Update on the James Building occupation

From Michael Di Grappa, Vice-Principal (Administration and Finance)

We would like to bring you up to date on the status of the occupation of the offices of the Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) on the 6th floor of the James Administration Building and in the building's first-floor lobby.

The James Building remains closed today, so alternate work arrangements have been made for the people who work there. James Building staff are relocated or working from home, continuing to provide services as best they can under the circumstances. Services normally provided to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the James Building have been relocated to Service Point, on McTavish Street in the ground floor of the McLennan Library Building. Graduate program offices should contact their normal GPS staff contact by email today. Students, faculty and staff who need to access other services can contact people or offices via email. If you cannot reach anyone, please send a note to info.mcgill [at] mcgill.ca, and someone will respond as quickly as possible with the appropriate information. Again, we regret any inconveniences or interruptions in service you may experience as a result of the occupation.

As yesterday's email mentioned, the occupiers were given a notice from Provost Masi (found at https://www.mcgill.ca/channels/announcements/item/?item_id=213952). Yesterday, Professor Jim Nicell talked several times with designated representatives of the occupiers in an attempt to get the protestors to leave the building.  The protestors are refusing to leave unless their demands are met, as listed on this blog (please note that the blog does contain profanity): http://miltonrevolutionarypress.wordpress.com/2012/02/07/live-partyblog-from-mendelsons-surprise-resignation-party-welcome-back-ckut-qpirg-party/

We will continue to attempt to talk to the occupiers about them leaving the building peacefully. We hope for a rapid, peaceful end to this unacceptable situation.