Manchester University students union banned military societies from recruiting on campus throughout its 2013 welcome week. Photograph: Alamy
British universities have opened their doors to let the armed forces to make 341 visits to recruit college students in two years.
In response to a Freedom of Details request by the Guardian, the Ministry of Defence reveals the extent to which the armed forces is focusing on universities to enlist students to the army, air force and navy.
Its figures present Birmingham has welcomed a lot more recruiters than any other university, with twenty visits given that the start off of last year. Leeds and Leicester follow, with 17 and sixteen recruitment visits respectively.
The amount of occasions went up last yr from 144 visits to recruit and promote in 2012 to 197 visits in 2013.
Numerous students unions have taken a stand against military recruitment on campus. A variety of universities, such as Stirling, the University of London and the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), had been not visited at all by the armed forces in a recruitment or promotional capacity.
Blane Abercrombie, president of the UWS students union, which is a single of several to ban enlistment on campus, describes the recruitment drive as “ridiculous”.
“It is preying on vulnerable college students and can make international students truly feel unsafe. University campus is a spot for understanding, not for getting signed up to go to war. We have acquired a duty as pupil unions to make sure our college students truly feel risk-free on campus.”
This year, Manchester University’s students union followed suit and turned away a Royal Navy unit wishing to recruit on campus for the duration of freshers week, saying: “Welcome week is not the proper time for recruitment to the armed forces.
“We really feel that their presence might make the campus seem unwelcoming to some new and present students.”
Some argue that the presence of armed forces on campuses is a type of “exploitation”.
George Iordanou, a doctoral researcher in political concept at the University of Warwick, says: “College students are vulnerable because of the minimal possibilities of discovering employment on graduating, the student loan bubble and increased fees.
“The army are not the problem, but universities shouldn’t be producing the political determination of permitting them to be on campuses. It’s not that they shouldn’t have entry to college students, but that market place need to take place outdoors university.”
Other individuals truly feel military organisations are disproportionately represented at university careers fairs. Holly-Rae Smith, universities network co-ordinator for the Campaign Against Arms Trade, says: “The far more universities outsource their funding, the more enticing it is to get arms organizations and the armed forces to come in and fill the gaps.
“A whole lot of universities have a disproportionate volume of firms who can afford to be there. Some recruitment fairs value £600 a table, so it prices out smaller neighborhood companies.”
Nonetheless, many folks are strongly towards banning the military from campus. The ban at Manchester University sparked an on the internet petition, reaching 531 supporting votes at the time of writing.
It reads: “[These organisations] supply members with an comprehending of military knowledge and whilst some go on to signal up following graduation, it is a small minority.
“They do not motivate violence or harm to other individuals. They do not put strain on members to join the armed forces right after university. They do not impact daily life on campus or operate in the public eye of college students, except throughout welcome week.
“We call on UMSU to instantly reinstate their correct to sign up new members on campus, so that students may possibly have the freedom and decision to belong to these worthy organisations.”
Numerous say that anger directed at student members of armed force societies is specifically misplaced. Earlier this year, members of student military associations across Glasgow spoke out towards the “harassment” they had acquired for wearing regimental uniform on university grounds.
A spokesperson for the armed forces says that military student societies should be in a position to recruit on campus.
“University officer education corps are recognised and legitimate university societies that provide students an exciting, challenging and rewarding encounter during their time at university,” he says.
“We are of the see that members of the university officer coaching corps ought to be allowed to attend freshers fairs like each other society.”
Armed forces make over 300 visits to UK universities in two years
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