The university we want to work at

One thing we've been struck by over the last week is just how much fun we're having on the picket line. Sure, it's cold and wet. Yes, it's difficult when students (and occasionally staff) walk by without acknowledging us. But for the last week we have experienced the kind of university we want to work at.

We've spent our week engaging with students one-on-one, hearing about their personal experiences, their interests, their plans for the future. We've had hours to chat with colleagues about something other than how stressed and busy we all are. We've taught at our Strike School, not because we have to but because we're genuinely passionate about our research and we enjoy sharing that passion with others. What's more, we haven't had to worry about the endless admin that's now associated with teaching - taking registers on behalf of the UKBA, preparing assessments over a year in advance, worrying about how our teaching evaluations will affect future job applications... We've been listening to colleagues give talks on subjects that they're equally passionate about, and listening to our students discuss these topics intelligently and with genuine academic curiosity. We've forged new bonds with colleagues and students across the university, and experienced true collegiality, support and solidarity with the whole academic community.

This is why we decided to go into academia! So thank you all for helping to create this unique space, this vision of what universities should be, if only for these eight days. With your support, we're hoping to turn the tides of commercialisation in academia. Keep supporting the strike, keep emailing the Provost, and help make real progress in our fight for change.

Students and staff enjoy Lily Kahn's talk on the Linguistic Landscape of Greenlandic