University rejects YUSU portering campaign
Photograph by George Lowther
The Student Services committee has rejected a YUSU run campaign and its proposal to reinstate 24 hour portering across campus, declaring that new infrastructure for security and welfare will be an adequate replacement for 24/7 portering.
The Committee met yesterday immediately following a YUSU-run pro portering protest outside Heslington Hall. YUSU President, Tim Ngwena, and Welfare Officer, Ben Humphrys attended the meeting, defending a paper produced by YUSU which argued for 24 hour portering. The paper is available on YUSU’s website.
Ngwena today posted a blog on the YUSU website giving the result of the meeting, saying: “Despite long discussions on the matter, the University rejected the proposals, claiming that new management, welfare and security structures will be sufficient to mitigate the effects of the portering loss, but also once again stressing the need for fiscal responsibility in the University’s budgeting procedures. We have secured, however, a mandate from this committee to demonstrate to them that, in their practice, the cuts are damaging the health, safety and welfare of students on campus.”
Over 100 students gathered for the protest against the cuts in portering services across the University. Starting in Derwent, the students, led by Tim Ngwena and other YUSU officers, marched through the campus demanding 24/7 portering be brought back to all colleges.
YUSU Welfare Officer, Ben Humphrys, who was heavily involved in the campaign and protest, stated before the meeting: “Our main aim is to try and get the university to change the budget, putting aside around say £200,000 to cover 24/7 portering in all colleges including Vanbrugh and Derwent, and stop them cutting it in Langwith as well. The VP, provosts and students all sit on this council, so if they do get the recommendation that the 24 hour porters are needed they will, we hope, reassign the funds. It is all part of our long term plan to prevent the university from drawing money away from student welfare as a way to make easy savings, so the cut in portering could be seen as the start of a slippery slope.”
Photograph by Jason Lozier
YUSU aim to continue protesting any budget cuts, despite having been forced to slow down in the portering campaign. Ngwena went on to say in his blog that: “We are in the next stage of the campaign: we need to fully embrace the new structures, and record their failings. Without the former we can’t claim that the new structures don’t work, without the latter we can’t show how they aren’t working.”
“This is not a flash in the pan campaign. It is a long term, structured process to reverse any impact on the student experience so far, and to pre-empt and fight any future losses. This is a campaign driven by students, as yesterday’s protest showed, you are at the heart of it,” continued Ngwena.
Chris Etheridge, YUSU Campaigns Officer said in response to the University’s rejection of the campaign: “We were unsure as to whether the protest would give any concrete results. However, this is a long term campaign. We need to show that the current system will fail and that it doesn’t work. It is ludicrous to suggest that this system is superior.”
Etheridge went onto mention that there will be a Campaigns Committee meeting in G/20 at 5pm on Wednesday 25th November, where students will be able to voice their opinions and suggest ideas for the continuation of the campaign. YUSU have also urged students to email ‘portering@york.ac.uk’ with anything that they notice which they feel damages welfare due to the portering cuts.
http://ystv.york.ac.uk/watch/YSTV-Nouse/Porter-Poster-Week-6/
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Over 100 students at the protest? Is that meant to be impressive? If so, that presumably means the turnout at the GSA election can now be considered impressive
In correction, please send your emails to portering@york.ac.uk rather than portering@yusu.org
YUSU has 3,000 people voting in its main elections and over 500 people voted in the UGM on portering – but going on a page whilst you’re on the internet (and 2,000 have joined the facebook group) takes less effort than going on a protest. To get “nearly 250 people” as the live report (video) accounts – and recall that people had lectures ongoing and so had to come late or leave early (or both) so that’s not that bad… getting students to move with less than a week’s notice isn’t a null feat.
Hopefully we can get a reversal of this decision; the university shouldn’t ignore the opinions of 94% of the voting students at York and 600-700 petitions. It’s a long-term campaign and is always likely to be a major campaign in the Langwith/department Hes East moves as well so expect more to come!
You didn’t byline George’s (the first) or my (the second) photo…
Speaking as a resident of Fairfax House, having what passes for Porters for around three hours per day in the morning, and being ten minutes’ walk from Vanbrugh’s Lodge, I find myself somewhat unsympathetic to Vanbrugh and Derwent’s complaints.
There are almost a hundred of us here. And what about Fulford Road, stranded twenty minutes out?
Vanbrugh and Derwent’s Campus Blocks are perhaps five minutes’ walk from Langwith’s lodge, at the absolute worst of times. Forgive me if I don’t find my heart brimming over with outrage at their state of affairs. I’m sure they can just about cope with the trek.
Sorry Jason, my bad, fixed now.
Fairfax should have the same services – the situation with Fulford is slightly different but they’re all important issues. Don’t just complain that you’re worse off than them – complain that you’re all worse off!
Thanks Ali