It is rare for me to feel motivated enough to bring politics into the world of Sport. But the events over the last 24 hours have been far from usual.
I understand that most students will be feeling great emotion right now – fear, anger and uncertainty. My aim in this statement is to offer some sense of reassurance and hope.
It is important that everyone in the LUCA community comes together to provide support for our fellow students who have been affected by the outcome of this referendum.
Now, more than ever before, it is vital to keep calm, express compassion and act with a steady head.
LUCA will always be a beacon of unity, diversity and cooperation.
It will also be necessary for UK students to express warmth, kindness and support to our EU peers. Our lives as students have been made richer by the diversity in our classrooms and sports clubs. No one should be made to feel unwelcome or unwanted in our clubs because of their nationality.
For EU students worried about their status in the UK, I can offer some reassurance. There is no immediate change to your status as a student in the UK – you have all the same rights as before. There will be no immediate changes to participation in programmes such as Horizon 2020 and Erasmus, nor to the immigration status of current and prospective EU students and staff.
Moving forward, there is undoubtedly a degree of uncertainty. It is my opinion (and hope) that the UK will remain part of the common market and therefore the free movement of EU nationals will remain.
LUCA will always be a beacon of unity, diversity and cooperation.
This is the time when we should reflect on those values the most.
