E E FR ISSUE 662 05 DEC 2016 exepose.com
EXEPOSÉ O Uni growth leaves Exeter divided
Hannah Butler Editor
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Photo: Sachi Minami
How accessible is Streatham campus for disabled students? Susannah Keogh Editor
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ISABLED Exeter students have expressed concern over campus accessibility, with one first year student describing the University as “the least accessible place I know”. “The library maps don’t show where the accessibility rooms are: the library staff don’t know where they are and won’t help you find them if you ask. I can find two of the rooms, I don’t know where the other
ones are.” Students with disabilities at the University of Exeter have a “relatively high” drop-out rate, acccording to the University Access Agreement for 2016/17. However, in 2013/14-the most recent figures available - 8.4% of full time undergraduates at the University were in receipt of the Disabled Students Allowance, well above the HESA benchmark of 5.7%. Elizabeth Jessop, head of the ExeterAbility group, helped organise the University’s first Disabled Students’ Forum last month. She told Exeposé that more
could be done to make the University accessible. “They are going to be releasing accessible maps of campus, as I am still finding lifts four years after I arrived. The University is not as accessible as it could be. Parts of DH1 are completely inaccessible for wheelchair students.” Postgraduate student Katie Newstead has asked the University for an automatic door to DH1 since 2007. “The new door opens onto steps and is awkward to get through, especially...
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ISING student numbers are making parts of Exeter “unbalanced” and “unsustainable,” a local residents’ association has warned – yet according to a recent Exeposé survey, many local businesses actually want student numbers to grow. Over 19,000 students are currently enrolled at the University’s Exeter campuses. The figure has grown by 19% over the past five years – and Exeposé has investigated how these rising numbers have affected students’ relationship with the city. In a survey sent to almost 200 local businesses and organisations, we asked what respondents made of Exeter’s student population, and whether they thought the University should continue to grow. The results suggested most businesses would not be opposed to having more students in the city. Asked whether they preferred dealing with student or non-student customers, an overwhelming majority (74%) of the 39 respondents said they had no bias, while 21% said they preferred non-students, and 5% would rather serve student customers. Perhaps unsurprisingly, no respondents thought an increase in students would be detrimental to business. On the contrary, 76% viewed increasing student numbers as either “positive” or “very positive” for their business or organisation. Meanwhile, 59% thought that if student numbers were to fall, their business would suffer. 54% of respondents said student
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numbers in Exeter were ‘about right’, and asked whether the University should continue to increase its student numbers, only 11% answered ‘no.’ “Generally for my business, the more students the better!” a spokesperson for Beerbox added, while another business commented: “I miss the students when they are not here. I like living and working in a student city,” and Rivka Jacobs said students “bring energy and diversity to the city.” 40% of respondents believed the University should continue to grow, while 30% were “unsure” about this growth, and 19% had no opinion. The question of growth was a divisive one. “The city seems to come to life when students return but there is obviously a fine balance between that and students taking over the town,” one anonymous business commented. “I personally think that the university has set too high a target in terms of student numbers. The number of new student accommodations popping up all over the city is a bit worrying.” “It’s not the total number of students, it’s the concentration in a couple of areas that creates issues,” the Vic pub explained. The pub is “only able to open in term time, because of seasonal occupancy of student houses,” a spokesperson added. This concern was shared by residents’ association Exeter St James Forum. During university holidays, the area “becomes a ghost town in several places,” Membership Officer Robyn Connett explained. Earlier this year, ESJF lost a campaign to prevent more student accommodation being built in the St James area as part of the proposed
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