Exeter’s VC encourages students to vote to stay in the EU

Sir Steve is not Sir-leave

8 years ago

Exeter University’s Vice-Chancellor, Sir Steve Smith, today sent an e-mail to all students in order to encourage them to vote in the upcoming EU referendum on the 23rd June.

The email includes information regarding EU debates set to take part on campus. In a message riddled with pro EU statistics, Sir Steve outlined the financial benefits of staying in for the university.

He writes:

‘As you are no doubt aware, the European Union referendum will take place on 23 June. I am writing to you today to encourage you to register to vote and have your say.

We’re looking forward to hosting several debates between now and the referendum date so people’s views on staying in, or exiting, the EU can be aired and discussed. I would like to encourage you all to take part in, attend or listen to these debates, and some of these are listed below.

How you choose to vote in the EU referendum will be an individual decision, but I encourage you all to engage in the discussions and, for those eligible, to remember to vote on 23 June having registered to be able to vote before 7 June. Then you will still be able to vote if you are at Glastonbury!

I have been speaking out on the benefits that being part of the EU brings to UK universities. This view is shared by the national representative body for universities, Universities UK. We take this position because we recognise the enormous value of the partnerships: the free movement of talented students and staff through EU-funded schemes such as Erasmus, and the access to the research community and sources of research funding that membership of the EU can offer.

More than 125,000 EU students study at UK universities and 15% of academic staff working at UK universities are from other EU countries. This is hugely beneficial nationally to the success of the UK’s knowledge-based economy and to our success as a leading research and teaching institution. It is also invaluable in enabling the creation of the diverse cultural, social and intellectual mix here at the University of Exeter. Here at Exeter, in the past five years, 18% of our research funding has come from European sources and this has supported more than £58 million of research activity here.

Upcoming debates on our campuses:

Monday 25 April, 7pm The UK and the EU: Ask the Experts Exeter event is waiting list only but there are spaces in Penryn and the event will be live streamed on Periscope and recorded.

Friday 20 May, 6pm EU Referendum debate – In or Out? FXU event in Lower Stannary, Penryn Campus http://www.fxu.org.uk/ents/event/967/

Tuesday 24 May, 6pm The EU Referendum discussion: Streatham Campus. I will be joined by Ben Bradshaw MP; Tim Martin, founder of JD Wetherspoon and more panellists tbc in the Alumni Auditorium. Register for free tickets here. ‘

So, there you have it, Sir Steve has spoken. Make sure you’re registered to vote before you’re knee deep in mud at Glastonbury!