Since last Thursday, thousands of educators and students across the UK have been protesting changes made to the pensions of university workers—a 40% cut to their USS pension scheme that the University and College Union says could cost staff up to half of their retirement income. The downgrade has unmistakably angered academics, with an estimated 45,000 lecturers across 64 universities going on a 14-day strike. 

Oxford and Cambridge universities, some of the country's wealthiest and most well-established schools, have been at the center of the controversy, receiving much of the blame. The schools have backed policies resulting in the harsh cuts, and may have also had an overly skewed input in the survey that lead to the decision. 

Yesterday, in response to Cambridge's unique role in the dispute, a giant, 8ft red picket fence was chained to the gates of the school, blockading the Senate House. The stunt was pulled off by a group called Rebel Architects Faction, a coalition within Cambridge Defend Education comprised of architecture students who stand in solidarity with the striking staff and oppose the marketization of education. In addition, members previously staged an occupation of the Architecture Faculty at Cambridge on the 22nd, the first day of strikes. 

All architecture students have pledged their support to the strike and will not cross picket lines, according to RAF. "Attacks on our staff are attacks on our education" the group said in a facebook post regarding the demonstration. "Already many junior staff and students struggle to afford the basic necessities of a dignified life, suffer under an escalating mental health crisis and are exploited at every opportunity. Enough is enough: our futures are not for sale," they promised.