ANGER OVER cuts to the porters service is sparking a string of protests on campus this week.
At 11pm tonight Derwent students will descend on their porters’ lodge for a “protest party”. They aim to show that the Uni admin who have axed night time welfare services are damaging the interests of students and the University.
Derwent Chair Joe Rankin told Vision: “It shouldn’t take simple and silly things like a party to highlight the important role the porters can play at night to prevent much more serious things. We want our porters!”
On Wednesday, Vanbrugh and Langwith will join with Derwent and YUSU in the campaign. Students will be occupying the porters’ lodges in all three colleges and be taking on some of their responsibilities through the night. YUSU officially joined the campaign last week after warning that the cuts could have “irreparable damage.”
This follows a masked campaign by an anonymous group of students last night in Derwent Bar. Furniture was removed and dumped by Heslington Hall with notes left telling the Uni “Wouldn’t have happened with 24 hour portering…”
Defending the service cuts, Pro Vice Chancellor for Students Jane Grenville and Director of Facilities Management Keith Lilley claimed: “we are looking to improve the system here, not to break it.”
They mocked: “Our patience and support this term will be much appreciated – once the teething troubles are over.”
Last Week, Vision tracked a night in the life of a porter which showed the crucial role porters play in student welfare. Anonymous porters have slammed the University’s cut backs, one telling Vision: “I think it’s so important that there is someone here. You get all kinds of problems when there’s not.”
To join the campaign, join the official Facebook group.
Yep, sorry. Have changed it now…