The SU Council has voted to implement a new policy demanding the university moves further towards sustainability and social justice.
The ‘4D’s Manifesto’, has been implemented by the SU as a pledge to ensure the university is committed to fighting climate change, armed conflict, and all forms of discrimination.
Jo Campling, Welfare and Sustainability Officer, said: “There is an urgent need for change,
“We envision a university where social justice and sustainability is at the core of decision making.”
The 4D’s outline what the SU are demanding from the university: decolonisation, decarbonisation, demilitarisation, and democratisation.
This means pressure will be put on the university to review its curriculum through a critical and modern lens, meet its carbon neutral targets, and sever its ties with companies linked with the arms trade.
The council states it recognises these asks are large systemic changes that will take time, and money, but it believes that these are things worth pushing to achieve.
Pledges to urge the university to hire and train more staff from underrepresented backgrounds, and ensure the student voice is consulted when making decisions that will affect students, are also included in the manifesto.
Jo added that the council will have meetings with university representatives as well as organising protests to get this manifesto heard.
The manifesto also encourages students to get involved by joining campaigns, feedbacking to department leaders, and engaging with academic representatives and other students.
The minutes for all SU Council meetings can be found here.
