The dangers that a reduction of porters could bring have already been demonstrated out of term time, when less porters are on duty. An illegal immigrant locked himself into a room overnight after gaining access to a Derwent residential block when no porter was present in the college.
Derwent chair Joe Rankin said: “I hate to think of other situations that could occur. The least worrying being financial damage to the un-manned College facilities, the worst not worth speculating about.”
STUDENTS KEPT IN DARK
Arrangements have not yet been finalised, but it is thought that Langwith, Vanbrugh and Derwent colleges will have their own porters during unconfirmed “office hours”, but overnight will share a porter between them. Additional security officers will also patrol campus.
This replaces the previous system of round the clock portering in every college.
BUDGET CUTS
Langwith lost their 24 hour porters in 2007, prompting a high profile ‘Save Our Porters’ campaign across campus
However, the plan to scrap all-night porters in the other colleges was taken over this summer whilst students were away from campus.
This is because the Heslington East development requires a porters lodge of its own, and the University has decided to stretch resources between the two campuses.
“This is a difficult time financially for the University,” said YUSU President Tim Ngwena. “We do not welcome these cuts but at least they are not cuts from academic provision.”
Safety Jeapordised
Porters play an important role in ensuring the safety of students and are seen by many as a reassuring presence.
They are the first port of call if there is a disturbance or emergency, let students who have lost their keys into their buildings and are trained first aiders.
They even supply an emergency taxi fund to students who have run out of cash on a night out, meaning that lone students should always be able to get home safely.
“Last year we had an incident with a room being flooded in the middle of the night,” said a second year Linguistics student. “I’d hate to think what would have happened if the porters hadn’t been there to call on.”
This year college welfare teams and block tutors are expected to fill the gap left behind by porters, and have been given extra training.
A statement released by the University said: “Porters are not part of the formal student welfare system. There is an extensive welfare network in place to support students and many of the members of that system are resident on campus.”
Student Anger
However, Derwent chair Joe Rankin has slammed this claim, insisting that welfare teams will not be able to adequately play this role or match the experience of porters.
“To suggest porters aren’t suitable for a welfare role because they haven’t taken some box-ticking, common-sense welfare course is frankly insulting to them and damaging to Colleges,” he said.
“Moreover, college tutors aren’t on duty all night, nor should they be. Student volunteers aren’t able to give a 24/7 presence.”
Vanbrugh chair Dani Fill defended the welfare role played by colleges, but added: “It does sadden me to know that the porters will not there as often because in Vanbrugh they were always there no matter what; any problem they would try and help.”
Faulty Plans
The new scheme kicks off in week 3, but Tim Ngwena has said that the University is yet to finalise how the new system will work.
“An issue that really needs addressing is room access,” he said. “Societies will need to be able to get keys for their rooms, and at the moment there is no procedure in place for what to do if there is no porter there. This really needs sorting out before the start of term.”
Derwent JCRC are also concerned that college members will not be able to get into their common room. Vision reported last term that the room has recently had an expensive lock fitted, the key to which is kept by the porters.
The University insists that they carried out adequate discussions with students about axing the 24/7 porters.
“There were meetings involving the JCR chairs, YUSU and the pro vice chancellor for students at the beginning of the summer to discuss the proposals. Further meetings are planned to confirm the arrangements,” said University press officer David Garner.
Cleaner Cuts
Vision has also learnt that cleaning provisions will change this term. Bedrooms will no longer be cleaned and bathrooms cleaned monthly rather than weekly.
The Uni insists: “The change brings York into line with the majority of higher education and private student accommodation providers.”
Thought some of you might like to read the response the University gave to an email sent to Brian Cantor, as part of the Save our Porters Facebook Group. The email I sent was basically a request to keep 24 porters as they provide a valuable service, welfare provision etc.
Here’s the response:
I have been asked to respond to your email to the Vice Chancellor regarding
changes to portering and security services, particularly Derwent College.
The University like all organisations is not immune to the economic
down-turn and as a consequence it is important that we continue to review
the range of services that we provide. A great deal of consultation has
taken place prior to the finalised proposals that are now being implemented.
We still provide significant resources and will continue to do so in terms
of portering services. You may not be aware that the 24 hour service is
available at Langwith – a more central location for the ‘central’ colleges.
This will cover the night shift for the central spine college buildings
(including Derwent) and will be introduced from 26th November.
In addition a further two security shifts during the night are being
introduced, the first shift from 1st October this year and a second
supplementary shift to be introduced for the start of term 2010.
It is important to review the ratio of porters to those students residing
within University accommodation. For clarity I have listed the number of
students in each college below:-
Wentworth 565 students
Alcuin 542 students
James 760 students
New Goodricke 588 students
Halifax 1,081 students
Langwith 281
Derwent 288
Vanbrugh 339
It makes sense, therefore, to merge the service for the 3 small colleges,
which are geographically close to one another.
It is recognised that this is a change, but we have improved safety support
on campus through investment in well-trained staff and CCTV in the last 3
years. It has been demonstrated in our crime statistics that this
investment has meant year on year improvements to our security and safety of
staff, students and the University’s building and facilities.
Change is always difficult particularly where our staff have provided an
excellent service. I am pleased to let you know that none of the current
cohort of staff are leaving the University but will be working elsewhere on
campus.
The University will continue to monitor the safety and security of staff and
students on an ongoing basis.
Students can, of course, continue to access portering services at Derwent
for 10 hours each week day and can access portering services at Langwith
College 24 hours a day.
I trust this reassures you of the University’s responsible approach to
security.
Yours sincerely
Keith Lilley
Director of Facilities Management.
Would just like to point out that Vanbrugh have more students than Lilley has suggested. Cant remember the exact figure though.
It is unbelievable how undervalued the Porters are by the University. As pro vice chancellor for students, Jane Grenville should be fighting to stop these cutbacks.
If, as Keith Lilley says, York uni is experiencing the effects of the recession, surely there are better places to cutback than a service that is vital for student welfare.
It is also unbelievable that Porters are unable to communicate their unhappiness because they are worried their job may be put in jeopardy if they do so.
Seeing as Vanbrugh includes old Vanbrugh (3 blocks?), new Vanbrugh (many blocks) Fairfax House AND (possibly) some old Goodricke ones, surely the number of students is significantly higher than 339? If students need to get from Fairfax to Derwent late at night (escorting students is a listed role of porters), who will escort them: the one or two porters in Langwith?