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Thursday 3rd December 2020 | No. 834
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Science & Technology offers a special feature on climate change
Interview talks to the President of Durham Action for Refugees
‘Ripped Off’ demands win further support Students’ Martha McHardy and Max Kendix News Editors Durham Students’ Union has voted to support a motion demanding that the University cut the cost of renting college accommodation. The motion, which was supported by 90% of Durham SU Assembly, resolves that the SU supports the demands of the ‘Ripped
Off’ campaign for the price of a standard, single, catered room in college to be capped at £6,746, and will support “as far as possible” action taken to bring about the demands. Other demands in the motion included a discount on accommodation fees for returning students living in college to allow the University to meet its aspiration of housing 50 to 55% of students in college-affiliated accommodation by 2027.
It also demanded that 25% of college accommodation cost 50% of the maximum maintenance loan (£9,203), in line with the National Union of Students’ (NUS) recommendations. SU officers will now be mandated to communicate these demands to the University. The motion noted that the cost of college accommodation fees have risen above inflation rates and are higher than the average maintenance loan. The NUS recommends that a quarter of first-year
accommodation costs half of the maximum maintenance loan, a target that Durham does not meet. The ‘Ripped Off’ campaign is also calling on the University to publish an annual breakdown of how college accommodation fees are spent. According to previous Freedom of Information requests, around half of the fees are spent directly in college. Continued on page 4
▲ Durham University is encouraging students to book regular Lateral Flow Tests at one of its three testing sites before going home (Mark Norton)
Mental health investigation reveals toll of Covid-19 pandemic on students Tash Mosheim and Martha McHardy Editor-in-Chief and News Editor As a result of lockdown, Durham students have reported feeling “isolated”, “abandoned” and “alone”. Data collected by Durham Polling revealed that students would feel “scammed”, “devastated” and “depressed” if
face-to-face teaching were to be removed. When asked by Palatinate what support they were given during periods of isolation, students said they received “none”, “very little”, or that their friends brought them food and they were given links to Zoom welfare calls. One student disclosed that “the welfare team emailed me once at the start of the isolation
period”, whilst another said they only received moral support from their housemates who were also isolating. In particular, students highlighted their sense of loneliness. One said: “I feel isolated and not cared for by the University. I worry for my future.” Some pointed to “a pervading sense of uncertainty”, “feeling trapped and overwhelmed”, and “disputes with
housemates over how strictly to follow rules”, as reasons for their declining mental state. Students also commented on the “lack of interaction with people, the monotony of days”, and the “limited social life, limited exercise, and no change of scenery or spontaneous events”. Continued on page 3
Union condemns Durham Union Society
Patrick Stephens News Editor Durham SU Assembly has passed a motion “to condemn the actions of the Durham Union Society”, with 93% voting in favour. The Assembly Notes accuse the DUS of failing “to prevent and effectively penalise incidents of racism/misogyny amongst both its membership and leadership”. The motion of the text alleges that “the failures to combat discrimination by the DUS are due to the institution actively choosing to protect senior members who hold discriminatory views over the welfare of its own membership”. The motion also argues that “the DUS is capable of causing significant harm to students from marginalised backgrounds due to its lack of safeguarding systems including an effective complaints process, code of conduct for its senior leadership and refusal to acknowledge or penalise the discriminatory actions of its members.” The SU Assembly resolved, in response, to “ban the DUS from participating in our events and to strongly encourage Sabbatical Officers not to participate in DUS events.” The resolution stated that DUS events will not be advertised or promoted, and DUS events will not be hosted in Dunelm House. Yash Raju, former Equalities Officer at the DUS, brought the motion to the SU Assembly. They told Palatinate: “I am absolutely delighted that the SU have decided with an overwhelming majority to stand with the victims of years and years of abuse.” Continued on page 4
