Marking Boycotts

Dear lecturers and members of the University and College Union,

Recently, there has been a lot of news surrounding the proposed marking boycott due to take place from the 28th of April should a deal over pay not be reached by that point. While I have the utmost sympathy for your position (there is of course nothing right over one group of individuals in an institution receiving a pay rise while other workers receive nothing), I implore you all to avoid a marking boycott for the sake of the people who make universities possible: the students.

I am currently in my fourth year of university, and now less than eight weeks away from finishing. In just over three months, I will finally receive my degree at my graduation ceremony. I have worked endlessly, striving to constantly improve and learn and work towards a career that will (hopefully) help many others in the future. When I started college, I never wanted to go to university. Now I'm here, I can honestly say it's been the best decision I have ever made. I've loved most of my time at uni, but I'm not going to lie: it's been tough.

I'm a good student. I always work to get the highest grades I possibly can, and often I'm my own worst enemy. The standards I set myself often lead to a lot of self-criticism, but it's just a way of getting better and better. The stress and effort are worth it, as I know that soon I'll be graduating and on my way to the next part of my career.

The emotional strain I was under for months while applying for postgraduate places was immense. Similarly, the joy I felt when I finally got the news I wanted was amazing. I'm thrilled that I'm on track to graduating with a first class degree, and that I will soon be starting an MSc at one of the world's best universities.

This is all very good news, and I should be celebrating. However, the anxiety I'm feeling around the marking boycott is growing. I cannot cope with the thought that all of this hard work will be for nothing should you embark on the marking boycott. I am aspiring to become a lecturer myself. I want to produce original research, and help students like me reach their potential too. Why, then, should all of this be threatened over a pay dispute?

If you choose to begin the marking boycott, you would directly affect my grades. My dissertation may go unmarked. My exams may go unmarked. Without these marks, I won't be able to graduate. If I don't get my degree, I can't go to UCL. All of my hard work over four years would be worthless. Because of your arguments.

Why would a marking boycott work? You're not punishing chancellors. You're not punishing the people who set your pay. You're punishing those you should be encouraging. While most students are very supportive of fair pay, you won't receive support from those who are directly affected by the marking boycott. In 2006 when you took similar action, the deal you were offered increased by 0.5%. Is destroying our futures worth this?

I cannot tell you how scared I am that this nightmare scenario will happen. It doesn't seem fair to me that my future is jeopardised. My graduation, the thing I have been looking forwards to for months, might not happen. That is unthinkable with the work I have put into my future. Please, don't let this happen.