Reopen and extend our 24 hour access

Open letter to Professor David Latchman – The Master of Birkbeck College
Re-open our 24 hour access to computers and extend our library facilities to 24 hours!

In summer 2014, college management closed six 24 hour access department rooms and the 24 hour access computer room at Birkbeck. This was done without effective notice or consultation.

Since then, students have struggled and/or faced severe stress trying to complete studies where the college is only open during the day time. We enrolled at Birkbeck, at great financial cost, on the understanding that we would have 24 hour computer access. The flexibility of study – due to the evening nature of our courses – allows us to spread our study periods throughout the day, evening and night. This is particularly important as we have entered the exam period.

The current situation causes a very serious predicament for students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds and students with disabilities.

This goes against Birkbeck’s proud progressive history. What was to become Birkbeck College was launched on 2nd December 1823, dedicated to the education of working people. Our College was one of the first colleges in the country to admit women as students. Today Birkbeck continues to be one of the most diverse multicultural colleges in the country:

“The College values its institutional culture which embraces diversity for all its members (students and staff) and its visitors which is in line with the College’s founding beliefs and ethos of openness and access for all, and over the years it has successfully reflected the rich diversity of London amongst its staff and student population.”
[Birkbeck College Single Equality Strategy 2009 – 2012 Paragraph 1.2]

Our college must be, in deeds as well as words, a place of equality, a place of dignity and respect for all, a place that caters for and is accessible for all, a place that is an example to our city and nation, a place full of hope.