Student Union criticises Hastings university review

The results of this morning’s meeting, taking place between 8.30am and 11am, have not yet been made public but a meeting of staff, students and union reps is set to be held at 3pm today.

Ahead of today’s meetings, the Brighton Student Union yesterday released a statement condemning the ‘lack of transparency’ in the review commissioned by the vice chancellor Debra Humphries.

“The Students’ Union stands in opposition to threats of closure to the Hastings campus; the review commissioned by Debra Humphries is entirely financially motivated, with no concern for the impact on the livelihoods of staff, the occupation of students, and the prosperity of the local community,” said the statement, released on the union’s website.

“We extend solidarity to staff unions UCU and UNISON and are committed to uniting with staff in resisting job losses, course closures and funding cuts to Hastings.”

The president of the Students’ Union Hayley Wood, as a governor on the board, said she would be fighting any recommendation that Hastings be closed or disbanded at today’s meeting and an assembly of students, staff and union reps will be held at 3pm in the Lecture Theatre ground floor of Priory Square building.

“The swiftness with which this review has been undertaken and the lack of transparency in holding this review exposes the readiness of the vice chancellor to make decisions of this scale and severity with total disregard for the people it affects,” the statement continues.

“It reflects the disconnection between senior management and the communities which exist on each of our campuses and highlights the reality that all staff and students across campuses face the threat of redundancies and course closures.

“No amount of consultation or communication changes the fact that the closure of Hastings would be a financial decision, made in the interest of management not the people who have worked to make Hastings the exciting campus it is.”

Updates to follow as more information is released throughout the day.

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