Following a campaign to change the name of the Hall of Residence formerly known as Gladstone, with actions ranging from Change It petitions and writing open letters to meeting with senior leaders at the University and a campus wide vote, we can now reveal the brand new name for the hall.
With 4465 votes cast in the preferendum (Took place in 2021), which is 16% turnout of the student body, the name you have selected for the Hall of Residence is:
Dorothy Kuya.
Born and brought up in Liverpool, Dorothy Kuya was a tireless campaigner for racial equality throughout her life. She was the city’s first community relations officer, a driving force in establishing Liverpool’s International Slavery Museum in 2007, and in instituting the annual Slavery Remembrance Day. And her legacy will now be celebrated at the Greenbank Student Village and one of our student Halls of Residence.
Photo Credit: Paul Ogolo
Adnan Hussain, Guild President said “Students have been at the heart of this campaign and I wanted to personally thank all previous students and Student Officers for working so hard on this. Tinaye Mapako who amongst many others, was one of the first student campaigners to bring this to the Guild’s attention; previous Guild Officers, Hannah Nguyen (2018-2020), Rory Hughes (2017-2019) and Sean Turner (2016-2018)and to the students like Joseph Jones who had reignited this issue back in June 2020. And finally to Jamilia Kwajah-Ellimah who played an active and insightful role on the shortlisting committee, ensuring students were represented throughout the process. I look forward to seeing her take this work further as one of your Student Officers 2021/22.
Without their hard work, I would not be able to push for this name selection process which puts the power back in students’ hands. Additionally, I would like to thank student groups such as the BAME Student network, Afro-Caribbean Society, BME Medics, Politics society and many others of whom engaged with the Guild and the University in order to push for Racial Equality at the University of Liverpool. And finally a huge thank you to everyone who had their say and voted in the preferendum.
I am so proud to have finished what they had started and taking the necessary steps to create a more inclusive and diverse campus”
Each of the incredible individuals shortlisted, John Archer, Emma Clarke and Anthony Walker, would have been a fitting name for the Hall and we hope their legacies and incredible contributions will continue to be celebrated on our campus.
We look forward to continuing to work with the University in celebrating the diversity of our city and university, and to seeing students embark on their University journey in the Dorothy Kuya Hall of Residence.