STUDENTS and staff shut down a London university yesterday after bosses suspended a trade union rep for supporting anti-cuts protests.

School of Oriental and African Studies (Soas) lecturers, support staff and students walked out in solidarity with Unison branch secretary Sandy Nicoll.

Mr Nicoll was told on Wednesday afternoon that he had been suspended and was at risk of dismissal.

University management said the librarian had committed “gross misconduct” after his union branch decided to support a nearly three-week-long student occupation against cuts to the university’s courses.

Mr Nicoll told the Star he felt “humbled” by the incredible show of support from colleagues and students.

“Effectively no student is going into the building and that’s quite powerful, it’s amazing,” he said.

“It is a difficult time when you’re told you’re under investigation and you could lose your job, but it makes you feel 100 times better as a consequence of the action we’ve had.”

Hundreds of students and workers closed the doors of the main Soas building in the early hours and held a rally in the afternoon in support of Mr Nicoll.

Both the Unison branch and lecturers in UCU voted to walk out immediately in support.

Unison’s London office said it was “deeply concerned” with the university’s behaviour.

Greater London regional organiser Ruth Levin said: “Sandy has worked very hard over the years to advise, support and represent his colleagues working in Soas, in the Greater London region and across the higher education sector.

“Unison will be ensuring that Sandy receives our full support and representation at this time and we will be working to get this matter resolved as soon as possible so that Sandy can resume his job at Soas.”

The school’s student union also condemned the suspension.

Student officer Tom Kind said: “This victimisation is an attack on our right to collectively organise on campus and our right to protest against university policy.

“We call for Soas to reinstate him immediately.”