As World Aids Day is commemorated in Brighton and Hove and around the globe' Caroline Lucas Green parliamentary candidate has written to University of Sussex vice-chancellor urging him to reconsider cuts to a student sexual health service.
Unisex' which provides sexual health' alcohol and drugs advice to students at Brighton and Sussex universities' faces closure due to job cut proposals from the University of Sussex.
Unisex is an important service for Sussex and Brighton University students where there are high numbers of LGBT (lesbian' gay' bisexual and trans) and Black and Ethnic Minority students.
Contracting HIV is a high risk for some of the student population [1].
STIs are highest amongst the 18-25 age group' which includes most students.
Caroline Lucas' said "Brighton has the second highest prevalence of HIV in the UK. The idea that Unisex may not be able to go on supporting students is shocking and short-sighted.
"The Green Party is committed to increasing community based services such as Unisex' which not only advises on sexual health and provides contraception' but which provides support for students who have problems with drugs and alcohol."
She continued "I have written to the Vice-chancellor to urge him to think again. Given that the University spends over £2 million annually on paying just twenty members of staff' I believe it should reconsider its priorities."
The threat to Unisex comes as part of a package of 115 proposed job cuts which the University of Sussex recently announced.
Councillor Ben Duncan' Green candidate for Brighton Kemptown constituency' is meeting Union leaders to discuss the job cuts' and will be joining students in demonstrations over the proposed cuts on Thursday.
For more information please contact the Brighton and Hove Green Party office on 01273 766 670.
1. 11% of Brighton and Sussex students are from Black and Ethnic Minority groups' and at least 15% of students define as gay or bisexual. These are the two groups most at risk from contracting HIV' as 82% of the Brighton HIV population are gay or bisexual and 7% are from BME backgrounds.
For more information on Unisex' see www.unisex.org.uk
Subscribe to the news
