University of Reading Chancellors continue to swing their axe in cutting vital services for students, and in this case also local residents.

Vice-Chancellor, Tony Downes has confirmed that the University will stop subsiding PCSO's based on Whiteknights Campus that provide services to student communities on and beyond campus, in local student communities such as those in Katesgrove and Redlands wards, the latter has the highest student population in Reading.
We believe that it should be the Universities responsibility to provide safety and security to students, particularly when those living off-campus pay no council tax and residents field their contribution to the police services in this way.  These funds go towards tackling anti-social behaviour across Reading East and help protect students from incidents such as those in the past week where we have seen street muggings, an increased rate of burglary, and a sexual assault on the fringes of Whiteknights Campus.

Right before the start of RUSU's Personal Safety and Awareness Week, this message from the University sends out signals to students that it cares little about their own personal wellbeing. 

This is backed up with other recent cuts in the staff counselling service; cuts in support for dyslexic students; UCU's highlighting of possible departmental cuts in over 18 departments; and the alienation of Bulmershe Campus residents and students with the removal of the shuttle bus service.

Proposals for added Campus security and asking Reading Buses to increase the regularity of the 62 bus service from North of Campus to Woodley (via Bulmershe) are pathetic and not very well thought out.

When enough money is being allocated for a new HUMSS Cafe; new doors in the HUMSS building; new boilers and alarm systems (the latter seems to have failed constantly in the past week); and tarmacking near the Sports Park, why is the University paying more attention to building work than staff and students?

Put people first, not buildings!