UK Student Archery Association

London calling... for help... II [02/Jul/20]

University of London is facing the potential dissolution of some or all of its sports clubs under proposals being discussed by a body called the University of London Collegiate Council. That meeting is currently scheduled for Friday (3rd July). Sorry for the short notice, but apparently student representatives were not informed until Monday (29th June).

For full details, please read the petition page. UKSAA recommends student archers from all clubs sign the petition and share as widely as possible, in order to help out a fellow club in need.

London's archery club captain Lorenzo Velarde spoke to UKSAA:

"the possible end scenario [is] all UoL clubs being disbanded. Due to current circumstances with COVID-19, University of London's Collegiate Council proposal is to cease all clubs and society operations under University of London / Student Central and to transfer the clubs to a Member Institution (e.g. King's, LSE, UCL, etc) or if not transferred to be dissolved. Even if the club is transferred to a different institution there is no guarantee that they will continue to allow students from other universities to join which has created a lot of uncertainty for our club."

The situation is eerily reminiscent of one in 2013, previously covered on UKSAA, see London calling... for help.

London's teams have enjoyed plenty of success over the years. At local level, they have been SEAL senior league champions 4 times (2013, 2015-7) and novice champions twice (2014, 2019). At the national level, London were 2nd in the E-League in 2015 and at BUCS Outdoors back in 2004. They were 4th placed team at BUCS Indoors in 2019 (for men) and 2016 (for women). They have also reached the BUTC quarter-finals 5 times, most recently in 2018.

Additional note 13/Jul/20

The petition page is now reporting that the University of London Collegiate Council agreed to postpone any decision until December, to "allow time for a new working group comprising the University, member institutions, and student and alumni representatives to collaborate on solutions for the continuing provision of intercollegiate student activities."

London's clubs may not be fully out of the woods, but student and alumni representation in a working group is a positive sign. The attempt to force things through in a week is also gone. The petition gathered nearly 5,500 signatures.