In June 2023, Nottingham University made national headlines after two of its students were fatally stabbed after a night out in the city. The tragic deaths of 19-year-olds Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber shocked the nation and the city of Nottingham, a place widely regarded as being safe and welcoming for students.
The attack felt deeply personal and close to home for me. I was born in Nottingham and was the same age as the victims at the time. I struggled to comprehend the fact that such violence could occur in a city that I associated with my teenage years— a place where I used to go shopping with friends on the weekends. I could have known the victims; I could have been one of my friends from home or someone from my school. Like Grace and Barnaby, I have been on nights out in Nottingham, staying out until the early morning. The realisation that it could have just as easily been me was terrifying...
The Nottingham attacks, though unprecedented and shocking, revealed an unsettling truth: students aren't always safe.
The Nottingham attacks, though unprecedented and shocking, revealed an unsettling truth: students aren't always safe. Though, statistically, Newcastle is a relatively safe city to live in and is particularly friendly and welcoming towards students, it only takes one unstable individual baring a knife to pose a threat to students.
But is it the university's responsibility to ensure student safety in such scenarios? Or should students simply be more vigilant when on a night out?
There is little that a university can do to ensure student safety while beyond campus grounds, apart from emphasising caution and vigilance. Students naturally wish to go out and let their hair down, and this shouldn't be tainted by the fear of unwarranted violence. Responding to the events of the 13th of June, the University of Nottingham issued a statement:
“It is with great sadness that we confirm the sudden and unexpected death of two of our students following a major incident in Nottingham city centre overnight. We are shocked and devastated by the news and our thoughts are with those affected, their families and friends. We know this is likely to cause distress for staff and students in our community. Support is available through our support and wellbeing services for any of our community who may need it."
Providing free counselling and bereavement support was the first step in the University's strategy to support students after the attacks.
Providing free counselling and bereavement support was the first step in the University's strategy to support students after the attacks. They also introduced several strategies, including Safety Workshops for students in collaboration with multiple agencies including the Nottinghamshire Police and Community Protection Officers (CPOs).
Additionally, Nottingham has a 'Student Living Strategy' implemented in 2023. Although not directly influenced by the attacks, its timing is significant. This strategy aims to 'improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing.'
Newcastle University does not currently have any similar strategies in place. While we can be grateful that there have been no major threats to student safety in our city, surely the University should be taking a leaf out of Nottingham's book and attempting to mitigate any threats before they even arise?
More recent events, such as the Eva McMonigle case, raise questions about student safety while on campus grounds. McMonigle, a University of Edinburgh student, raised her concerns to her University after being scheduled to take an exam in the same room as her abusive ex-boyfriend, just months after he pled guilty in court to abusive behaviour.
After seeing her abuser on campus several times McMonigle commented: "It just feels like I'm being kept in this loop of reliving the experience. It's re-traumatising."
As an example of an on-campus threat, that could have put the safety of a student at risk, the University of Edinburgh's lack of intervention and compassion is worrying. Though perhaps not as much of an immediate threat as a knife-wielding individual intending to kill, no abuser should be able to walk around freely on a University campus.
Student safety should always be the priority
I can only hope that Newcastle University is taking note of these recent events in Nottingham and Edinburgh. Putting strategies in place now could help prevent any external threats to students, and ensure they are vigilant and street-wise. Likewise, responding to any internal threats to students is just as imperative. Student safety should always be the priority.