Little Campus, Big Mouth
Are facility’s on campus up to scratch? From bridges, or lack of, to bars, we ask you whether the University of York is giving us value for money or leaving students high and dry.
Name: Amelia Hogg
College: Vanbrugh
Year: Second
Subject: Psychology
I play quite a lot of sport so I’m often in and out of the sports centre. The tent is the bane of my existence; freezing during winter, boiling in summer! For a student, I think the gym is too expensive, although I’m not really a gym person and don’t know anyone who is!
The recently built stuff is great, but it’s taken so long to build. I was supposed to live in Bleachfields last year but ended up in Alcuin.
As for lecture halls, they’re all the same aren’t they? They’re just a bunch of chairs and tables!
Name: Claire Webster
College: James
Year: First
Subject: Social Science and Crime
I think the section in the library for my degree is pretty amazing, they have any book that you need and there is enough space to sit in a quiet environment to work, which is very important for me. For a small campus university I think the facilities are generally good; it has the basics such as Costcutter and Blackwells, and it isn’t that far to get into town if you need something. I’m keen on sports and York has a lot of field space, which is great, but we definitely need to sort out those bridges!
Name: Tom Parry
College: Alcuin
Year: First
Subject: History and Politics
They’re not bad, but not great either.
I’ve heard that’s the case with most unis. The abundance of computer rooms is helpful when finishing essays and the noise of halls is proving too much to overcome. There seem to be plenty of sports equipment and a decent gym as well. Having said that, I’ve made very little effort to actually venture round and inspect them. I like the bars, I’m more familiar with them than most areas of campus! Vanbrugh’s bar lacks atmosphere, but the others are all good to go for a drink.
Name: Harriet O’Brien
College: James
Year: First
Subject: Chemistry
My department generally has better facilities than the other universities I visited, especially in terms of the lecture halls which have comfortable seats! But to get from my college to a lecture I’ve had to take five different routes because the bridges keep on closing and that’s a real nuisance. I do ballroom dancing and there’s always a space to dance but it would be nice to have a more developed sports centre with a swimming pool. It’s a shame that James doesn’t have a bar, but I’d rather go to town anyway!
