Olena Bychkovska
Iuliia Gorodyska
Valentyn Degtyar A 14
Report on survey “NaUKMA and Gostynnyi Dvir: Borders and Public Space”
The survey was conducted from March 27st to March 29th, 2013 among the students of the National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy” (NaUKMA) studying at various faculties, mainly in their Master programs. The survey was accomplished for study purposes in frames of the Academic writing course. The purpose of the survey was to gain knowledge of students’ awareness and attitude to the issues of Gostynnyi Dvir protests, perceived importance of free public space, and opinion of NaUKMA development from the city development perspective and campus patriotism. In total 28 students responded to survey comprising of 5 questions, which were structured in different ways, including close and open-ended, as well as multiple choice questions.
Graph 1. Degree of Concern about Gostynnyi Dvir Protests.
The first question asked was: “How much concerned about recent public protests about Gostynnyi Dvir are you? (tick where are you on this scale if “1” is “indifferent” and 5 “strongly concerned”). This question referred to intention to reconstruct this building into a modern three-floor shopping- and business center (Ievtukhov, “Till when arches will remain gates?”). As can be seen from Graph 1, the largest share of surveyed students place themselves in the middle of the proposed scale, they are neither significantly concerned, nor more indifferent. Nevertheless, the total share of those not really concerned is slightly bigger than of those definitely concerned, which signifies that total concern among NaUKMA students is absent. However, even a share of some 25% of concerned is rather large and sufficient for the majority of students to be informed about the issue and a certain proportion are involved in supportive action.
Next question was asked to explore if students dislike fences between the two NaUKMA campuses and if the students are ready to take action in order change the situation. The question was: “Imagine that you walk from 2nd Platz to Antonovich library past the morgue and the solar watches, but the road is blocked by a fence.” The majority responded that this problem does not bother them usually, as they take the long roads between campuses (15 responses). 11 students of 28 would join some initiative to take those fences down and 2 would “smash it themselves tomorrow”, if they had a chainsaw. The students often have to go to another campus or go to the library or canteen from one platz to another. Arguably, in winter it is really hard to walk through snow and it takes a longer time to walk around the buildings. Surprisingly, not all students are concerned with that. As it can be seen, NaUKMA students are more willing to rely on official actions, rather than take unofficial ones by themselves. The 2 students who may be taking actions might be the ones who have to pass through the fence most often. Also, the discussed road passes by the morgue’s and the solar watches buildings; thus, the students might not want to pass through it even if the fence will be removed. Consequently, the students might show not strong concern since they are not satisfied with such situation and they would prefer to have a better road.
When asked if NaUKMA needs more space, absolute majority of the surveyed said “yes” (22 responses), although 6 objected this is hardly necessary, one comment particularly was that “NaUKMA should use already existing space more reasonably”. One of the majority who agreed on necessity of campus to expand commented that this is preferable “within Podol only”.
Graph 2. Number of Surveyed Who Have Heard of Student University Occupations.
Forth question explored the knowledge of surveyed of the student university occupations, which belong to social movements against social and economic inequality known as the Occupy Movements. The most recent university occupation took place at the Sussex University in February 2013 (The Independent, “Students occupy Sussex University in protest against service sell-off”). Most of the people have not heard of this phenomenon (16 answers), while the other 43% have (12 answers). Such results show that a lot of students are not familiar with an option of university occupation; thus, they cannot use it even if they are in the 4% who are strongly concerned about the situation with Gostynniy Dvir. On the other hand, the 12 students who heard about such alternative will not fall into the category of the strongly concerned. Thus, the unofficial occupation of Gostynniy Dvir by NaUKMA students is very unlikely.
The fifth question invited respondents to think of what facilities would be best to organize within Gostynnyi Dvir if it became part of Kyiv-Mohyla academy.
Graph 3. What Would Be Best to Organize within Gostynnyi Dvir as Part of NaUKMA (number of multiple choices made)
As can be seen from Graph 3, the majority of surveyed would like to see cultural spaces within Gostynnyi Dvir. A dozen of the 28 people surveyed (43%) think it would be proper place for new auditoriums and a solid 1/3rd believe it to be a fine location for a new dormitory. Libraries and sports yards appeared to be equally popular options, receiving 6 votes each. Hypothetically, if any of the tutors also answered to this survey, they also preferred to see new libraries. As it can be seen, because of the lack of personal space and rooms in the dormitories, the students want to get additional dormitories. Also, because a lot of entertaining and educational events take place in NaUKMA, students would like to have more space for them. In fact, Gostynnyi Dvir has been functioning as a cultural space since almost one year and hosts diverse exhibitions, performances, and concerts (Kuchma, “From the protest to active opposition: how anti-constructing movement becomes more friendly”). What is more, NaUKMA lacks sport facilities and students have to spend Physical Education trainings on the Truhaniv Island. Surprisingly, sport facilities were comparably not often mentioned as an option by the students. Equally, a new library is not urgently needed; thus, the exiting ones might be enough. Moreover, doing sports and studies are probably being perceived as something obligatory and not entertaining.
Overall, most students express a need of an additional space, yet, only 4% students are concerned about the situation with Gostynnyi Dvir and as many as 13 may take actions in order to remove the fence that prevents the students and university staff from walking freely between the campuses. These results suggest that the students do not mind if NaUKMA gets more space and additional parts will be added to it; hence they will benefit from such innovations, but they are not willing to play a role in getting Gostynnyi Dvir. Yet, such trens might be shown because the study was carried out among the Master students who are now being preoccupied with studies and might not have time to take action or even monitor the situation with Gostynnyi Dvir. Also, they might not believe that even after taking some actions it is possible that such building will be given to NaUKMA. Moreover, university occupation is not popular in Ukraine and among NaUKMA students; thus, they will probably not going to perceive it as a possible alternative in getting Gostynnyi Dvir as a part of NaUKMA facilities. The majority of surveyed students agreed that more space for NaUKMA is needed and such space is mostly desirable for cultural spaces, auditoriums and dormitories.
The authors of the present article recommend the city and NaUKMA administration to pay attention to our study and conduct broader researcher among the students in order to assess their needs and attitudes.
References:
Iuliia Gorodyska
Valentyn Degtyar A 14
Report on survey “NaUKMA and Gostynnyi Dvir: Borders and Public Space”
The survey was conducted from March 27st to March 29th, 2013 among the students of the National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy” (NaUKMA) studying at various faculties, mainly in their Master programs. The survey was accomplished for study purposes in frames of the Academic writing course. The purpose of the survey was to gain knowledge of students’ awareness and attitude to the issues of Gostynnyi Dvir protests, perceived importance of free public space, and opinion of NaUKMA development from the city development perspective and campus patriotism. In total 28 students responded to survey comprising of 5 questions, which were structured in different ways, including close and open-ended, as well as multiple choice questions.
Graph 1. Degree of Concern about Gostynnyi Dvir Protests.
The first question asked was: “How much concerned about recent public protests about Gostynnyi Dvir are you? (tick where are you on this scale if “1” is “indifferent” and 5 “strongly concerned”). This question referred to intention to reconstruct this building into a modern three-floor shopping- and business center (Ievtukhov, “Till when arches will remain gates?”). As can be seen from Graph 1, the largest share of surveyed students place themselves in the middle of the proposed scale, they are neither significantly concerned, nor more indifferent. Nevertheless, the total share of those not really concerned is slightly bigger than of those definitely concerned, which signifies that total concern among NaUKMA students is absent. However, even a share of some 25% of concerned is rather large and sufficient for the majority of students to be informed about the issue and a certain proportion are involved in supportive action.
Next question was asked to explore if students dislike fences between the two NaUKMA campuses and if the students are ready to take action in order change the situation. The question was: “Imagine that you walk from 2nd Platz to Antonovich library past the morgue and the solar watches, but the road is blocked by a fence.” The majority responded that this problem does not bother them usually, as they take the long roads between campuses (15 responses). 11 students of 28 would join some initiative to take those fences down and 2 would “smash it themselves tomorrow”, if they had a chainsaw. The students often have to go to another campus or go to the library or canteen from one platz to another. Arguably, in winter it is really hard to walk through snow and it takes a longer time to walk around the buildings. Surprisingly, not all students are concerned with that. As it can be seen, NaUKMA students are more willing to rely on official actions, rather than take unofficial ones by themselves. The 2 students who may be taking actions might be the ones who have to pass through the fence most often. Also, the discussed road passes by the morgue’s and the solar watches buildings; thus, the students might not want to pass through it even if the fence will be removed. Consequently, the students might show not strong concern since they are not satisfied with such situation and they would prefer to have a better road.
When asked if NaUKMA needs more space, absolute majority of the surveyed said “yes” (22 responses), although 6 objected this is hardly necessary, one comment particularly was that “NaUKMA should use already existing space more reasonably”. One of the majority who agreed on necessity of campus to expand commented that this is preferable “within Podol only”.
Graph 2. Number of Surveyed Who Have Heard of Student University Occupations.
Forth question explored the knowledge of surveyed of the student university occupations, which belong to social movements against social and economic inequality known as the Occupy Movements. The most recent university occupation took place at the Sussex University in February 2013 (The Independent, “Students occupy Sussex University in protest against service sell-off”). Most of the people have not heard of this phenomenon (16 answers), while the other 43% have (12 answers). Such results show that a lot of students are not familiar with an option of university occupation; thus, they cannot use it even if they are in the 4% who are strongly concerned about the situation with Gostynniy Dvir. On the other hand, the 12 students who heard about such alternative will not fall into the category of the strongly concerned. Thus, the unofficial occupation of Gostynniy Dvir by NaUKMA students is very unlikely.
The fifth question invited respondents to think of what facilities would be best to organize within Gostynnyi Dvir if it became part of Kyiv-Mohyla academy.
Graph 3. What Would Be Best to Organize within Gostynnyi Dvir as Part of NaUKMA (number of multiple choices made)
As can be seen from Graph 3, the majority of surveyed would like to see cultural spaces within Gostynnyi Dvir. A dozen of the 28 people surveyed (43%) think it would be proper place for new auditoriums and a solid 1/3rd believe it to be a fine location for a new dormitory. Libraries and sports yards appeared to be equally popular options, receiving 6 votes each. Hypothetically, if any of the tutors also answered to this survey, they also preferred to see new libraries. As it can be seen, because of the lack of personal space and rooms in the dormitories, the students want to get additional dormitories. Also, because a lot of entertaining and educational events take place in NaUKMA, students would like to have more space for them. In fact, Gostynnyi Dvir has been functioning as a cultural space since almost one year and hosts diverse exhibitions, performances, and concerts (Kuchma, “From the protest to active opposition: how anti-constructing movement becomes more friendly”). What is more, NaUKMA lacks sport facilities and students have to spend Physical Education trainings on the Truhaniv Island. Surprisingly, sport facilities were comparably not often mentioned as an option by the students. Equally, a new library is not urgently needed; thus, the exiting ones might be enough. Moreover, doing sports and studies are probably being perceived as something obligatory and not entertaining.
Overall, most students express a need of an additional space, yet, only 4% students are concerned about the situation with Gostynnyi Dvir and as many as 13 may take actions in order to remove the fence that prevents the students and university staff from walking freely between the campuses. These results suggest that the students do not mind if NaUKMA gets more space and additional parts will be added to it; hence they will benefit from such innovations, but they are not willing to play a role in getting Gostynnyi Dvir. Yet, such trens might be shown because the study was carried out among the Master students who are now being preoccupied with studies and might not have time to take action or even monitor the situation with Gostynnyi Dvir. Also, they might not believe that even after taking some actions it is possible that such building will be given to NaUKMA. Moreover, university occupation is not popular in Ukraine and among NaUKMA students; thus, they will probably not going to perceive it as a possible alternative in getting Gostynnyi Dvir as a part of NaUKMA facilities. The majority of surveyed students agreed that more space for NaUKMA is needed and such space is mostly desirable for cultural spaces, auditoriums and dormitories.
The authors of the present article recommend the city and NaUKMA administration to pay attention to our study and conduct broader researcher among the students in order to assess their needs and attitudes.
References:
Ievtukhov, Danylo (2012, November). Till
When Arches Will Remain Gates? Krytyka,
November 2012.
Kuchma, Ostap (2012, August). From
the Protest to Active Opposition: How Anti-development-project Movement Becomes
More Friendly. Maidan, 27.08.2012.
Web - http://maidanua.org/2012/08/vid-protestu-do-aktyvnoho-sprotyvu-yak-antyzabudovnyj-ruh-staje-bilsh-hostynnym/
Mead, Eduard (2013, February). Students
occupy Sussex University in protest against service sell-off. The Independent, 08.02.2013. Web - http://www.independent.co.uk/student/news/students-occupy-sussex-university-in-protest-against-service-selloff-8487055.html
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