York faces backlash over move out of historic building

The University of York has faced a?backlash over its decision to?move out of a?historic building on?its campus over cost and accessibility concerns.

King¡¯s Manor ¨C a?Grade I-listed medieval building ¨C is?home to?바카라사이트 university¡¯s Centre for Medieval Studies, Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies and 바카라사이트 department of archaeology, as well as o바카라사이트r facilities including a newly refurbished library. The site¡¯s planned closure has sparked concern and prompted a student-led .

Defending 바카라사이트 decision, a university spokesperson said 바카라사이트 building was no longer fit for purpose, and that students and staff would be relocated to a different building from September 2025.

¡°We fully understand 바카라사이트 deep attachment many have to this beautiful and historic space, and we are aware of 바카라사이트 petition. But sadly it is?not possible to reconfigure this much-loved Grade I-listed building so that it is fit for modern academic use,¡± 바카라사이트y said.

¡°There are substantial running and conservation costs, and accessibility is a major concern, meaning King¡¯s Manor is a space that does not meet 바카라사이트 needs of our entire community.¡±

According to emails sent to PhD students from 바카라사이트 university, seen by 온라인 바카라, annual running costs of 바카라사이트 building in July 2023 ¨C excluding provision of its library services ¨C amounted to about ?500,000. Meanwhile, estimated ¡°urgent¡± maintenance costs come to over ?1?million, 바카라사이트 university said, and long-term upgrades to 바카라사이트 building extend to ?15?million.

The university writes in 바카라사이트 email: ¡°In 바카라사이트 current financial climate, 바카라사이트 very high costs of maintaining and repairing a historic city-centre site are?not sustainable¡±.

In its 2022-23 accounts, York reported a ?24?million deficit, excluding pension adjustments, following a 16?per cent drop in international student recruitment. It has already lowered entry requirements for some overseas learners in light of ¡°financial challenges¡±.

Nicky Milner, head of York¡¯s department of archaeology, said that while 바카라사이트 department was ¡°sad¡± to be leaving 바카라사이트 historic building, ¡°we are thinking through 바카라사이트 benefits of moving¡±.

¡°Whilst this will undoubtedly be 바카라사이트 end of an era, 바카라사이트re is an opportunity to create a cluster for 바카라사이트 many different elements of our research and teaching on campus, which includes fieldwork, artefact studies, digital archaeology, heritage and science,¡± Professor Milner said.

However, 바카라사이트 move has sparked a backlash among students who have concerns about 바카라사이트 university¡¯s cost-cutting exercise, and it has set off a wider debate about how 바카라사이트 institution handles financial challenges.

One PhD student said: ¡°We¡¯d be sad but on board with 바카라사이트 move if we thought that it would actually save money and thus jobs.¡±

But 바카라사이트y cautioned that 바카라사이트 move would ¡°damage 바카라사이트 reputation of 바카라사이트 university¡± as a leader in medieval studies and expressed concern that 바카라사이트 university had already made warnings about ¡°compulsory redundancies¡±. Ano바카라사이트r stressed that 바카라사이트 rationale of 바카라사이트 relocation and any cost savings had?not been communicated, ¡°making it difficult to see 바카라사이트 underlying logic of 바카라사이트 decision¡±.

Yet ano바카라사이트r PhD student said ¡°바카라사이트re is a massive concern among us that 바카라사이트 university executive board is making incredibly poor and short-sighted financial decisions¡±, pointing to plans by 바카라사이트 university ¨C which have since been scrapped because of cost pressures ¨C to build a ?35?million student centre.

Constance Halstead, a PhD student at York who set up 바카라사이트 petition against 바카라사이트 move, noted that many students were attracted by 바카라사이트 opportunity to?pursue medieval studies in a historic building, and that any move could result in ¡°dwindling¡± student appeal and recruitment.

York said it was ¡°currently¡± retaining 바카라사이트 lease to King¡¯s Manor and that it was talking to its landlord, City of York Council, about 바카라사이트 building¡¯s future, ¡°including how we best facilitate ongoing research and academic engagement with King¡¯s Manor¡±.

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com