York lecturers put on a day of alternative lectures in face of the strikes

On Friday 23rd February 2018, striking lecturers at The University of York organised a "teach-out", a day of unofficial lectures amidst the current climate of industrial action.

The teach-out was an informal session where lecturers from the University delivered talks about their fields to fellow members of staff, York students and other residents of York.

The teach-out began with a discussion about why people were present. Members of the audience contributed their reasoning with students largely stressing that they were there in support of the strike as they believed it important to support their lecturers.

A member of staff in the audience was keen to convey he "didn't enjoy striking" as he "[found] it stressful" while another emphasised that it was "students and staff that make the uni." A different member of staff also pointed out that "there have been strikes here before but nothing like this. This could be the start of something bigger; the strike will end but conversations [that we have] can build solidarity outside the context of the University."

The first lecturer to deliver a talk was Dr. Gez McCann of the History department. He lectured the audience on the "Afrobeat Blues: Music, Protest and Resistance in Africa" focusing on the work of Hugh Masekela. Inspired by this talk, he asked members of the audience to submit suggestions for a song to support the Action Short of a Strike. The most popular choice for this was Dolly Parton's "9 to 5" and this will be played alongside those protesters who are taking part in Action Short of a Strike.

Following Dr. Gez McCann was Dr. Lisa Peschel, also of the History department. She delivered a talk on "Laughter in the Ghetto: Jewish Comedy in the Theresienstadt" focusing on the importance of pleasure in the Ghetto community of Terezin. The talk focused on arguing with HG Adler's ideas about pleasure in the Ghetto leading to complicity with the Nazis, whereas Dr. Lisa Peschel believed pleasure to be something which can lead to activism. Dr. Peschel also drew on her own experience working with scripts from the Jewish archive.

They even provided food!

The next lecturer was Professor Helen Smith of the English department who delivered a talk about "Unediting the Renaissance." The lecture focused on how books are always shaped and altered before they reach the reader, always to suit the editor's ideology. The talk also touched upon how stage directions in plays for example limit the interpretive freedom that a reader has over a play and also discussed the sexism present in the editing industry.

The final lecture of the day was delivered by Dr. Laura Stewart of the Politics department and focused on The Levellers. In particular, The Levellers' ideas were discussed in relation to Brexit and contemporary politics.

The teach-out ended with a group discussion between staff, students and residents about how the University can be improved moving forward. Audience members produced a variety of responses such as "spend[ing] more money on student support and mental health services," "reforming the structure of University so there is less mystery surrounding the Vice-Chancellor," and "[the] lecturers we have worked with to present graduation certificates rather than the vice-chancellor."

Other suggestions which came out of this discussion included "students need[ing] to feel able to go to office hours and have open conversations," "receiving more personalised feedback [on assignments]" and "physical department buildings with space to meet and get coffee."

Following this event, the Archaeology department held their own teach-out on the first floor of the Eagle and Child pub at 11am this morning where they discussed mental health and self care during the strike in addition to archaeology related topics.

The teach-out shows lecturers care about the work they do and are eager to continue teaching students despite the industrial action.