University of Cambridge
Hundreds of Pro-Palestinian student supporters held a demonstration on October 14, 2023 at King's Parade, Cambridge.
The protesters claimed that the institution, the UK government, and Israel are "complicit in genocide" in Gaza.
Concerns have been raised about the University's handling of the issue. A Cambridge lecturer, Dr James Orr, was accused of being "racist" and "dehumanising" to Arabs and Palestinians, with one professor in his own faculty claiming it is "unthinkable" that he can teach "without discrimination."
University security, according to the vice-chancellor, would conduct "proactive patrolling" and work with local institutions, including the police, as a response to the protest.
University College London
In recent weeks, Just Stop Oil protests have hit a range of universities, including the University of Manchester, Exeter, and Leeds.
At UCL, on October 11, activists organised a protest in the Main Quad, damaging the columns on the stairs and disruption of foot traffic on campus.
Student responses to the protests varied. Katie Taylor, a first-year studying Politics and Sociology at SSEES, told UCL's Pi Media that “UCL seemed like a random target.”
She felt that “students seemed very hesitant to join in and were more interested in the police presence than the protest.”
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh has been criticised for hosting a book launch for 'Sex and Gender: A Contemporary Reader'.
A group of scholars, including those from the University, wrote the book. The book's authors characterise it as "a much-needed exploration of the relationship between sex, gender, and gender identity."
However, UCU Edinburgh highlighted "concerns about the launch of a transphobic book on campus" in an email.
This follows the University's decision to broadcast the controversial film Adult Human Female in December 2022 and April 2023. Protests forced the cancellation of both attempted screenings.
The filmmakers described the film as "the first UK documentary feature to look at the clash between women's rights and trans ideology."
However, several critics, notably the University of Edinburgh's Pride Society and UCU Edinburgh, have labelled the film "transphobic."
Cardiff University
Cardiff University's Students' Union (CUSU) have banned blue shirts and chinos, following "dangerous behaviour" by some of its students.
CUSU stated that individuals sporting the attire, commonly linked with sports clubs, would not be granted entry to its Wednesday club night.
This decision follows a series of "reckless, dangerous and incredibly irresponsible" actions by a cluster of male students on October 4 2023.
However, CUSU claimed that the actions taken were temporary and aimed at ensuring the safety of the students.
University of Leeds On October 16, students from the School of Medicine participated in campus CPR demonstrations to promote awareness for the Resuscitation Council UK's 'Restart a Heart Day.' Positioned outside the Leeds University Union, students performed CPR on mannequins to instruct fellow students and staff on the proper technique of performing CPR and employing a defibrillator to revive a heart.
Durham University
In response to high living costs, Durham University has developed a Housing Hub - a webpage where students can obtain services to assist them in locating a home in the city.
The site states that "[t]here's enough student housing" and students "do not need to queue at letting agents [...] to secure accommodation", which occurred last year.
Prices for student houses in Durham have steadily risen compared to 2022, with 29% of houses on StuRents being more than £200 per week, as of October 9 2023.
With a minimum annual contract price of £10,400, this is more than the maximum UK government maintenance loan of £9,978. 7% of the properties costing more than £200 a week also had no bills listed.
There is also a new Student Lettings Code of Practice, which landlords and renting brokers can sign.
University of Warwick
A recent assessment has shown that Coventry is a hotspot for freshers' flu. In a study by Vegetology, Coventry was voted the ninth-worst city in the UK for dealing with freshers' flu, scoring 4.8 out of 10 for its capacity to manage flu cases.
The assessment took into account the fact that health facilities in Coventry are not as well-equipped or funded as those in leading universities such as Cambridge, which invests £1,113 per student for health purposes.
During fresher's week, over 150 viruses dominate the scene, causing mild respiratory diseases known as the common cold.
University of Lincoln
On October 11, as part of the University of Lincoln's "nature positive" initiative, students constructed hedgehog houses.
The University became a 'Hedgehog Friendly Campus' in 2019. Since then, it has received a gold medal from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society in recognition of its work.
Other universities that have received a gold medal include Bristol, Edinburgh, Essex and Keele.
Building the houses entailed creating a pile of logs, branches, bark, and tree stumps with enough area for creatures to go inside.
The student volunteers were also given the opportunity to spread wildflower seeds in the surrounding area.
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