The Students' Union has been made aware of an occupation of 'The Slate', Warwick's new £5.3million conference building, by Warwick For Free Education. Our primary concern is for the welfare of those students involved, and Sabbatical Officers will remain in dialogue with both the University and those in occupation to ensure this.

The students' demands - that the University opt out of the government's proposed 'Teaching Excellence Framework', agree to the "6 Demands for fairer teaching conditions" among casualised staff and abolish the protest injunction - are all supported by democratic mandate and SU policy.

Furthermore, it is clear from recent events such as the Extraordinary Meeting of Warwick's Senate and the NUS National Demo that students and staff are not being listened to. As outlined in the occupiers' statement, the traditional democratic channels open to staff and students have now been exhausted. It is also important to note that this building has been purpose-built to support corporate conferences and is not used for teaching and learning, thus causing minimal disruption to students' everyday lives.

We will endeavour to keep the student body updated on this situation as it unfolds.