On (18/02), supporters gathered outside of Great St. Mary’s church for a Save the Vet School rally.

The rally was organised as a combined effort from the Cambridge University Veterinary Society (CUVS), the Cambridge Student’s Union (SU), University and College Union Cambridge, the British Veterinary Association, Unite The Union, the Association of Veterinary Students (AVS), and UNISON public service union.

The rally was organized to “ramp up” efforts as a response to recent news regarding deliberation over whether to close the vet school. Student representatives told Varsity that they were informed of the final decision on the closure of the course, which will take place on 23 February.

The students were informed of this on 10 February, just under two weeks in advance of the meeting date. They said: “this information has been purposely kept from us for months”.

CUVS environmental officer and fourth year veterinary student Shreya Patel cited the abruptness of this news in her speech at the rally: “I want everybody to know that the recommendation to close our course and the soon-to-be-made decision by the general board was held with no consultation with students. No consultation with staff.”

Patel also described the implications of losing the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) clinic with the vet school closure, stating “We’re not talking about just the course. This is a working hospital […] It’s families across Cambridgeshire, who rely entirely on our RSPCA clinic, the only low cost clinic in the entire area.”

CUVS president Rudi Bruijn-Yard also spoke at the rally, echoing Patel’s sentiments, along with representatives from Unite the Union, the RSPCA, the BVA, the SU and other organizations.

“The school of biological sciences envision themselves as a global leader in biological discovery, fostering an inclusive, collaborative environment for world class education and research that pushes knowledge boundaries, delivers diverse programs, and translates innovation into societal benefit, all while supporting staff and students to reach their potential. How do they hope to achieve this in our absence?” stated Bruijn-Yard.

A representative from Unite the Union addressed the vet school’s £1 million deficit, which has been cited as a justification for closure, stating: “A university like Cambridge to suggest that £1 million is a serious financial hardship is a laughing matter.”

Veterinary students attending the rally told Varsity of their frustration with the lack of transparency from the decision making board.

“We haven’t been given a real reason for why they want to close. They can’t answer to us. There was a topic concern meeting where [the board] didn’t even show up in person. They didn’t bother listening to the people who were there, None of them are even here right now. None of them are hearing any of this. None of them have been to our department,” one fourth year veterinary student said.

Another protest is planned for the 23 February, the morning of the final decision meeting.