THE STUDENT’S Union at the University of Warwick has spoken out post-Brexit – urging students to come together to ‘heal wounds’ created by the Leave vote.
In a statement to student, sabbatical officers at the university said: “On Thursday, June 23, the British electorate voted by a slim majority in favour of leaving the European Union.
“Once Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty is triggered and the UK begins exit negotiations, this is likely to have a considerable impact on universities across the UK as the Higher Education environment is forced to adapt to a different direction for Britain.
“The Sabbatical Officer team all voted to remain within the European Union, and we know that many of you were among the 75 per cent of those aged 18-25 who voted in the same way.
“The University of Warwick is a global community with citizens from all over the world, and this is undoubtedly one of the greatest and most enriching strengths of our campus.
“We know that many of you are likely to be anxious about the impact of this result.
“What, then, does this mean for you as a current student?
“Though this outcome will likely lead to a number of long-term questions – many of which we unfortunately cannot answer right now – there will hopefully be few immediate consequences for students.
“Given that the process of leaving the European Union will take several years, change is likely to be more gradual than first impressions may suggest.
“If you are an international student from within the EU or beyond, your arrangements with the University will not change when you return for the 2016/17 academic year.
“If you are a student about to embark on a Study Abroad or Erasmus year in 2016/17, nothing will change.
“If you are currently a postgraduate student carrying out research with European Union funding, those funding commitments will be honoured and nothing will change.
“If you are a Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) student working in partnership with Jaguar-Land Rover, they have said that this is currently business as usual, and at this stage it is also likely that nothing will change.
“We are pleased that Professor Croft has pledged to write to the government to call for a delay in the Higher Education Bill during this time of political volatility.
“As Warwick’s main representative body for students, we support the Vice-Chancellor’s action wholeheartedly, since any prospective bill would likely bring the most significant changes to Higher Education in two decades.
“We say with steadfast conviction and open arms that, whether you’re a home student, an international student from outside the EU or a student from within the EU, you are welcome here at the University of Warwick and you are welcome in our Students’ Union.
“Whatever happens in the coming years, that will never change.
“We must continue to show the humanity, humility and compassion that so defines our university community – in particular, to heal wounds rather than exacerbating them, and to unequivocally support those in our community whose position may now feel more perilous than they did prior to the early hours of Friday, June 24.”
