YorPartyNetwork, a social media group who have facilitated the organisation of illegal house parties across lockdown, have told Vision that YUSU Sabbs are being “very cooperative” as they try to organise events on campus.
While the organisation insists that the page “doesn’t exist to bend the rules and get away with stud despite the pandemic”, on June 27 they created the first of 12 group chats for “anyone living on (or close to) Hull Road”, enabling the organisation of parties between local students.
This followed an announcement the day before, stating: “for anyone wishing to host the next project X (Y) Party, our platform is available for just that!”
This post has since been deleted, alongside ones that offered assistance with “organising / aftercare” to anyone “thinking of hosting a party or some kind of event”.
Despite the page claiming that “posts published always followed government guidelines and regulations regarding COVID”, this occurred exactly one week before the first easing of government lockdown restrictions, which allowed two households to meet in a socially distanced setting.
On a story on 22 August, they said: “we can’t directly endorse social gatherings, however there will always be someone sharing content over at @yorfess.ig Facebook page so keep an eye out.”
Alongside Yorfess.ig, YorPartyNetwork have also openly declared themselves to be “working with” YorkMemes.
An Instagram page condemned by YUSU for “racism and harassment”, with the University saying they are “absolutely unacceptable” and “offensive and discriminatory” in June, these platforms previously received attention for posting COVID-19 Misinformation and details of minors.
The University threatened “non-compliance” of these regulations with “University disciplinary procedures”, when Vision asked for a comment on YorPartyNetwork.
“We will not condone behaviour that compromises the health and safety of our students, staff, and visitors. We have put in place a number of measures to ensure events on campus will take place in safely managed spaces, and we are clearly communicating expectations of behaviour to our students”
YUSU, however, have given YorPartyNetwork information on hosting, saying that they “hope this will help you guys if you want to put on events in our spaces,” in an Instagram message leaked to Vision.
While Patrick O’Donnell, YUSU President, on September 8 said that: “Should individuals fail to meet these standards to keep themselves and our wider community safe, YUSU and the University will take the appropriate steps to hold students to account through the usual processes”, he also commented that: “Where students choose to organise events with groups such as YorPartyNetwork they are free to do, provided they comply with the latest Government guidance.”
Citing Activities Officer, Brian Terry’s manifesto, in which he said that he wanted to: “make it easier for students to promote their events and activities, I’ll fight for better advertising spaces and clearer advice”, YorPartyNetwork have also expressed their intention to work with societies who “feel like YUSU don’t do enough for them”, particularly in promoting and raising awareness of their efforts.
Some such society, with whom YorPartyNetwork say they have had “constructive conversations”, and “sensational feedback”, are the University Swimming and Waterpolo societies.
In a comment to Vision, YorPartyNetwork said that they: “personally believe societies will always pressure their students union into ‘doing more’ – presidents and committee members alike. Despite how hard our students union may be working, I think our SABBs know this fact and appreciate this being fundamental to the development of collective student experience.”
President of each, Stephen Stanley, commented that: “it’s something I’d love to look into”, saying that he “like[s] their enthusiasm,” while he denied that it had anything to do with YUSU.
When asked for comment in response to this article in October, O’Donnell was more firm:
“YUSU has targeted our work around trying to safely enable on campus venues, activity and services that are covid-secure, carefully managed and safe for our students. While we do provide access to those spaces to a wide range of student groups, we always prioritise ratified and student led groups over those groups that operate independently of YUSU, who do so beyond the campus environment and outside of our authority or responsibility. Although we prioritise on campus spaces for our ratified groups, we have hosted a range of non-ratified groups over recent years where we have sufficient capacity and it has been appropriate to do so.
YUSU would not endorse any organisation that was running any illegal activity and we would want to support the relevant authorities to make well informed judgements and take proportionate action against any company or group that was putting students and the wider public at risk. If any student believes there may be activity going on which could be a matter of public disorder or a risk to public health, they can raise this with relevant people who have the necessary power to take action, which may include the police in the most extreme cases. The University has guidance and a reporting tool for any member of our University community to raise a concern that a student may be operating outside of the rules.”