Blog
Portering @ Student Services Committee
A massive thank you to everyone who turned up to the protest against the cuts in Portering accross the University. It gave Ben and myself a clear and visible madate as we entered the University's Student Services Committee yesteday to argue the case for 24 hour portering.
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.
Please email portering@yusu.org every time you notice where student welfare has been damaged by the cuts - this is the evidence we need to further the campaign.
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. Thank you for the huge amount of support we've had so far and please keep it coming.
Be sure to visit the Facebook Group and use the email ( portering@yusu.org) everytime you notice where student welfare has been damaged by the cuts.
On behalf of YUSU,Tim Ngwena YUSU President
