We asked the students of Fallowfield what Reclaim the Night means to them

On Thursday 22nd February, Reclaim the Night is back. Starting from Owens Park and finishing at the SU, the campaign aims to bring awareness to the uncomfortable levels of sexual harassment and street violence that students, living in the Fallowfield area face.

But how many know about it? and what opinions do students have about student safety in Fallowfield?

Kirsten Holby, 19, Politics and International Relations

Have you heard of Reclaim the Night?

I have, yes.

Do you think organising a march to promote student safety is important?

Definitely, especially in this area. I've only heard about it through social media, nothing has happened to me.

Now that you know about Reclaim the Night, will you go?

I can't unfortunately.

Marie Guest, 18, Economics and Politics

Have you heard of Reclaim the Night?

No

Do you think organising a march to promote student safety is important?

I think it's quite important, especially in Fallowfield. Women are at risk constantly at any time of the day not just at night, no ones done anything about it, not even the Fallowfield Police. They’ve spent more time focussing on drug deals that aren’t actually happening instead of women’s safety or just the general safety of the student population.

What would you like to see implemented?

I think there should be a survey where women highlight the most dangerous areas or where the most attacks happen. The police should have a tally of where it is the most and they should probably focus on keeping those areas safe.

Now that you know about Reclaim the Night, will you go?

Yeah I will be.

Max Godsiff, 19, Medicine

Have you heard of Reclaim the Night?

No, I just found out this morning.

Do you think organising a march to promote student safety is important?

It's a good sign, but I don't know if it will necessarily change things.

What would be more useful?

Honestly, stepping up security and not necessarily just for rape, having proper control. Like having police outside Owens Park bus stop. Even along there [Wilmslow Road] I've been punched randomly. I'm really angry I lost my gravy chips. A girl was actually pulled out of her house because her parents weren’t happy with her living in Fallowfield. It's getting a reputation outside, which isn’t good for the uni or for anyone.

Do you think the university has a responsibility to its students?

I mean we’re paying them to be here so like if we can’t be here safely, students are easy targets. I'm not really sure what they could do, but a one off thing won’t necessarily bring change.

Now that you know about Reclaim the Night, will you go?

I would, if it was a more suitable time.

Anne Howard, 21, Politics and Philosophy

Have you heard of Reclaim the Night?

I have a little bit, but I don't really know what it is.

Do you think organising a march to promote student safety is important?

Definitely, I think it's all about getting the word out about how these are still issues that affect people on a weekly, monthly basis across universities internationally. It's obviously not a direct method of changing policy or anything like that but it really does bring people together to talk about these issues, and thats what gets the ball rolling.

Do you think the university has a responsibility to its students?

The uni definitely has a responsibility for our safety, we are here as part of the university to learn. But I think theres only so much that they can do as far as putting policies in place, it really is up to individual groups of people to call up instances of violence and abuse when they see them. Things like that lessen the stigma about coming forward and that starts on a local community level. As long as the uni is supportive then they’re doing their job.

Now that you know about Reclaim the Night, will you go?

Yes, of course!

Arthur Churchill, 19, Management

Have you heard of Reclaim the Night?

Yes, but I'm not going at the moment.

Do you think organising a march to promote student safety is important?

Yeah I think so.

Do you think the university has a responsibility to its students?

I don’t think so, possibly, it's the students choice to be here but it's the Police’s responsibility. With students if they choose to be in Fallowfield they know to an extent. If students all go to the same place you're always going to get people that will take advantage. It is bad compared to my other friends at other universities, I think because Fallowfield is such a dense student area it attracts that kind of attention a lot more.

Amy Lockett, 18, PPE

Have you heard of Reclaim the Night?

Yes, I'm going

Do you think organising a march to promote student safety is important?

Yes, it's about recognising that it does still happen, even though some people say feminism has finished. It's about actually the hidden harassment and pressures that women face every time they go out and it's just abut raising awareness for them. It's a short conversation even if it doesn’t have a massive impact it gets people thinking.

Do you think the university has a responsibility to its students?

Yes and they’ve provided the safe spaces along Oxford Road and that's them accepting they have a responsibility.