LiverpoolSU was born on April 1st 1970 and they were born into very unfavourable conditions for Liverpool students and student unions. They had to learn how to use what they could to make life for Liverpool Polytechnic students as good as they could. One of the first protests and the first major protest took place in 1974 and involved an organised sit in of a university building to fight for student issues. This set the precedent that LiverpoolSU followed into the 1980s in how to use what they could to make a difference for their students.

What made this occupation standout is the way that the student media was used to help arrange it. LiverpoolSU knew that mass organisations of its student base was not that simple, of course communications were nowhere near as advanced as they are today. So they used student media as a platform for the occupation and kept students in the loop as what was happening and consistently reminded their students why this needed to occur. Without the student newspaper this occupation simply would not have happened and for a student union that was very new, they used one of the corner stones of all student unions to make this occupation successful and worthwhile. The version of the student paper that was being produced by LSU at this time was called ‘The Who’.

The reason the occupation was arranged was because students were angry about the way their council funded polytechnic was running, there were 6 demands that students wanted and they were so important union action was the only way to go, the 6 demands were:

1. A reduction in Catering Charges - Prices for catering had gone up 15% from September 1973 to September 1974.

2. Residential accommodation – Lack of suitable and affordable accommodation for polytechnic students.

3. The Delaney Report – Concerns about the quality of teaching and the ratio off students and staff at the polytechnic.

4. Provision of Nursery Facilities – The availability of a nursery to ensure education can be accessed by more people.

5. Union Income Increase - The student union due to lack of funds was close to bankruptcy during 1974 and needed more money to continue to function.

6. Improvement of Communal Facilities - Even though improvements had been agreed, very little had happened as yet, better facilities weren’t just desired they were needed.

What was the occupation and how did it work?

The occupation began on Thursday 17th of October 1974. The reason for Walton house being selected because its central location and good visibility close to the Tithebarn Street campus in the city. The occupation was local news and was very quickly reported in The Liverpool Echo. The choice of the site was also picked as it would not impact student education in a great way. The only factor was that a printing room would be occupied which did lead to certain lectures being cancelled because of lack of notes. The site also allowed students involved in the occupation to leave and not miss lectures, only a small number of students were needed to maintain the occupation and that helped it last as long as it did. Messages of support had arrived to students at Walton House aswell as food and drink supplies during the first few days.

The student paper ‘The Who’ detailed to students involved and students who wanted to get involved the legal position of people occupying the building. Students were advised that they were not breaking the law and it is not a matter to concern the police. The offence being committed is trespassing and it is a civil offense, meaning that the polytechnic would have to go to the high court to remove students. Students were reminded to not forget this and if police were to become involved they themselves would be breaking the law. The people in charge of the polytechnic felt that this occupation would fade out but occupying a room where 10 million pieces of paper were printed a year did not fade away and forced the board of governors to negotiate at the conclusion of the occupation.

During the occupation of Walton house, national student action was taking place in London and LSU were most certainly involved. Led by the NUS, student unions were proving that they were strong and would not just take what they were given but always seek for better facilities and a better education for all. The education offices in Liverpool were also to be picketed to oppose any cuts in education. Lecturers at the polytechnic were stating that because of the continuing occupation of Walton house they could not deliver lecture notes. LSU reminded them that paper stored at Walton house had been duplicated and there was enough for lecture notes, this was simply the polytechnic trying to lessen student support for the student occupation. It failed. On the 18th of November the student union issues flyers asking for support at day or at night to continue this occupation to force the polytechnic board of governors to act. Support continued and by the end of November the occupation had worked. This action had worked and showed to the city council and the polytechnic governors that LiverpoolSU would act when needed. It really did change the view of the student union as a more serious union that would do what it needed too.

By the 11th of November, which was under 4 weeks since the occupation of Walton house started the polytechnic issued a statement through the board of governors and the rector about what they were planning to do about improvements on these 6 demands. The news was good news and proof the occupation was successful.

1. A reduction in Catering Charges - By November 7th the board had governors had reduced catering charges from a 15% increase down to a 10% increase.

2. Residential accommodation – Charges for students based in halls had risen to £10 from £7.50 the year before, the increase still occurred but instead of being immediate it was only due to be increased from the January so for only half the year for students instead of a full year. Council housing was also to be made more available even though demand was high.

3. The Delaney Report – The governors stated they were to avoid any steps that would reduce the quality of teaching and look into how redeployment of staff can have an adverse effect on students.

4. Provision of Nursery Facilities – This matter was considered at a meeting of the governors on the 7th of November and was to be considered seriously at the next meeting on the 28th. The idea of a nursery was considered into the New Year and eventually LiverpoolSU did open a nursery with polytechnic funding.

5. Union Income Increase - The estimated income for LSU for 1975/76 was £46,000, during this sit in students demanded £75,000. Due to the sit in it was decided on a meeting on November 7th that LiverpoolSU would be given £70,000 from the polytechnic for the next year.

6. Improvement of Communal Facilities - The perceived slowness of work within the polytechnic was now given a timescale. Up to £80,000 worth of improvements would be started no later than March 1975, so students had kick-started work that was really important to making the polytechnic the best possible centre for education.

The occupation concluded eventually in late 1974. It lasted for as long as it needed to last for, a month. It took weeks to make the point LiverpoolSU had to make and on November 11th 1974 when the board of governors appealed for students to stop the sit in, the student union had won. This proved that action can work, it was a peaceful protest, it did not impact the education of students, and it simply gave students what they needed and deserved. It showed how strong LiverpoolSU can be when they work as a unit against a problem. This occupation showed to the polytechnic that LSU will fight when needed and they continued to do so and do today successfully. This all started with a sit in at a university building in October 1974.