Second homeless person found in Derwent
Another unidentified homeless man has been found inside student accommodation in Derwent College this week after a separate incident just days before.
The man, found on Tuesday night by residents returning from a night out, was removed from campus by security. This comes after the first man, Mickel Grabarczyk, who has regularly been seen frequenting University residential areas, was removed from University property after being found by two students on Sunday, shaving in a Derwent bathroom.
Grabarczyk, nicknamed ‘Polish Mike’, who has purportedly been arrested twice and thrown off campus several times, has been gaining regular access to Derwent A Block despite codes to being changed on both Monday and Tuesday mornings.
In an email sent to Derwent students on Monday evening, the College Provost, Dr Rob Aitken, warned students: “Mickel Grabarczyk, who is believed to have been in A Block in early October and again on Sunday morning and may be responsible for food thefts in A Block kitchens, was seen hanging around an entrance to A Block this evening. It appears that a resident gave him the new code to A Block. He may therefore come into A Block again tonight.”
The following morning, an email was sent to residents of Derwent A Block by the Derwent College administrator, Chris Unwin, which said: “It appears that the same intruder gained access to A Block yesterday evening, after tail-gating other students into the Block.”
A member of Derwent College, who wishes to remain annonymous, described their confrontation with Grabarczyk on Monday evening: “I had seen him before in the porter’s lodge, so we presumed him a student. He asked if the code had changed. We gave him some random codes and accidentally gave him the correct one.”
“He opened the door, by which stage we had noticed his accent and started to question him. He made up a lie, saying that he had football pra ctice and claimed that he was from the other side of York. After questioning, he left but clearly knew the code.”
Despite a few people feeling comfortable in Grabarczyk’s presence, the situation has left many students upset and angry. “I am very frustrated at the University’s lack of haste and commitment to solving this problem. Changing the codes clearly does not work. One of my friends has been having nightmares about this man; people are frightened for their safety,” said our source.
He added: “I want to know why we do not have keycards like some of the other colleges.”
The University’s Senior Press Officer, David Garner, commented on the general situation, stating that, “The University has dealt with two males who have repeatedly trespassed on University property. Their descriptions have been circulated to all porters and security staff, and Derwent students have been alerted about these two individuals. One of the men has been arrested on several occasions, but is currently on bail awaiting a court appearance. The other has been warned that he risks committing the criminal offence of aggravated trespass should he return to campus.”
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Having a permanent security person based in the main nucleus of Derwent – say near the Porters Lodge – would mean that the situation could be dealt with immediately and in many cases before the individual gains access to the block, surely? I wouldn’t want an hour and fifteen minutes’ delay in removing a potentially dangerous outsider from my bathroom! Two homeless people in two weeks since the loss of 24-hour portering.. coincidence or linked? Ok the one guy had access in early October but if porters managed to stop him from getting in for a month then that’s surely an important job?!
Ha, this is the same Mike from the Mixer’s mystery footballer piece. Amazing!
“One of my friends has been having nightmares about this man”
Boo-fucking-hoo. Grow up and show some sympathy, the man is poor, homeless and unemployed, his plight is a bit more serious.
Why doesn’t he go back to Poland?
Considering this polish man has been found in Vanburgh James and derwent and then thrown out by security and also arrested on the intelligence of the security team i think the sy team are doing a good job!
Having a porter there wudn’t have stopped that person getting in as i doubt he wud have been stood around waiting for him to arrive!
He only got in cause either a door was open or another student let him in.
So why dont you students help you and your block mates out by making sure doors are shut instead of protesting and moving furniture!
What an intelligent, considered response ARP; clearly everyone of Polish heritage is able to immediately return to that country with absolutely no difficulties. Homeless and impoverished people in particular face no obstacles whatsoever in travelling between nations at a moment’s notice and according to the whims of faceless, foolish internet commentators.
Seriously, did you actually imagine that Mr Grabarcyzk might (somehow) be perusing the Nouse site, read your comment and think “Oh yeah, why don’t I just go back to Poland? That thoughtful ARP character has come up with an elegant solution both to my problems and to those of Derwent residents”. Or did you just notice the most incidental fact from the article, that his nationality was apparently different, and blurt out some stupid shit about that instead of the more relevant issue that there’s an intruder, of whatever nationality, gaining access to Derwent halls.
Surely this shows the need of 24hour portering?
David, if the Polish man wasn’t here in the first place then the problem with this particular individual wouldn’t exist.
On a campus level, this raises questions regarding the security of blocks and what measures should be taken to ensure the security of us students. On a national level, it does raise questions as to why our immigration policy allows us to admit people from other countries that contribute absolutely nothing to the economy. Given the government’s awful deportation backlog, I’m sure they would be delighted to have this bloke volunteer for immediate return to Warsaw.
If he was unidentified, how is it known that he is homeless? He could just as easily have been drunk / stoned / mentally ill.
ARP – just because someone has a Polish name doesn’t preclude them being a UK citizen!
He had a decent bike and pretty snazzy football boots for a homeless person.
ARP, firstly as Nonny-mouse points out, this man could be a UK citizen. Secondly, whether this is true or not, it is still irrational for you to focus on his nationality. There are plenty of Polish immigrants and people of Polish heritage who do contribute a lot to this society and plenty of people who were born here, are of British heritage and contribute absolutely nothing. Why should the mere fact that someone’s original nationality is different (again we are only inferring this from the man’s surname) mean that their conduct should be subject to greaty scrutiny and that suggestions of removal to another country should be casually thrown about? Why are greater questions raised by people immigrating and contributing nothing than people being born here and contributing nothing? Particularly when the second problem is occurring on a much greater scale and is generally largely ignored. And what alternative immigration policy do you envisage where no immigrant could ever end up homeless (if indeed this man is)? Perhaps this man had a job, was contributing to society and then lost it due to the recession. Who knows? We know almost nothing about this person and you’re very quick to seize upon one of the few apparent details; that he is of Polish heritage, and attempt to tie this case into questions about immigration policy that may be largely or entirely unrelated.
Also, Poland is a member of the EU and so its citizens do not need anyone’s permission in order to live in Britain.
Don’t mind ARP. He comes and goes, but he’s basically harmless.
Anon., I’m afraid they would have done had this dead-duck government not signed up to the free and uncontrolled movement of people across an entire continent, utterly undermining our national-security.
I’m not indulging in a debate with you David. Unless someone’s entry to this country is economically beneficial or that said person has agreed to fight for this country (Gurkhas) then they shouldn’t be granted entry. That’s that.
I don’t actually think this is the big issue everyone is making it out to be.
“I’m not indulging in a debate with you David.”
Evidently, since stating your opinion and writing “that’s that” does not constitute an argument. What was the point of replying at all if only to say that? I’m happy to remain at loggerheads with you since you’re obviously only concerned to declare your views and not to examine them at all, which suggests that they will not stand up to much scrutiny and will fall apart very readily once you’re prepared to look into them yourself.
What, you don’t think that the fact any random homeless guy could potentially get into your accommodation is alarming? I think, to be completely honest, that it is extremely worrying that anyone could just get inside, steal food and use the facilities at will – I don’t see any reason that the security would have been different if the person was intending to steal laptops: or indeed if they were trying to attack students. Granted that it’s massively unlikely but if we’re paying a ridiculously large number of security staff a large wage then I’d expect them to stop homeless people getting access to the accommodation blocks!
I think he should go back to Poland. We don’t want English tramps let alone Polish tramps in this country.
Oh yeah and love that pratt who was having nightmares about him. What’s he going to do? Shave in your bathroom? Steal your Cheerios? TERRIFYING
Wouldn’t have happened if we had 24 hour porters…
And that’s that.
“I wouldn’t want an hour and fifteen minutes’ delay in removing a potentially dangerous outsider from my bathroom!”
In reality, the security response on this occassion was surprisingly quick. By the time we got off the phone with security and rushed downstairs, there were already 2 security guards scouring around the porters lodge whilst 2 more were up the stairwell and had already caught the intruder. I’m all for porters, but after seeing how fast the security response was (literally less than a minute), I’m not so sure we really need them. And after all, having a porter would hardly stop Mickel or any other tramp strolling in to either of the other 2 entrances to A block.
Can you please get the facts right?
Shaving in a Derwent bathroom?
That is just not true. He was in the bathroom but definitely not shaving!
According to this article David Garner says that all students were alerted to the presence of these intruders but this is the first I heard about the second man.
SPO, security is doing a shite job. Mickel has broken an entry, stolen from us, and broken the conditions of his police bail, and he’s still at large?
Badger, try beng a 19 year old girl and knowing that he’s wandering around your block.
It was in comparison with other events. And if it was literally less than one minute then they had presumably responded before your call and therefore had seen the problem?
And the point of porters isn’t that they’re better than security guards – though I would argue that they have been in the past, they really shouldn’t be – at security itself, their job as a welfare role is significantly more important than, and different to their security role. And, as has been said before, security are responding – porters are preventing… saying “I’m not so sure we really need them” is silly as it just shows porters aren’t as any better at responding to incidents, which we’d hope is the case anyway!
Sorry, J, I meant we don’t need porters under circumstances such as intruders into the building. They’re probably less effective than security as there’s only one of them. I just think it’s a bit naive to suggest that 24-hour portering would’ve prevented something like this. And no, we were the only people that called them, they just responded very, very fast. If we’re talking about preventing something like this at the source, we would need key cards at the entrances to each block instead of the code system we have now.
I just wanted a hug =(
That’s fine then
Obviously each section have their own strengths and weaknesses. A key card system is likely to be implemented over the next few years anyway; I was just concerned by the phrase “we don’t need them”!
I nipped down to check my post the other night. I met the second polish guy on my way back up, he held the non coded door from the porters lodge for me and followed me up the stairs. He watched me as I tried to put the code in (the code having been changed twice in two days I’d forgotten it) not having my phone with me I went back downstairs. (He’d disappeared at this point realising I didn’t know it). Since the porters had gone home I had to wait half an hour till I managed to get back in to A block. I think we’d all feel a lot better about it if there were porters downstairs.
Also how the hell do all the sales people get in? who where those spa people the other night it was like 9pm, the porters can’t of let them in. I’d rather not have people try and sell me spa treatments while I’m having dinner with my friends.
This is quite a serious issue so please, if you do see someone attempting please phone security straight away on:
01904 43 4444 (put the number in your mobile!)
Also two college tutors, Marcelo and I, live in Derwent and can be contacted. Give us a call on 711 542 (internal) if you need help with anything.
and just how will a 24 hour porter solve Derwent students from giving every Tom, Dick and Mickel door codes??
Because, Tony Hart, we could send anyone, like me, who forgets the code to the porters who can check their id before they give them the code.
Thank you Oliver although phone no’s weren’t any good the time I got locked out because I didn’t have my mobile. (Maybe there is already but a security phone in the porters lodge might be a good idea.) He was got by security on the night I got locked out one of my friends saw him and rang them later.
Another A Blocker – there is a choice of three phones by the porters lodge at derwent – a standard internal phone, a red emergency phone (autodials to security), and a payphone.
Thanks I’ll remember that
This artical is simply AMAZING, I myself never knew how fucking Grrrrrrrrrrr8 Homeless people are, They can — for moneies anyday, anyyywaysss Sam lawson is an inspirational writer and id love to meet him and buy him a pear cider or maybe a cold glass of pino, depending on the mood, time, date, and of course weather…Duhh, In conclusion… Fuck York, i heard Exeter is better anyway and maybe even oxford, even tho they are all tools, Thanks for reading
PEACE !!!!! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Comment moderated by editor
There have been many protests on the reinstatement of 24 hour porters. Some have been peaceful, but many others have cost the time and effort of other University staff during a time where the University is forced to cut costs. While many of these stunts are obviously the work of an organised group, I believe this problem has been initiated of a new group of ‘student lobbyists’; a group that is disengaged with ideas and unaccountable in their actions.
Students who take part in the organised protests have passion, motivation and skills they can that make them useful members. While I believe some of their efforts are misguided, they are genuinely acting on the premise that their actions shall benefit the University as a whole. This kind of protest is laudable and represents everything lobbying group should be. Their ideas have genuine impact and revolve around solving a problem. The only reason these protests fail is due to poor execution, poor commitment, bad execution or the target having a legitimate excuse for not meeting their demands.
Below these protestors are people whose actions are questionably illegal and require a shield of anonymity to avoid persecution. They are unaccountable for their actions and their protests cause problems instead of working towards a solution. A good comparison between these two protesting groups is the May Day March: a group of people with ideas and principles having their agenda undermined by a violent minority. In this case, the violent minority became so popular that no-one but the protesters remember what they are complaining about.
However, these new student lobbyists are below both of these. They have a half-hearted belief that 24 hour porters are an essential student right, but will not inconvenience themselves to further their argument. Instead, when a convenient opportunity arises they’ll act with impunity and pride as they open the door to A-block or moan loudly as they stage a drunken sit-out after forgetting their keys. This expression of protest is as impotent as it is problematic. It does nothing to further the cause for full-time porters, instead highlighting that a fundamental need for porters is a lack of common sense.
Truthfully, 24 hour porters were always a privilege. They had great benefit to campus comfort and security, but they were only beneficial – never essential. Now their responsibilities are the burden of the student, but to say it’s unreasonable to tolerate this is just an absolution of responsibility to themselves and each other.
It is completely realistic to expect students to remember the keys to their home as they have done for the last 18 years. It is completely realistic to expect them to actively keep strangers out of their residence by closing doors and not giving them security codes. It is completely reasonable to expect these students to help each other out when problems occur, if only because they will have to in 10 months time. To expect the University to cut funding elsewhere is entirely unreasonable.
To be honest, if these ‘disengaged protests’ continue then I won’t be surprised when the University solve the problem with a series of mandatory transferable skills lectures – the topic: How to Live in a House.
Perhaps if the security was better in Derwent blocks, key cards perhaps instead of codes, we would feel safer and would feel less in need of 24hr porters. + in answer to the above: I’m sure us students are more than happy to help each other out. At this point in the term we have come to know each other or at least recognise each other so we are not letting non students in to our blocks. During are first weeks however, in an effort to be helpful, it is not at all surprising that Mickel, who claimed to be a student was let into the block and learn’t the code. I definitely think that 24hr porters during the 2 weeks of freshers would be an excellent idea until everyone has got to know each other and built up a support network (and doesn’t let other ‘students’ into the block, if their is no porter to send them to your not exactly going to leave them outside).
i write about me before, but i lost cause i write from train and i lost conection i dotn have starnge to do it again
Let say something about uni…
My classification is:
1, Halifax, cause people who live there, really nice. Good football team and finally christians with best toast:)
2, James, cause also nice people, tichers room…, two computer place( you know if they catch you in one you can go to another)and Amy with small ass and big tits:P(sory amy)
3, Derwent, this college give me to much, but people was really rude and broke my reputation, not only in york but even in edinbrugh(SELKA germam chick) i like this place, cause, you have really nioce bathrooms and really stupid security(like a ritter)[one time , after twice they catch me before, one see me in computer place and go for suport, i just take my staff and go to women toilet, and i even hear when they talk about me:P]
4, vanbrogh, really nice people, especially from Erasmus, also stupid security, nice television place with wii
5, wonwort, good gays, i wish them good luck on the pitch(football), cause they need it and cause i play one game for them:)
and i dont clasifated lingwith, cause i dont use this place, mayby next time:P
Now i waiting for my things and pasport until 5 december, and after i go back to my country, couse my mind is really tired, like i dont feel save about 4 mounts, i loss 15kg( first homelees weigt is 92kg, second about 78:P) thanks for advice dawid…
i spend well my time in york and im sure i come back here, but im not that strong to play my rpg game any more, like quest to find some place to sleep every day.
thanks especially to Mohamed, Simba, Naya, Deniz and Pierre, and for sure to security(ritters) of uni.
Dont stop me now, i had a such a good time…
The full story of the ”Derwent Tramp” is finally reveleted[(part 1) seceond^^^^
ok i coming back by east cost, wii fii free:p then if nowone catch me withowt ticket, i will write about me all, otherwise just part
im third year student from poland, my name is marcin, my nickname in uni polish mike or micha
i failed third year and i take one year brake of my study, i take a job in poland(servey land) and get some money to travel to edinbrugh to my firend. Then i want take better paymant then 2l per h, mayby in servey land...
im not just go to ednibrugh i made a trip around europe, in paris i get advance ticet for eurostar and one day brake, then first what i do there go eat french toast...
in restaurant someone stold my big bag with money and ticket then i was first time fuck up, after i dont give up, i go to consul and take passport for free and money for ticket from calais to dover, then i go to edinbrurgh.
when i come my firend say to me, my situation in edinburgh i fack up then he cant give me bad like he sad before.
so i give up, i start going back to poland...
on my way to train station someone atackt me with knife and then i beat him and taxi call police and that was friday and they arrest me for 4 days cause i dont have adress, and in monday was holiday and court dont working.
last day i was in court arrest until 5pm and then they let me go(no evidance no case[i dont beat him to much:P])
so i go to train station and start my trip back to poland, that was at 20 sep.
on my way in york train station at 12 a clock i meet two polish gays who joke about take my shue for free(i take it of cause my legs payning me), i ask them -is york is nice place…,they say very nice, then i go out of the train and go to vodka and revolution get drunk..
inside i dont dance cause i wont make my last clean clotes durdy.
mo dance arond me and ask me, are you ok, a say yes, i just take energy from you all, then we start talk and he want to help me with find…tomorow i play football in uni, two days after mo take me to other clubs and then i stay in york at your great university:), in find some jobs, but only for feew days jobs.
then i start to love york, cause york is like krakow in my caunty, then krakow is a most nice place in poland, but still york is smaller, smaller but like my own city, the same big.
i one time i find also wollet with student card and driving license, the same day i use internet in halifax(greetings for laptop team:P) and security come and ask me are you student here, i show student card and then police come and take all what i get with my like football clotes, pen drive, mp3 player and finnaly passport, until 5 december, that was about 3 november.
image you all your foreing withow any id… you cant even take hostel and also legal buy cigarets…. and they gove my also condition bale- as you know dont go to uni for any reason.
then i loss some weight and become second homeless man coming to derwent:P but is allright cause i become more handsome for girls(greeting to cristina:))
so now i just wait until 5 december to take my things from police, and i go back to poland, im not that strong to play any more my rpg game evereday with quest like find some place to sleep.
then you must be happy
if you write some bad things about me i change color of my hair and come to your uni again next year!!
bye bye(that should be first part:( )
bay the way this site is own me really good money for all this!!