A student who was banned from Glasgow University’s campus has been told she can return to classes.
University bosses have reversed their decision to exclude Hannah Taylor from the campus after she took part in a pro-Palestine protest which saw a University of Glasgow building daubed with water-soluble paint.
Ms Taylor faced disciplinary action under the University’s code of conduct, but has now agreed to refrain from taking part in similar actions, or encourage others to do so, in exchange for the ban being lifted.
She has also agreed to pay half of the £2844 clean-up bill.
Acting with another student, Ms Taylor - a member of group called Youth Demand - used a fire extinguisher to spray the James McCune Smith Learning Hub in red paint.
The pair then glued themselves onto the front of the building during the protest in February.
According to the Glasgow University Arms Divestment Coalition, the university has more than £6.8m worth of investments in the arms industry, and has also received around £600,000 in research funding from BAE Systems and Rolls Royce since 2017.
Both protestors were arrested but have yet to be convicted of any crime, with a court hearing still months away.
However, the University acted almost immediately to ban her from the campus, potentially wrecking her chances of completing her studies for a Masters degree in Maths.
After the ban was imposed, University of Glasgow Rector Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sittah to accuse the University of a “disproportionate and authoritarian” response to student protest.
Calling for the ban to be reversed, he said: "This ... is in keeping with a concerted effort to crack down on student activism for Palestine on campuses around the globe.
"From Glasgow to New York, University leaders have bowed to government pressure, seeking to make examples of those students who dare to expose their complicity in genocide.
"Glasgow University’s motto is ‘Via, Veritas, Vita’ (the way, the truth, the life). Now this liberal facade has fallen. Today, Glasgow’s students are punished, threatened and intimidated for exposing the truth of their institution’s role in facilitating imperialism’s crimes.
"But the students will not be deterred. Not in Glasgow. Not anywhere. Glasgow University must immediately lift the ban on Hannah Taylor.”
Last week, students occupied a campus building for several hours.
Hundreds had gathered outside the Charles Wilson Building which some students had taken over and were refusing to leave.
Some of those involved had started a hunger strike to demand the school divest from the arms trade and lift the campus ban imposed on Ms Taylor.
READ MORE:
- Glasgow University student banned from campus over pro-Palestine demo
- Glasgow University rector speaks out on Hannah Taylor ban
- Glasgow students block University Avenue as part of Israel protests
A day later around 100 students blocked off University Avenue, the main thoroughfare through the campus.
Speaking after the ban was lifted on Tuesday, Ms Taylor said she would abide by the new conditions.
She said: “The university has decided to remove my campus ban following a wave of public objections including from the rector himself. They are beginning to see that they cannot ignore us any longer.
“We have to keep advocating for divestment until they comply with our demands. No campus ban should deter a student from demanding justice for Palestine”
A University spokesperson said: "We do not comment on individual students."
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