Friday 17-07-2020 - 15:46

Update from Kate McIntosh, SU President

Durham University has recently come under fire from non-student residents of the city, for the number of students who appear to be visiting or living in Durham City currently, and for potential breaches of Covid-19 restrictions. In response, the University initially veered towards a policy that undermines students’ rights and treats students’ safety as an afterthought. It’s completely legitimate for non-student residents to be worried about a spike in Covid-19 rates – students are too. But instead of talking about how we can equip students to keep ourselves and others safe, there has been talk of fines and disciplinary procedures. Decision-makers are treating students as a nuisance or as a cause of transmission. Instead, they need to understand the particular challenges facing students, acknowledge our right to live in Durham City, and treat us like adult members of our community.

Like many people, students at Durham are facing very hard decisions about the next few months of our lives. Some of us had to leave at short notice, and have faced the challenge of ending tenancies, cleaning and moving out whilst navigating confusing restrictions. Some of us stayed in Durham, because for one reason or another, that was the best option for us. Now, we’re looking ahead to more uncertainty over the summer. Many of us work in Durham City, in businesses that are now reopening. Many of us are keen to get back to studying, using whatever spaces and resources are available in Durham under current restrictions. And many of us have been living elsewhere, away from friends, perhaps in households that are crowded or uncomfortable. Some students have no safe place to be that isn’t their home in Durham.

And we are all concerned about the risk of Covid-19 to ourselves and to those in our community. Many students have underlying conditions that put them at particular risk. Many students won’t be able to depend on a network of friends or family if they have to self-isolate. And the vast majority of students want to live in a cohesive community where everyone is safe. I think this is what non-student residents want too. So why do I have keep reminding decision-makers that students are adult members of our community? Students have already contributed to the efforts to keep people safe and keep life going as normal throughout Covid-19. They have volunteered to help responsibly reduce waste in the Green Move Out. They are running online events that are open to all.

If you want students to be community-minded, then you should treat us as members of the community. Students are grappling with restrictions that are really hard to understand in their own context – no one should be demonised for failing to meet nearly impossible rules, especially if they have done their upmost to keep themselves and other people safe. 

We need the relevant authorities to work with students, not pursue an extreme, punitive policy in response to a very small minority flouting the restrictions. Currently, the University is wasting time talking about the most effective punishments for rule-breakers, instead of investing energy into streamlining all the confusing guidance, so that it is applicable to students’ lifestyles and actually equips people to stay safe. Durham SU’s Advice Service is working to fill this gap, making sure students have access to the clear guidance they need. I am pleased that the SU can help students in this way, but this work highlights the lack of information from the University and the relevant authorities. Why choose an approach that demeans students when you could empower them?

The University wants to show that it can act swiftly in response to concerns from the community. But, does anyone seriously believe that harsh penalties levied at people reported to the police will make all students more able to keep themselves and the people around them safe? Or will it create a culture of fear, where the majority are more confused and more anxious, and those breaking the rules continue to feel like they aren’t part of the community? Students want to stay safe, and we want to keep those around us safe too, but we need help rather than punishment in order to do so.