KCLSU calls on KCL to return to offering all lectures in-person

On Monday, December 6, King’s College London Students’ Union (KCLSU) held a member’s meeting to discuss whether it should lobby the College to return to all lectures being in-person. The meeting comes after the Keep It Real Campaign group garnered enough votes on their recent petition to hold a KCLSU vote on in-person lectures.

The Keep It Real Campaign (KIRC) is a student-run campaign whose main objectives are to gain university transparency on policies regarding online teaching and to fight for the traditional pre-Covid university lifestyle. Students under the campaign are worried that KCL management intend to keep lectures online permanently, as there “is no transparent approach to indicate when the University intends to reinstate in-person lectures.”  

The debate to lobby the university to offer in-person lectures in all subjects took place over Microsoft Teams, and a recording is available to watch here.  

During the Teams debate, key arguments in favour of the motion were made by representatives of KIRC and its supporters. They contested that the lack of university transparency regarding plans for teaching during Term 2 is “unacceptable”. Those supportive of the motion also cited the declining mental-health of students as a result of online teaching, and therefore a significant reason for the motion to be passed.

The primary concern of those in favour of the motion was a complete lack of planning or general information provided by King’s regarding any eventual plans to return to completely in-person teaching. The full motion for this debate is available to read.  

The students who argued against the motion cited the rise of the current Omicron Covid-19 variant and rising concerns regarding the pandemic as crucial to why a return to all in-person lectures would be irresponsible.

Their argument was furthered by the re-introduction of mandatory face masks by the government and by the University itself. Additionally, those against argued that large lectures would increase the number of students self-isolating and disadvantage those who live with vulnerable people. 

The poll for all students to vote opened on December 6, and will close on Wednesday, December 8 at 5:30pm (UK Time). Students can vote via the link here. KCLSU intend to share the outcome of the vote with King’s as they hope “it will inspire meaningful change” and provide the College with more clarity regarding the feelings of students surrounding the current teaching arrangements.