UQAM students barricade themselves inside university building

Students at UQAM occupied one of the university's buildings Wednesday evening and barricaded the doors, while Montreal police surrounded the block.

The mood was tense and protesters were upset after police arrested21students earlier in the day during a demonstration.

They were also angry over statements made by UQAM Rector RobertProulx.

"The position of the university is that we are legally obliged to give our courses to students who have the right to go to class and who paid their tuition," he said.

Proulx also added thatthat the university will not change its calendar, and will investigate the students who were arrested.

By 9 p.m. hundreds of students had blocked the doors to one of the university's buildings.

UQAMjournalism professorJean-HuguesRoy tweeted a photo of students barricading themselves inside.

Police called in during afternoon

The occupation of the building came hoursafter a protest took place earlier in the day. Theuniversity's administration called in police at around 2:45 p.m. to keep the situation under control.

After 3 p.m., things got tense withstandoffs, 21arrests, and chanting from students.

• UQAM student protesters cause cancellation of another 6 classes

"Hundreds of students were chanting. They used recycling bins to act as a barrier...Police had their hands on tear gas canisters. At one point, it looked like things were about to get out of hand," said CBC Montrealreporter Sarah Leavitt.

Professors at the university negotiated with policewhile students continued to taunt officers.

MichleNevert, the head of the professors' union, told students police would leave if the students remained calm.

Police left the campus just after 4 p.m.

Students said they would continue to occupy the area until they knew what happened to the thosewho had been arrested.They moved fromthe basement to themain floor and held a sit-in, which continued into the night.

The 21demonstrators who were arrested were released by police late Wednesday evening with the promise to appear in courttoface charges that includeunlawful assembly, mischief and wearing masks at an illegal gathering.

Multiple disturbances

At least six classes were cancelled yesterday at UQAM as student protesters continue fighting against the provincial government's cost-cutting measures.

• UQAMstudents arrested by Montreal police

The university called the police on Wednesday morning as afterrowdy protesters caused multiple disturbances.

Students have been interrupting classes for at least the past two days.

This morning, students swarmed the hallways of the university in an attempt to interrupt classes. Some spray-paintedover security cameras.

That's in spite of an injunction granted in court last week which forbade protesters from stopping students trying to attend classes.