At an open meeting two weeks ago, Stephen Toope told students that staying within the city is central to the experience students have at the University. Even in the middle of a pandemic, when cases are rising, new restrictions are being imposed, and students are being blamed and disciplined, despite many not wanting to be here at all whilst the lockdown continues.

We know that many of you are desperate to leave for Christmas, and anxious about being forced to return to Cambridge in the New Year despite uncertainty about continuing risk of Covid-19 transmission. We believe you deserve the freedom to choose where it’s best for you to study in these exceptional circumstances, and you shouldn’t be penalised whether you want to study in College, elsewhere in the UK or around the globe.

The students in the open meeting who disagreed with the Vice-Chancellor, and shared their testimony about the experience of being forced to study in Cambridge this term, were ignored. Instead, the decision-makers claimed that all students are actually very happy to be here.

We don’t think it’s fair that you didn’t get to share the truth about being in Cambridge in this exceptional and difficult term. So this Christmas, we’re going to deliver your Christmas wishes for Stephen Toope ourselves.

(Your letter will be compiled into a report which we be spent to Stephen Toope in time for Christmas, and if you consent we may also use your words to promote this campaign on social media.)

Image description: a tasteful Photoshop of Stephen Toope onto Mariah Carey's Christmas outfit. Heading reads All I want for Christmas is Toope (to let us study where we choose).