motion to continue picketing Senate House was passed, although with a number of abstentions. This was an ammended motion, the original one from the Executive instead proposing to switch to a mass lobby. It was also decided to continue occupying the Arts Centre, pending a decision from the [[Senate]].<ref>{{Citation|title=U.G.M.|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/372/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref> The Director of the Arts Centre, Alwyne Scrase-Dickens, estimated that this brief occupation set the Arts Centre back 6 months.<ref>{{Citation|title=Occupation hits the Arts Centre|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/377/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925114859/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/377/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-25|page=9|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref>

=== Rents and the strike ===
Ultimately, the rent strike and occupations were unsuccesful, with rents rising further at the start of the 1975-1976 academic year:<ref name="cost-mooching-scum"/>
{| class="wikitable"
! Accommodation type !! Weekly rents in 1975 terms 2 & 3 !! Weekly rents in 1975 term 1 !! Increase !! Percentage increase (1 d.p.)
|-
! [[Rootes (accommodation)|Rootes]] Hall self-catered with cleaning
| £6.50 || £7.60 || £1.10 || 16.9%
|-
! [[Tocil]] Flats, [[Whitefields]], [[Cryfield]] Flats self-catered
| £5.40 || £6.31 || £0.91 || 16.9%
|-
! [[Cryfield]] Hall included 5 evening meals per week
| £7.90 || £9.22 || £1.32 || 16.7%
|-
! Average !! £6.60 !! £7.71 !! £1.11 !! 16.8%
|}
Indeed, in the first [[Union General Meeting]] of the next academic year, it was decided to continue the [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike|rent strike]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Mulley To Visit Warwick|date=1975-10-07|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/380/rec/1|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=40|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925104410/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/380/rec/1|archive-date=2025-09-25|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/40|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/40}}</ref> However, it was called off not long into term 2.<ref>{{Citation|title=Dixon makes a mark|date=1976-01-15|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/495/rec/7|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=48|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925105235/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/495/rec/7|archive-date=2025-09-25|page=3|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/40|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/48}}</ref>

=== Damages and costs ===
A report was produced detailing the extent of the damage done to [[Senate House]] during the occupation.<ref name="damage-report">{{Citation|title=Damage Report|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref> Had the Union withdrew in early May, the student population would have had equal representation on the damage committee. However, as the occupation didm't end here, this was not the case.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/> The [[Registry]] staff who worked in Senate House were suprised by the lack of damage. The damage report included minor damages such as wax stains from candles, cigarette burns, and broken locks, but the Union was let off other points. One of the major complaints was that a 16-year-old cactus in the building had been killed. The Union was considering buying the owner a new one.<ref name="damage-report"/>

Moreover, the Union was presented with a bill from the bailiffs, possibly running into the thousands of pounds, a bill of around £8,000 for the cost of the police action, and 25% of the costs of two legal actions.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/> Due primarily to these costs and the overall costs of the [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike|rent strike]], the Union was set to make a loss for the year.<ref name="union-news">{{Citation|title=Union News|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/371/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925144002/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/371/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=3|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref>

=== Other impacts ===
As well as the direct financial implications, the occupation also caused a suspension of the then still ongoing talks on the [[Union Building]], as well as a suspension of the talks over the remaning money from the "capitation fee", totaling £20,000, that the University had witheld from the Union at the start of the year and which sparked the initial [[Warwick Students' Union 1974 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre|Arts Centre occupation]] of the year.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/> £14,000 of this money was desparately needed for the Union Building to open at the start of the next academic year.<ref name="union-news"/> Moreover, running the Union Building required an increased capitation fee for the upcoming academic year, and talks on securing this were also suspended.

Moreover, the occupation resulted in a delay, described by Mike Adams as "possibly fatal", in establishing an inquiry into the multi-storey carpark.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/> Indeed, by the start of the next academic year, no inquiry or investigation had occured.<ref name="carpark-sordid"/>

== Gallery ==
<gallery widths=250px heights=250px>
1975 Senate House occupation entry.jpg|Students entering [[Senate House]] through an open window.<ref name="window-photo"/>
1975 Senate House occupation UGM 1.jpg|An early [[Union General Meeting]] held outside (and on top off) Senate House.<ref name="ugm-photo-1"/>
1975 Senate House occupation UGM 2.jpg|A Union General Meeting held on 8 May 1975 outside Senate House.<ref name="occupation-photos"/>
1975 Senate House occupation UGM 3.jpg|Voting at a Union General Meeting held on 8 May 1975 outside Senate House.<ref name="occupation-photos"/>
1975 Senate House occupation UGM 4.jpg|A Union General Meeting held outside Senate House.<ref name="messy-business"/>
File:1975 Senate House occupation students.jpg|Students outside Senate House.<ref name="events-april-may"/>
1975 Senate House occupation police arrive.jpg|Police arrive opposite Senate House.<ref name="occupation-photos"/>
1975 Senate House occupation police 1.jpg|Police at Senate House.<ref name="thrown-out"/>
1975 Senate House occupation police 2.jpg|Police at Senate House.<ref name="thrown-out"/>
1975 Senate House occupation police 3.jpg|Police kicking students out of Senate House.<ref name="occupation-photos"/>
1975 Senate House occupation banner uncropped.jpg|A banner displayed outside Senate House during the occupation.<ref>{{Citation|title=[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]|date=c. October 1975|publisher=[[Warwick SU]]|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|access-date=2025-09-24|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=11 (digital: 13)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/HB/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/11/10}}</ref>
1975 Senate House occupation banner.jpg|Cropped banner.<ref>{{Citation|title=[[The Warwick Boar]]|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925145924/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref>
1975 Senate House occupation lone figure.jpg|A lone figure on top of Senate House during the occupation.<ref name="united-action"/>
1975 Senate House occupation cartoon.jpg|A cartoon jokingly representing how students gained entry to Senate House<ref name="events-april-may"/>
</gallery>

== Footnoes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Warwick Students' Union occupations]]
[[Category:Events from the 1974-1975 academic year]]

Warwick Students' Union 1975 occupation of Senate House and the Telephone Exchange

2025-09-25T20:24:55Z

AlfieG: /* Gallery */

In 1975, [[Warwick Students' Union]] occupied [[Senate House]] (then the main admin hub of the university) and the [[Telephone Exchange]] for 3.5 weeks throughout April and May due to the rising cost of rent across university accomodation. This occupation followed the [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike|1975 rent strike]], and led to the [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre|1975 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre]].

== Background ==
This occupation was proceeded by a period with several controversies, disagreements between the University and the Students' Union, and occupations. While only the [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike|1975 rent strike]] led directly to the occupation, the other incidents in the run up set the tone and are important for considering this occupation in full context.

=== The "Warwick Files Affair" and Senate House ===
{{see also|Warwick Files Affair}}
In February 1970, during a [[Warwick SU]] occupation of the [[Registry Building]] - then the administrative hub of the [[university]] - students uncovered files show that the university administration was conducting routine surveillance on students and staff. This high-profile incident has come to be known as the "[[Warwick Files Affair]]".<ref>{{citation|title = Introduction to the New Edition |author = Hugo Radice |work = [[Warwick University Ltd]] |editor = [[E. P. Thompson]] |edition = 2nd |publisher = Spokesman Books |date = October 2013 |publication-date = 2013-12-18 |isbn = 9780851248295 |pages = i-iii}}</ref> This incident set the tone for the many disagreements between the university and its students in the years to come.

By May 1973, construction had begun on a new administrative building, [[Senate House]].<ref>{{Citation|title=BUILDINGS|date=May 1973|publisher=the [[University of Warwick]]|work=[[Notes for Students]]|publication-date=October 1974|page=68-69 (inside back cover)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/NS/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/17/10}}</ref> Speaking in 2004, [[Christopher Zeeman]], founding professor of the [[Warwick Mathematics Institute]] and strong supported of the students and the [[SU]] on most issues, said that the building was built "like a fortress, so as to be able to defend it against the students",<ref name="zeeman-history">{{Citation|title=Early History of the Warwick Mathematics Institute|date=June 2004|author=Professor Sir [[Christopher Zeeman]], FRS|publisher=the [[University of Warwick]]|url=https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/maths/general/institute/histories-big.pdf|access-date=2025-08-16|work=The Histories of Mathematics & Statistics at Warwick|page=12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816152544/https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/maths/general/institute/histories-big.pdf|archive-date=2025-08-16}}</ref> likely as a way of preventing the "[[Warwick Files Affair]]", or something similar, from re-occuring.

=== Multi-storey carpark incident ===
{{see also|Multi-storey carpark incident}}
On 6 November 1973, a £264,000 multi-storey carpark, with a capacity for 465 cars, was approved in a meeting of the [[Council]]. This decision was extremely rushed, with the project not having been discussed beforehand at any prior Council meeting, and at least one member of the Council believing that no firm commitment had been made at the meeting, despite the fact that the University had already been locked into a contract with the contractors hired to build the carpark prior to the meeting on the 6th. This, and other procedural failings, meant that the carpark was extremely controversial. Of particular note here is that roughly £110,000 of the money used to build the carpark was money given by [[Warwickshire County Council]] to build student residences.<ref>{{citation|title = The Genesis of the Multi-Storey Car Park |author = Geoffrey Renshaw |periodical = ''[[University Opinion]]'' 1974-5 |work-ital = no |issue = 2 |date = November 1974 |page = 2-4 |archive-centre = [[Modern Records Centre]] |archive-collection = [[University of Warwick Archive]] |archive-ref = UWA/PUB/OP/5/2 |archive-ref-url = https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/15/4/36}}</ref> The carpark was still an important issue as late as the start of the 1975-1976 academic year, with many believing that an investigation should have taken place when none ever did.<ref name="carpark-sordid">{{Citation|title=That Car Park: The sordid details|date=c. October 1975|publisher=[[Warwick SU]]|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=11 (digital: 13)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/HB/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/11/10}}</ref>

=== Union Building saga ===
{{see also|Campaign for the Students' Union Building}}
{{see also|Warwick Students' Union 1974 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre}}
The [[Senate House]] occupation was not the first occupation of the acadenmic 1974-1975 year. At this time, the [[Students' Union Building]] was not yet open, with negotiations still ongoing with the University about finances and the division of space between students and staff. In 1974, these negotiations included disagreements on the Union appointing its own staff, and with the University witholding funds from the Union. This led to [[Warwick Students' Union 1974 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre|an occupation of the newly-built and about-to-be-opened Warwick Arts Centre in October 1974]], with the goal of disrupting the opening if the University didn't negotiate. The University did negotiate so the occupation was called off after 2 days and the opening was not disrupted.<ref>{{Citation|title=Drawing the Line|date=1974-10-10|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/195/rec/4|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Ray Earwicker|issue=19|page=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924235532/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/195/rec/4|archive-date=2025-09-25|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/19|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/19}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Occupation: What Really Happened|date=1974-10-17|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/204/rec/9|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Ray Earwicker|issue=20|page=2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924233556/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/205/rec/9|archive-date=2025-09-25|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/39|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/20}}</ref><ref name="messy-business"/><ref name="union-building">{{Citation|title=The Union Building|author=Nita Bowes|date=c. October 1975|publisher=[[Warwick SU]]|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=9 (digital: 11)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/HB/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/11/10}}</ref> These negotiations, while not directly linked to this occupation, were always present in the background, with the possible suspension of negotiations a considerable side-consequence of the occupation.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/>

=== The 1975 rent strike ===
{{see also|Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike}}
University [[accommodation]] fell under the remit of a nation-wide rent freeze until the start of 1975.<ref>{{Citation|title=Oh, What A Lovely Term|date=1974-12-05|author=Ray Earwicker|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/259/rec/189|access-date=2025-08-16|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Ray Earwicker|issue=27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250815235844/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/259/rec/189|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/27|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/27}}</ref> This meant that, for the first term of the 1974-1975 academic year, rents were frozen at a level deemed to be affordable. However, while the freeze continued for other types housing, the rent freeze ended for student accommodation at the start of the second term.<ref>{{Citation|title=The Rent Strike|date=1974-12-05|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/263/rec/189|access-date=2025-08-16|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Ray Earwicker|issue=27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002139/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/263/rec/189|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=6|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/27|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/27}}</ref> The [[university]] was making a loss on accommodation at this time due to the loan-based system through which most accommodation blocks were financed.<ref name="reactions-rent-strike">{{citation|title = Reactions to the Rent Strike |author = Rolph Schwarzenberger |periodical = ''[[University Opinion]]'' 1974-5 |work-ital = no |issue = 3 |date = January 1975 |page = 1-3 |archive-centre = [[Modern Records Centre]] |archive-collection = [[University of Warwick Archive]] |archive-ref = UWA/PUB/OP/5/3 |archive-ref-url = https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/15/4/37}}</ref> Hence, following the end of the rent freeze, rents were increased. The increases are sumarised below:<ref name="cost-mooching-scum">{{Citation|title=The cost of being the Mooching Scum|date=c. October 1975|publisher=[[Warwick SU]]|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|access-date=2025-08-16|work=[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=11 (digital: 13)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/HB/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/11/10}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! Accommodation type !! Weekly rents in term 1 !! Weekly rents in terms 2 & 3 !! Increase !! Percentage increase (1 d.p.)
|-
! [[Rootes (accommodation)|Rootes]] Hall self-catered with cleaning
| £4.92 || £6.50 || £1.58 || 31.1%
|-
! [[Tocil]] Flats, [[Whitefields]], [[Cryfield]] Flats self-catered
| £3.99 || £5.40 || £1.41 || 35.3%
|-
! [[Cryfield]] Hall included 5 evening meals per week
| £6.18 || £7.90 || £1.72 || 27.8%
|-
! Average !! £5.03 !! £6.60 !! £1.57 !! 31.2%
|}

These increases were considered too much by the student population, who argued that it wasn't inline with recent 1974 increase to the student grant of 25%.{{note|name=grant|At this time, students received a grant which they did not have to pay back, instead of a loan.}}{{note|There are arguments to be made that this increase was fair. These arguments looked at the average price of rent across the entire year, which worked out to a roughly 25% increase from the previous year, inline with the grants.<ref name="reactions-rent-strike"/> See [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike]] for more details.}}<ref name="cost-mooching-scum"/><ref>{{citation|title = Rents: the Union states its case |author = Penny Mead |periodical = ''[[University Opinion]]'' 1974-5 |work-ital = no |issue = 3 |date = January 1975 |page = 4-5 |archive-centre = [[Modern Records Centre]] |archive-collection = [[University of Warwick Archive]] |archive-ref = UWA/PUB/OP/5/3 |archive-ref-url = https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/15/4/37}}</ref><ref>{{citation|title = The Rent Strike: An Alternative Staff View |author = James Hinton |periodical = ''[[University Opinion]]'' 1974-5 |work-ital = no |issue = 4 |date = March 1975 |page = 1-3 |archive-centre = [[Modern Records Centre]] |archive-collection = [[University of Warwick Archive]] |archive-ref = UWA/PUB/OP/5/4 |archive-ref-url = https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/15/4/38}}</ref> Moreover, the University operated a system by which it would loan itself money from its [[Foundation Appeal Fund]] in order to build new accommodation, and then pay interest to itself on this loan. Many students felt that this system artificially raised rent prices.<ref>{{Citation|title=That Figures|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817000544/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref><ref name="butterworth-interview">{{Citation|title=Are You Still All Right Jack?A|author=David Wilby|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817000544/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=3|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref><ref name="reactions-rent-strike"/> Hence, in a [[Union General Meeting]] on Tuesday 2 December 1974, it was decided to begin [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike|a rent strike]] from the start of term 2.<ref>{{Citation|title=Rent Strike Go Ahead|date=1974-12-05|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/263/rec/189|access-date=2025-08-16|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Ray Earwicker|issue=27|page=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816122829/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/263/rec/189|archive-date=2025-08-16|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/27|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/27}}</ref>

== Events of the occupation ==
=== Initial vote and action ===
By the start of term 3, over 1200 students were part of the rent strike. However, members of the [[SU]] Executive had concerns over potentially victimisation of students involved. In particular, the [[university]] threatened to deny accommodation for the next academic year for those part of the strike, and even to deny degrees to those graduating who were participating. Over the Easter break, the executive discussed the optionas available to them and eventually decided to propose an occupation of [[Senate House]] and the [[Telephone Exchange]]. Sure enough, on the first day of term 3, Monday 21 April, a [[Union General Meeting]] (UGM) attended by over 700 students in the [[Aiport Lounge]] (one of the main social spaces at the time) voted to occupy the two buildings until the following four demands were met:
# freeze the term 2 rent,
# negotiate the term 3 tent,
# have no victimisation,
# keep the rent strike separate from other issues.
During the meeting, a student named Mike Adam adopted a devil's advocate position, warning the student body of the potential negative outcomes of the occupation. These included the possibilities of:
* payments of grants being delayed - while the motion did not propose to occupy the [[Finance Office]], it could be assumed that the administration would abandon the building entirely, even the un-occuped portions;
* the on-campus postal service being delayed;
* examinations being delayed or canceled;
* staff wages being payed late.
[[File:1975 Senate House occupation entry.jpg|thumb|right|Students entering [[Senate House]] through an open window.<ref name="window-photo"/>]]
Despite these concerns, the motion passed roughly 5 to 1.<ref name="united-action">{{Citation|title=United Action By Exec.|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817000544/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref>

Following the UGM, roughly 400 students marched on Senate House.<ref name="united-action"/> Writing in 2004, Professor [[Christopher Zeeman|Zeeman]], said that the students were able to gain access to the building by climbing in through the ventilation fan of the [[Vice-Chancellor]]'s private toilet, which had been added to the otherwise fortress-like building as an afterthought.<ref name="zeeman-history"/> This could be a misremembering of the events as ''[[The Warwick Boar]]'' No. 37 (a special edition devoted almost entirely to the occupation) claimed instead that the students initially gained entry through an open window.<ref name="united-action"/> The attached photo<ref name="window-photo">{{Citation|title=[[The Warwick Boar]]|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/365/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817001723/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/365/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref> shows students going through a window into the Vice-Chancellor's offices,<ref name="architecutral-review">{{Citation|title=Arts Centre and Administration Building, University of Warwick|date=May 1975|work=The Architectural Review|volume=CLVII|issue=939|page=270|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/PC/1/15|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/6/1/15}}</ref>{{note|The upper portion of the window shown in the photo is 3 bricks tall, and the window meets a wall to it's left at a 90° angle. The only window matching this description on the building is currently borded up, but is located on the second floor and looks into what used to be part of the Vice-Chancellor's offices.<ref name="architecutral-review"/>}} partially corroborating Zeeman's story. Further according to ''[[The Warwick Boar]]'' No. 37, these students were then hand-led away from doors they were trying to open by Professor Mykura, and the Vice-Chancellor, [[Jack Butterworth]], nearly slapped a camera out of the hands of a student trying to record the events.

By 2:30pm, Senate House had been successfully occupied and the first occupation meeting was held. In this meeting, Pat Denny and Mike Adams were elected to Union negoatiating comitee, alongside the SU's president, secretary and treasurer.<ref name="united-action"/> Throughout the occupation, a Union General Meeting would be held every day at 6pm.<ref>{{Citation|title=[[The Warwick Boar]]|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/367/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817001723/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/365/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=4|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref>

=== Early days ===
[[File:1975 Senate House occupation UGM 1.jpg|thumb|left|An early [[Union General Meeting]] held outside (and on top off) [[Senate House]].<ref name="ugm-photo-1">{{Citation|title=[[The Warwick Boar]]|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/365/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817001723/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/365/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=4|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref>]]
On Tuesday morning, the day following the occupation's start, a [[Steering Committee]] was held, with Nita Bowes and Pat Denny delegated to attend and represent the students. Their request for the power to be turned on in [[Senate House]] was denied under the reasoning that the building was closed. Their assurance that the Union was willing to listen to any representation from the University was met with silence.

On Wednesday morning, a meeting of the [[Senate]] was held. In the hour prior to the admittance of student represenatives, the academics on the Senate had met, and several had reluctantly decided to support the University. One academic Senator said "in a time of economic stringency Jack [Butterworth, Vice-Chancellor] delivers the financial goods" and "any academic who wishes to see his department receive a share of the income of this University is well advised to steer clear of any suspicions that he is sympathetic to the students claim". The SU President and the Student Senator, Simon Yates, were accompanied to the meeting by two student observers, Bill Nottage and Nita Bowes. A third observer was refused admission. The students intended to open a discussion of the University's system of finances, claiming that the system where the University pays interest on payments between internal University accounts was raising rents unnecessarily. However, the Vice-Chancellor and the Finance Officer shut this topic of discussion down and, despite several [[Council]] members asking for it to continue, a motion from Professor Griffiths was passed 27 to 2, stating that the question of rent levels had already be discussed heavily and that negotiations would not be re-opened for that year's rent. The motion also stated that negotiations on next year's rent could only commence as usual if the Students' Union left Senate House.

Following this meeting, it was decided, in a SU Executive meeting, to recommend to that evening's Union General Meeting that the occupation continue, and to call for the release of grant cheques for the term,{{note|name=grant}} and to release the Union's funds for the term. In that evening's Union meeting, the motion passed with over 1000 students voting in favour out of the roughly 1200 present. This included the rejection of an ammended motion put forward by a student named Linda Ross that argued that it was in the students' best interest to call off the occupation due to the inevitability of educational expenditure cut backs. This position was rebuked in a speech by Union Secretary Nita Bowes which argued that the educational cutbacks should be opposed, and that to not do so would be to overturn years of Union policy based on the principle that education is a right, not a privelage.<ref name="united-action"/>

=== Immediate support and impacts ===
''[[The Warwick Boar]]'', operating independently from the [[Students' Union]], supported the occupation.<ref>{{Citation|title=Time To Take a Stand|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817000544/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref> Moreover, the staff trade unions largely remained neutral or supported the occupation. The [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] passed a motion supporting the rent strike. [[NALGO]] addopted a neutral position. The [[AUT]] had not resolved anything by the publication of ''[[The Warwick Boar]]'' No. 37.<ref name="united-action"/> However, the Vice-Chancellor, Jack Butterworth, claimed that NALGO refused to let its members enter [[Senate House]] during the occupation.<ref name="butterworth-interview"/>

Despite concerns that the University's postal service would be disrupted, it remained active from its base in [[Rootes Hall]] (now known as Rootes Social Building]]). However, the University had witheld the Students' Union's termly funds, and grant cheques were not being payed.{{note|name=grant}} This was despite the fact that the Finance Office in Senate House remained unoccupied, and despite the setting up of an emergency [[Finance Office]] in [[F3.14]] in the [[Engineering Block]]. This lack of grant cheque payments was considered illegal by the Students' Union, and so, on Friday 25 April, a write was served on Vice-Chancellor Butterworth and Mr. Rowe-Evans, the University Secretary. If uncontested, this would have meant grants would have to be payed to students somehow on Monday 28 April, one week after the start of term. If contested, this would lead to an injunction being heard in the High Court on Tuesday 29 April.<ref name="united-action"/> However, Butterworth didn't feel that any judge would allow the distrubution of grants due to NALGO's refusal to enter Senate House.<ref name="butterworth-interview"/> Indeed, the University took this up in court, and was winning.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/> The University also began seeking a reposession order against the students to dispell them from Senate House.<ref name="messy-business">{{Citation|title=A Messy Business|date=1975-10-07|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Gary Vaux, Dave Wilby, and Godfrey Rust|issue=39|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/39|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/39}}</ref><ref name="costs-confrontation"/>

Moreover, while none of the exams scheduled for the week of the occupation were affected,<ref name="united-action"/> in an intervew for ''[[The Warwick Boar]]'', Professor Phillips-Griffiths warned that there could be a "complete breakdown of the examination system", and Vice-Chancellor Butterworth agreed. This was, at least in part, due to the tight schedule of external examiners, who were required for the marking of finalists' exams. This meant that finalists may not have been able to take their final exams, and so would have had to leave university without a degree, potentially taking their exams the year after instead.<ref name="butterworth-interview"/> Another issue with exams was that, to run them, it would have required the removal of a significant amount of paperwork from Senate House, including 3,300 personal files and examination cards. This would have been impractical,<ref name="costs-confrontation">{{Citation|title=The Costs of Confrontation|author=Mike Adams|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/372/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref> even with the occupiers allowing the University access to this paperwork.<ref>{{Citation|title=Nit-Picketing|author=Rob Walker|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/372/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=4|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref>
[[File:1975 Senate House occupation UGM 2.jpg|thumb|right|A Union General Meeting held on 8 May 1975 outside [[Senate House]].<ref name="occupation-photos">{{Citation|title=Occupation Photos|author=Jake|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/372/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=6|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref>]]

=== Beginning of the end ===
Around two weeks into the occupation, little progress had been made, and a proposal was put forward in an occupation executive meeting to withdraw. This was shot down, although the SU President, Kasper de Graaf, confided to Mike Adams that he had already decided to withdraw once the exam cancellations became iminent.

On 4 May 1975, a member of the [[Steering Committee]] told Mike Adams, who, on the 5th, subsiquently informed other members of the Union and occupation executive, that a number of concessions would be made if the Union withdrew immediately. The other executive members agreed immediately that they would propose an executive motion to withdraw if assurances of the following concessions could be gained in writing:
* dropping of the £3 fee for late payment of accommodation costs,
* immediate accommodation forms (for the next academic year) for all rent strikers,
* no [[Finance and General Purpose Committee]] procedures to be taken against rent strikers.
At 12:30pm on 5 May, it was assured by word that a written assurance would be given at 9:30am on 6 May. However, by 1pm on the 5th, the SU President, Kasper de Graaf, had been convinced by the Union Secretary, Nita Bowes, that his initial decision was wrong. Instead, a motion to fight the injunction to remove the students from Senate House was passed at a subsequent Union General Meeting.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/>

=== End of the occupation ===
[[File:1975 Senate House occupation police 1.jpg|thumb|left|Police at [[Senate House]].<ref name="thrown-out"/>]]
The University succeeded in obtaining a reposession order for [[Senate House]], requiring the student occupiers to leave.<ref name="messy-business">{{Citation|title=A Messy Business|date=1975-10-07|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|editor=Gary Vaux, Dave Wilby, and Godfrey Rust|issue=39|page=2|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/39|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/39}}</ref><ref name="costs-confrontation"/> Students found out about this order and prepared for 30 to 40 police offiers to arrive to carry out it out.<ref name="thrown-out">{{Citation|title=Thrown Out!|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref> On 15 May 1975,<ref name="events-april-may">{{Citation|title=The Events of April and May 1975|author=Nita Bowes|date=c. October 1975|publisher=[[Warwick SU]]|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=7 (digital: 9)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/HB/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/11/10}}</ref> after 3.5 weeks of occupation, scouting parties were sent out to the nearby Fletchampstead Highway Police Station. These reported back a force of several coaches parked at the rugby grounds opposite the [[Canley College of Education]].{{note|[[Canley College of Education]] used to be a separate institution from the [[University of Warwick]]. However, in 1978, it merged with the University to become the [[Westwood Campus]].}} Sleeping bags and other items were collected so that the occupiers were ready to leave. A constant telephone link was maintained between Senate House and the [[University Telephone Exchange]], which was also occupied.

At 7:30am, 12 coaches full of police officers arived outside [[Whitefields]] opposite Senate House.<ref name="thrown-out"/> The total number of police was over 500.<ref name="events-april-may"/> The executive asked the police for 5 minutes while the occupiers gathered their possessions, which was largely a show of bravery as all possessions had already been collected together. None of the people explicitly named in the writ were present at the time, meaning no arrests were made. Moreover, the repossession order only applied to Senate House and so the police were unable to stop the students marching into the [[Arts Centre]] and beginning another occupation. Once the students had emptied out, the police conducted a search of the building and then left.

At the [[University Telephone Exchange]], two coaches of police arrived and the student occupiers left peacefully.<ref name="thrown-out"/>

== Aftermath ==
=== Arts Centre occupation ===
{{see also|Warwick Students' Union 1975 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre}}
The repossession order which allowed the University to expell the student occupiers from [[Senate House]] on 15 May 1975 did not apply to any other buildings. Hence, the students were able to move directly into [[Warwick Arts Centre]],<ref name="thrown-out"/> which they continued to occupy for another week.<ref name="events-april-may"/> On Monday 19 May, a motion to continue picketing Senate House was passed, although with a number of abstentions. This was an ammended motion, the original one from the Executive instead proposing to switch to a mass lobby. It was also decided to continue occupying the Arts Centre, pending a decision from the [[Senate]].<ref>{{Citation|title=U.G.M.|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/372/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref> The Director of the Arts Centre, Alwyne Scrase-Dickens, estimated that this brief occupation set the Arts Centre back 6 months.<ref>{{Citation|title=Occupation hits the Arts Centre|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/377/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925114859/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/377/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-25|page=9|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref>

=== Rents and the strike ===
Ultimately, the rent strike and occupations were unsuccesful, with rents rising further at the start of the 1975-1976 academic year:<ref name="cost-mooching-scum"/>
{| class="wikitable"
! Accommodation type !! Weekly rents in 1975 terms 2 & 3 !! Weekly rents in 1975 term 1 !! Increase !! Percentage increase (1 d.p.)
|-
! [[Rootes (accommodation)|Rootes]] Hall self-catered with cleaning
| £6.50 || £7.60 || £1.10 || 16.9%
|-
! [[Tocil]] Flats, [[Whitefields]], [[Cryfield]] Flats self-catered
| £5.40 || £6.31 || £0.91 || 16.9%
|-
! [[Cryfield]] Hall included 5 evening meals per week
| £7.90 || £9.22 || £1.32 || 16.7%
|-
! Average !! £6.60 !! £7.71 !! £1.11 !! 16.8%
|}
Indeed, in the first [[Union General Meeting]] of the next academic year, it was decided to continue the [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike|rent strike]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Mulley To Visit Warwick|date=1975-10-07|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/380/rec/1|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=40|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925104410/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/380/rec/1|archive-date=2025-09-25|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/40|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/40}}</ref> However, it was called off not long into term 2.<ref>{{Citation|title=Dixon makes a mark|date=1976-01-15|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/495/rec/7|access-date=2025-09-25|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=48|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925105235/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/495/rec/7|archive-date=2025-09-25|page=3|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/40|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/48}}</ref>

=== Damages and costs ===
A report was produced detailing the extent of the damage done to [[Senate House]] during the occupation.<ref name="damage-report">{{Citation|title=Damage Report|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924143533/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/369/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref> Had the Union withdrew in early May, the student population would have had equal representation on the damage committee. However, as the occupation didm't end here, this was not the case.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/> The [[Registry]] staff who worked in Senate House were suprised by the lack of damage. The damage report included minor damages such as wax stains from candles, cigarette burns, and broken locks, but the Union was let off other points. One of the major complaints was that a 16-year-old cactus in the building had been killed. The Union was considering buying the owner a new one.<ref name="damage-report"/>

Moreover, the Union was presented with a bill from the bailiffs, possibly running into the thousands of pounds, a bill of around £8,000 for the cost of the police action, and 25% of the costs of two legal actions.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/> Due primarily to these costs and the overall costs of the [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 rent strike|rent strike]], the Union was set to make a loss for the year.<ref name="union-news">{{Citation|title=Union News|date=1975-05-22|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/371/rec/200|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[The Warwick Boar]]|issue=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925144002/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/371/rec/200|archive-date=2025-09-24|page=3|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/38|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/38}}</ref>

=== Other impacts ===
As well as the direct financial implications, the occupation also caused a suspension of the then still ongoing talks on the [[Union Building]], as well as a suspension of the talks over the remaning money from the "capitation fee", totaling £20,000, that the University had witheld from the Union at the start of the year and which sparked the initial [[Warwick Students' Union 1974 occupation of Warwick Arts Centre|Arts Centre occupation]] of the year.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/> £14,000 of this money was desparately needed for the Union Building to open at the start of the next academic year.<ref name="union-news"/> Moreover, running the Union Building required an increased capitation fee for the upcoming academic year, and talks on securing this were also suspended.

Moreover, the occupation resulted in a delay, described by Mike Adams as "possibly fatal", in establishing an inquiry into the multi-storey carpark.<ref name="costs-confrontation"/> Indeed, by the start of the next academic year, no inquiry or investigation had occured.<ref name="carpark-sordid"/>

== Gallery ==
<gallery widths=250px heights=250px>
1975 Senate House occupation entry.jpg|Students entering [[Senate House]] through an open window.<ref name="window-photo"/>
1975 Senate House occupation UGM 1.jpg|An early [[Union General Meeting]] held outside (and on top off) Senate House.<ref name="ugm-photo-1"/>
1975 Senate House occupation UGM 2.jpg|A Union General Meeting held on 8 May 1975 outside Senate House.<ref name="occupation-photos"/>
1975 Senate House occupation UGM 3.jpg|Voting at a Union General Meeting held on 8 May 1975 outside Senate House.<ref name="occupation-photos"/>
1975 Senate House occupation UGM 4.jpg|A Union General Meeting held outside Senate House.<ref name="messy-business"/>
File:1975 Senate House occupation students.jpg|Students outside Senate House.<ref name="events-april-may"/>
1975 Senate House occupation police arrive.jpg|Police arrive opposite Senate House.<ref name="occupation-photos"/>
1975 Senate House occupation police 1.jpg|Police at Senate House.<ref name="thrown-out"/>
1975 Senate House occupation police 2.jpg|Police at Senate House.<ref name="thrown-out"/>
1975 Senate House occupation police 3.jpg|Police kicking students out of Senate House.<ref name="occupation-photos"/>
1975 Senate House occupation banner uncropped.jpg|A banner displayed outside Senate House during the occupation.<ref>{{Citation|title=[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]|date=c. October 1975|publisher=[[Warwick SU]]|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|access-date=2025-09-24|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=11 (digital: 13)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/HB/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/11/10}}</ref>
1975 Senate House occupation banner.jpg|Cropped banner.<ref>{{Citation|title=[[The Warwick Boar]]|date=1975-04-29|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|access-date=2025-08-17|editor=Steve Wykes, Gary Vaux, Jake Bernard, and Dave Wilby|issue=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250925145924/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/boar/id/364/rec/199|archive-date=2025-08-17|page=1|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/WB/37|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/6/37}}</ref>
1975 Senate House occupation lone figure.jpg|A lone figure on top of Senate House during the occupation.<ref name="united-action"/>
1975 Senate House occupation cartoon.jpg|A cartoon representing how students gained entry to Senate House<ref name="events-april-may"/>
</gallery>

== Footnoes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Warwick Students' Union occupations]]
[[Category:Events from the 1974-1975 academic year]]

File:1975 Senate House occupation banner uncropped.jpg

2025-09-25T20:24:17Z

AlfieG: {{Citation|title=First Years' Magazine 1975|date=c. October 1975|publisher=Warwick SU|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|access-date=2025-09-24|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=11 (digital: 13)|archive-centre=Modern Records Centre|archive-collection=[[Universi...

== Summary ==
{{Citation|title=[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]|date=c. October 1975|publisher=[[Warwick SU]]|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|access-date=2025-09-24|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=11 (digital: 13)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/HB/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/11/10}}
== Licensing ==
{{file license|license=fair|copyright holder=[[Warwick SU]]|type of file=photo|intent=to illustrate [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 occupation of Senate House and the Telephone Exchange]]|source=''[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]''|subject=a banner on [[Senate House]] during the 1975 occupation|category=Senate House images}}

[[Category:Warwick Students' Union 1975 occupation of Senate House and the Telephone Exchange images]]

File:1975 Senate House occupation cartoon.jpg

2025-09-25T20:20:10Z

AlfieG: {{Citation|title=The Events of April and May 1975|author=Nita Bowes|date=c. October 1975|publisher=Warwick SU|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7565/rec/10|access-date=2025-09-24|work=First Years' Magazine 1975|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=6 (digital: 8)|archive-centre=[...

== Summary ==
{{Citation|title=The Events of April and May 1975|author=Nita Bowes|date=c. October 1975|publisher=[[Warwick SU]]|url=https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7565/rec/10|access-date=2025-09-24|work=[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]|editor=Niall Kavanagh, Gary Vaux, Godfrey Rust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816002833/https://cdm21047.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/prospect/id/7569/rec/10|archive-date=2025-08-16|page=6 (digital: 8)|archive-centre=[[Modern Records Centre]]|archive-collection=[[University of Warwick Archive]]|archive-ref=UWA/PUB/S/HB/10|archive-ref-url=https://mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/UWA/P/1/17/11/10}}
== Licensing ==
{{file license|license=fair|copyright holder=[[Warwick SU]]|type of file=photo|intent=to illustrate [[Warwick Students' Union 1975 occupation of Senate House and the Telephone Exchange]]|source=''[[First Years' Magazine 1975]]''|subject=a cartoon representing how students broke into [[Senate House]] for the 1975 occupation|category=Senate House images}}

[[Category:Warwick Students' Union 1975 occupation of Senate House and the Telephone Exchange images]]