The Power of Student Campaigns

Central Hall

In recent weeks, campaigns at York have included Langwith’s ‘24/7’, in response to the closure of the college’s portering lodge during the night, and People and Planet’s campaign for an environmentally sustainable Heslington East campus as a result of the project’s approval. But what motivates students campaign? A one off campaign can provide opportunity for many students to voice their opinions, and perhaps initiate the change of old or newly formed practice.

One reason why student campaigns work is that students are very vocal. Whether a one off campaign, or a long-term crusade, students are never scared to take up the challenge to use their power in order to create change. It’s not hard to see why student voices are heard. According to Universities UK, undergraduate and postgraduate students alone accounted for approximately 2.3 million people in the UK in 2005. Commitment to volunteering can also provide students with valuable, marketable skills that employers look for, and revolutionize student life for the better.

On campus, student campaigning is more prevalent than ever. The recent campaign for 24-hour portering to be restored to Langwith spawned from last term’s campaign, ‘Save Our Porters’. In response to the University’s action to close lodges in January due to staff shortages, outcry from York students initiated change, with now many services restored to colleges. Although services are back to normal in every other college, Langwith, one of York’s founding colleges, remains open only between the hours of 7am and 10pm.

Won Youn, Chair of Langwith JCRC recently said: “Withdrawing the twenty-four hour portering will severely affect the appeal of Langwith to perspective students and reduces the welfare service we can offer new undergraduates.”

Youn added: “We have already attempted to address some of our concerns with the current portering situation. We are currently implementing a petition, aimed at Langwith as well as other students. The results of this petition will demonstrate how strongly we feel about the current Porters situation. Additionally we have support of the current Porters the College Provost, the SU and the other college chairs. We strongly believe that the effects of this cutback on student welfare have been grossly underestimated.”

The recent approval of Heslington East has separately sparked student campaigns by York society People and Planet, aimed at pressurising the University into assuring environmental sustainability of the site. Kate Evans, Chair of People and Planet told The Yorker:

“The main thing is to ensure that Heslington East is as environmentally sustainable as possible. Our UGM Motion is to make sure that the University keeps to their promises on issues such as recycling, the student venue and infrastructure for cyclists.”

The Yorker asked Kate on how People and Planet wanted the University to make the project environmentally sustainable. Kate said: “ Mainly through building designs, by making clear cycle routes across campus and providing a safe place for bikes to be stored. Also, whilst the recycling is effective it mainly falls to the JCRCs and they could build into the infrastructure kerb-side recycling to lift this pressure.”

However, regardless of this passion and commitment, a student backlash to happenings at university can sometimes be unsuccessful. Last year’s ‘Save our Bars’ campaign, which involved a week long ‘barcott’, was deemed “very successful” by the SU. However, despite over two thousand signatures being collected in a petition, Commercial Services proceeded with closures this academic year, in an attempt to counteract the University’s final deficit of over £3 million. On a wider scale, top-up fees were introduced by the government regardless of popular student opinion.

Whether a short or long-term issue, a matter concerning York or students around the whole of the country, campaigns by students involve time, effort, and passion for change. Although running such campaigns may be time consuming, and may not end in triumph, they can ultimately provide a challenging and rewarding experience, making positive differences to student life.