Tuesday 03-11-2020 - 16:03

Hello from your Bristol SU Officer team!

It’s been an unusual start to the academic year, but we’ve been working hard to make sure students have been supported, and that your voice is represented to the University. 

With the announcement of the new lockdown, we want to reassure you that we will continue to listen to what students need in this challenging time – and fight to enable the best and safest student experience possible for you. 

We wanted to update you on some of our successes so far this term, here are some highlights:

 

Picture: Empics

Rent Strike

The University of Bristol rent strike is reported to be the largest in UK history, with over 1000 student signups. 

 

Supported by Student Living Officer Ruth, the Bristol Cut The Rent campaign was executed due to frustrations at having to pay full rent, given the disruption to the student experience caused by Covid.

 
Over 1000 students have pledged to withhold their rent payments in October or January.

 

 

Study Spaces

 

We are pleased to have successfully lobbied the University to increase the weekly hourly library study cap, from four to eight hours.

Postgraduate Education Officer Leah and Undergraduate Education Officer David, received this commitment from the University, beginning on a 2-week trial basis. 

The University has also agreed to increase the opening hours of all study spaces, to stay open until 8pm.

 

 

All About Drugs

Your Student Living Officer Ruth has launched the All About Drugs campaign, with free drug testing kits now made available for students.

The project is the first of its kind at the University of Bristol, and aims to remove barriers from students accessing support, and to reduce the risk of harm associated with using drugs, including alcohol.

Weekly drop-in sessions with The Drop, part of Bristol Drugs Project, are now available in the Richmond Building and over Zoom. Here students can receive harm reduction advice, support and information, as well as a free drug reagent testing kit funded by the University of Bristol. 

 

 

Lockdown 

In light of the new lockdown announcement, we have called on the University to move all non-essential in-person teaching online for the rest of the term. 

We feel it is wrong on both an educational and public health level to continue on-campus teaching during a lockdown.

We are also asking the University to allow students in halls to have no-penalty contract releases from their accommodation, so that they can choose to move home. For students who choose to remain in halls, we are lobbying the University to provide a 30% rent reduction for this term. You can view our full list of demands here.

 

Our position is informed by weeks of consultation from both students and staff, and we believe decisive action is now needed.

 

 

Buddy System

The Wellbeing Network, with support of Student Living Officer Ruth, has launched a new buddy system.

The aim of the scheme is to help students make friends in these strange times, and links up students with similar interests.

The buddy system is open to all students, and allows for participants to select a preference for meeting others from an LGBT+, BME, or International background.

 

Sign up here before the 6th of November