YUSU takes on porter campaign

The Derwent College JCRC have been running a “Support Our Porters” campaign since the start of this term following news that the university plans to reduce porter provisions across campus. Derwent Vice-Chair Anna Claire Younger, who attended yesterday’s Campaigns Committee meeting, expressed concern for the safety of students, arguing that the mere presence of porters can act as a deterrent for campus violence and burglary.

Younger argued that the duties of the porters went above and beyond those of campus security, explaining that many porters get to know students on a personal basis and are much more caring than ‘anonymous security’. In a comment to The Yorker she said "we don't want anonymous security staff - we want porters, and not just any porters, we want the porters that work in our college consistently, porters that know our students by name and are as much a part of the college as our Provost, college administrator or JCRC."

In addition, the Derwent JCRC are leading an awareness campaign next week. On Wednesday they will have people staying up all night in Vanbrugh, Langwith and Derwent colleges; the students will report on the issues the porters normally deal with. They hope to show that campus security is not a viable solution and that porters are especially crucial overnight.

Jane Grenville is expected to put up a tough front to prevent the success of the campaign. She has previously stated that 24 hour portering is no longer affordable due to the 5% government cut of the university's budget. The university is preparing a system to replace night-time portering, which will involve more campus security. College tutors will also be on call to accompany students to their nearest porter.

Senior Press Officer David Garner told the Yorker that "the JCR chairs and YUSU were consulted about the new arrangements." In response, Younger said "Yes JCRCs were informed, but 'consulted' is the wrong word as they had no real say in the changes."

YUSU Campaign Officers Chris Etheridge and Jason Rose are preparing answers for Grenville’s expected arguments. They have already stressed that if the university can afford to expand to Heslington East then it can afford porters. They will also attack the current organisation of the new system which remains confused. Younger said that the porters "haven't been given their proper work schedules or hours, they don't know where they will be or when and they don't even know which department to report to anymore."

Students are also confused about the rearrangement. The university Security and Support Services website still says that Derwent has 24 hour portering. However, the porter’s lodge is now closed overnight. Students must either walk to Vanbrugh because the Langwith porter’s lodge is also closed at night or call security services via the red phone. [1]

One issue that could stall the UGM motion is the statement that YUSU will involve local and national media in its campaign. This could harm the university’s reputation as a leading institution. On this point, YUSU Welfare Officer Ben Humphrys argued that in five years time the value of our degrees will be measured according to the success of our university, so the students’ union must be careful not to contribute to a fall in the league tables.

Student Activities Officer Rhianna Kinchin, who also attended yesterday’s meeting, stated that she is aware of the large numbers of students who support their porters. She is also concerned about the conflicting interests and is looking for a solution that will please everyone.

The debate regarding portering provisions is not a new one; in 2007 Langwith College lost its 24 hour portering service. A clause in a 2007 motion to reduce portering hours claimed that changes would only be temporary. The motion created this week points to the permanency of those changes.

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