The University of Manchester are proposing: “that a student may be liable for disciplinary action in respect of conduct that damages the University’s relationship or reputation with its local communities”. This policy is based on the premise that students are separate to the ‘community’, a divisive narrative that does not recognise students as residents of, and contributors to, their local community.

It is also a paternalistic approach which only recognises students as members of the University and discounts their autonomy as citizens. The University is an educational institution, not a civil court and should not try to act as a disciplinary body for how people behave as residents. The various allegations put to the University are not incidents that are only conducted by students. Often our members are treated as criminals and nuisances, but students are far more likely to be the victims of crime. Students volunteer thousands of hours across the city, have gone on to set up food banks supporting those most in need in Manchester and often act as important ambassadors for faith communities. To frame students as outside of their communities that need “disciplining” is wrong. We call on members of University Senate to not treat students in this way, and to treat our members like adults in their communities. The University of Manchester should not act as police on our students in their homes.