The Higher Education Bill currently making its way through Parliament aggressively pursues:
· the deregulation of the university sector
· enshrines competition between institutions
· sanctions further student fee increases
· reduces the accountability of the institutions for those who work and study within them.
Goldsmiths staff and students associated with the Goldsmiths People's Tribunal and the Gold Paper, together with the College Trade Unions and Goldsmiths Students Union, oppose these destructive changes. We urgently seek to take back our university both as a civic necessity and a public good. We want Goldsmiths to be a place that both represents and fights for what we believe in: a site of critical enquiry, social justice, creative practice and innovative teaching.
We took the Gold Paper to Council, the supreme decision-making body of the University, and they asked us to pick out three priorities. So that is what we've done. We are now calling on you to support them.
Please SIGN THIS PETITION to demand the following:
1 Inquiry into College Mental Health Crisis: An urgent inquiry into the mental health crisis on campus; a commitment to increased funding for counselling and a re-structuring of services based on a consultation process with both staff and students.
2. Housing Justice: In line with the ongoing student rent strike, we demand that rent in Student Halls of Residence be cut to 50% of the average student maintenance loan and that the Halls of Residence are brought up to the minimum housing standard stipulated by the housing charity Shelter.
3. Democratisation of College Governance: At least 50% of Council should be elected by staff and students at Goldsmiths. Alongside this, the Warden's open meetings should be turned into a genuinely democratic forum to which all staff and students can bring motions and debates that, if passed, have to be acted on. Timetables should be organised so that all can attend and Assembly attendance should be reflected in AL and fractional contracts.
Updates
March 24, 2017
The petition has reached five hundred signatures. This level of support provides a mandate as we continue our discussions with the university council.
Reached 500 supporters
March 22, 2017
March 19, 2017
The momentum behind this petition continues to build as we approach the five hundred signature milestone. Please redirect your efforts toward ensuring your colleagues are aware of these specific demands regarding campus welfare and housing. Sustaining this pressure on the Council remains essential to our objectives.
March 18, 2017
The Gold Paper petition has now reached one hundred signatures. This support confirms that our community remains deeply committed to reforming university priorities.
Reached 100 supporters
March 15, 2017
6 Comments
Fees are already way too high for what we get. stop trying to turn uni into a business.
KEEP EDUCATION PUBLIC.
Rent is absolutely extortionate. How are we meant to actually study when we can barely afford to eat or pay for a room?
Its pretty sad that this even needs to be said. universities should be about learning not just chasing profit and hiking prices.
The mental health support here is non existent. Waiting months to see anyone is a joke when you are already struggling.
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The Higher Education Bill currently making its way through Parliament aggressively pursues:
· the deregulation of the university sector
· enshrines competition between institutions
· sanctions further student fee increases
· reduces the accountability of the institutions for those who work and study within them.
Goldsmiths staff and students associated with the Goldsmiths People's Tribunal and the Gold Paper, together with the College Trade Unions and Goldsmiths Students Union, oppose these destructive changes. We urgently seek to take back our university both as a civic necessity and a public good. We want Goldsmiths to be a place that both represents and fights for what we believe in: a site of critical enquiry, social justice, creative practice and innovative teaching.
We took the Gold Paper to Council, the supreme decision-making body of the University, and they asked us to pick out three priorities. So that is what we've done. We are now calling on you to support them.
Please SIGN THIS PETITION to demand the following:
1 Inquiry into College Mental Health Crisis: An urgent inquiry into the mental health crisis on campus; a commitment to increased funding for counselling and a re-structuring of services based on a consultation process with both staff and students.
2. Housing Justice: In line with the ongoing student rent strike, we demand that rent in Student Halls of Residence be cut to 50% of the average student maintenance loan and that the Halls of Residence are brought up to the minimum housing standard stipulated by the housing charity Shelter.
3. Democratisation of College Governance: At least 50% of Council should be elected by staff and students at Goldsmiths. Alongside this, the Warden's open meetings should be turned into a genuinely democratic forum to which all staff and students can bring motions and debates that, if passed, have to be acted on. Timetables should be organised so that all can attend and Assembly attendance should be reflected in AL and fractional contracts.
Updates
March 24, 2017
The petition has reached five hundred signatures. This level of support provides a mandate as we continue our discussions with the university council.
Reached 500 supporters
March 22, 2017
March 19, 2017
The momentum behind this petition continues to build as we approach the five hundred signature milestone. Please redirect your efforts toward ensuring your colleagues are aware of these specific demands regarding campus welfare and housing. Sustaining this pressure on the Council remains essential to our objectives.
March 18, 2017
The Gold Paper petition has now reached one hundred signatures. This support confirms that our community remains deeply committed to reforming university priorities.
Reached 100 supporters
March 15, 2017
6 Comments
solidarity with the rent strikers. about time the college actually listened to us instead of just ignoring the problems.
Fees are already way too high for what we get. stop trying to turn uni into a business.
KEEP EDUCATION PUBLIC.
Rent is absolutely extortionate. How are we meant to actually study when we can barely afford to eat or pay for a room?
Its pretty sad that this even needs to be said. universities should be about learning not just chasing profit and hiking prices.
The mental health support here is non existent. Waiting months to see anyone is a joke when you are already struggling.
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solidarity with the rent strikers. about time the college actually listened to us instead of just ignoring the problems.