Campus safety fears flare

In the report, university spokesperson Hilary Layton said "staff were trapped in their offices".

In fact students involved in the protest allowed staff to move about the building freely at all times.

While security funding may have "increased this year", student numbers have also increased and most have seen that security provision has not grown in line with the rise in student population.

Students in Vanbrugh College are already expected to walk 100 yards along dimly lit walkways to speak to security staff, and YUSU has been informed that two other colleges are to share this problem during the next two years.

This strongly suggests the university administration does not regard student safety as its top priority, a fact that YUSU believes should change as soon as possible.

Sam Challis,

Campaigns officer,

York University Students' Union, Goodricke College,

York.

...I WAS appalled to read that managers at the university called out the fire brigade to try to disperse students occupying their administration building.

The fire service has more important things to do than act as private enforcers in workplace disputes.

This highlights the arrogance with which university management has handled the whole issue of campus security. It is time they sat down with the unions and negotiated in good faith over what is clearly a major concern for students and staff

Ben Drake,

Danum Road,

Fulford York.

...THE behaviour of the university was incredibly disappointing. However, our union's actions also appeared conceited.

The union was mandated to campaign for campus-wide 24-hour portering. Yesterday they ceded that demand; their banners read "A Vanburgh porter until midnight".

Within ten minutes of arriving, it appeared 'our' demands had been met.

There would be a Vanburgh porter until midnight. President Ffion Evans called for our immediate withdrawal from the building. Miss Evans and services officer Dan Simon took vote after vote, with increasing pressure to leave, but our resolve remained. We wanted 24-hour portering, they wanted us out.

It seems inconceivable that such an enormous managerial and financial decision would be made so quickly, without senior figures present.

Miss Evans' swift success and call for withdrawal suggests the union executive committee had knowledge of such a decision beforehand - they sit on these university committees.

The union executive ceded their mandate in the knowledge that the lesser demand would be met.

By sending students in as stooges, they would guarantee personal political success. The union is often derided as ineffectual; here was an example of success and student power. Sadly, it felt like a betrayal for many.

Sam Southgate,

Goodricke College,

University of York.

...At no point did students occupying the central foyer, balcony and stairwell obstruct university personnel in the building from moving around. Our protest was peaceful and our aim was to improve student/staff welfare and campus security - not hamper it.

The university demonstrated a complete disregard for the safety of the people of York who may have been in a real emergency, by calling out the fire brigade when there was clearly no fire, nor danger.

University spokeswoman Miss Layton appears not to have to full facts on campus portering. Not only has Vanburgh had its 24-hour cover status removed in stealth over the summer holidays, but the same fate is planned for neighbouring Goodricke and Derwent colleges.

Therefore, of the eight colleges on campus, only four now will have 24- hour cover.

Vice Chancellor Ron Cooke insisted at the demonstration that the budget for security has been increased this year. Where has this extra money gone?

Melissa Bean,

York university student,

Cycle Street,

Hull Road, York.

Updated: 09:28 Saturday, February 16, 2002