Event Information

Hosted in OC0.03, found on the ground floor of the Oculus. The speakers are: Warwick SU's Widening Participation Officer, Kieran Barry; Thalia Sheriff-Horner, Founder of the 93% Club Warwick; and the University of Warwick's Report and Support team. This event will aim to discuss the student experience of being from a Widening Participation background, along with the impacts it may have on the feelings of student belonging, impacts on success in studies and post-university outcomes, the value of finding community, as well as key methods to help combat classism on campus. 

Accessibility requirements:

The room itself contains an IR Induction Loop for those hard of hearing, alongside a number of spaces along the front for wheelchair users to sit. The room has step free access, through the far entrance of the room. It is located with automatic access doors and an accessible toilet found along the corridor. There is also a conveniently located gender neutral toilet near to the lecture room, on the ground floor of the Oculus. 

What will I learn?

The purpose of the talk is to learn more about instances of classism which occur within the university, to start an open conversation, and to discuss how we can move forward as a community to better tackle classism. You will learn what classism looks like, both indirectly and directly, through the authentic student experiences of Widening Participation students at Warwick. The aim of the talk is to identify how students and staff can embody allyship and identify and tackle classism when it happens, and the importance of student voice to raise awareness of issues facing WP students and the empowerment of such voices. The Report and Support Team will also talk about the socioeconomic additions to the Report and Support system, how to report instances of classism, and what support will be given for those who face discrimination and harassment on the basis of their socioeconomic status.

What does Widening Participation mean?

You may:

• Be originally from an area and community where progression to Higher Education is low (classed as LPN - Low Participation Neighbourhoods and Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD)).
• Come from a low socio-economic background.
• Be the first generation of your family to enter Higher Education.
• Be a care leaver or estranged student.
• Be a Young Carer.

What is "Lets' Talk About Classism"?

Let's Talk about Classism is a campaign ran by your Widening Participation Officer throughout Term 3, to encourage and allow space to come together and discuss the impact of class and socioeconomic status on the opportunities and experiences of Warwick students. These are not only the student opportunities directly available to us, but also on the experiences and unintentional or intentional discrimination that occurs around both the National Student movement, as well as specifically during our time studying at the University of Warwick. 
Let's Talk about Classism will explore 3 key themes throughout the following weeks. It will also aim to offer room to bring together the Widening Participation community, and to help enhance and grow a student and staff network to fuller engagement and discussion of Classism and the experiences of it here on campus. 

The three key themes are as follows:

• Higher Education Communities
• Student Experience
• Graduate Outcomes

You can get involved with Let’s Talk About Classism, and find out more, by viewing the Campaigns Page here!