Forced Swim Test dropped by the University of Bristol
Today (January 30th) the Full-time Officer team at Bristol SU received a statement from Evelyn Welch, the Vice-Chancellor and President of Bristol University notifying them of a significant update to the Forced Swim Test.
“The University of Bristol has now stopped using the forced swim test because the research project which used it is due to conclude shortly. We are not expecting to undertake any future research which requires the use of the forced swim test.”
You can read the full statement from the University here and at Bristol SU we recognise this update and appreciate the key steps taken by the University.
The use of the Forced Swim Test is an area of contention that was challenged by a student led motion which went to Student Council in November. On the 16 January, Full-Time Officers Katie and Lucy began to action the motion by informing students about the test which took place at university.
Since then, dialogue between the University and Bristol Students’ Union has been very positive.
In response to receiving this update today, Katie (Union Affairs Officer) and Lucy (Student Living Officer) were happy to see this student motion resolved;
“We are really pleased as an officer team that we have seen this motion completed after years of back and forth between the University and students. We are grateful for the open and successful dialogue that we had with researchers at the University and the student motion proposers at Veg Society.”
“It has been great delivering on the student voice, and we are looking forward to AMM next week where more motions proposed by the student body will be debated and actioned.”
Katie Poyner and Lucy Pears were assigned to take action against the motion when it passed at Student Council in November, as part of their role as Full-Time Officers.
