David Kato College, York

David Kato College
University of York
A photo of the outside of the David Kato college hub on an overcast February day at sunset.
David Kato college hub
LocationHeslington East, York
Coordinates53°56′47″N 1°02′01″W / 53.94639°N 1.03361°W / 53.94639; -1.03361
Established2022
Named forDavid Kato
ArchitectNatalia Maximova
Architectural styleNew Brutalism
College ManagerSarah Hay[1]
Deputy College ManagerPaula Mountain Agar[1]
Undergraduates545 (2022/2023)
Postgraduates60 (2022/2023)
WebsiteDavid Kato College
Student associationDavid Kato College Student Association

David Kato College is a college of the University of York and was founded in 2022. The college was named after the Ugandan teacher and LGBT rights activist David Kato, who is considered a father of Uganda's gay rights movement,[2] and who had studied at York shortly before his murder in 2011.[3]

History

David Kato College was officially opened on 14 March 2022.[4]

Student association

The students of David Kato are represented by the David Kato College Student Association (CSA), who are responsible for planning events for students to attend.[5]

The 2024 CSA executive committee are

  • President – VACANT
  • Vice President – James Gannon
  • Vice President for Community & Wellbeing – Alex Brown
  • Vice President for Events/Activities – Poppy Sullivan
  • Vice President for Sports – Rayyan Ahmad
  • Treasurer – Geena Patel
  • Secretary – Sammy Hori

Design

David Kato college under construction

Part of a 400,000 sqf addition to Campus East consisting of 1,480 beds and costing £130 million, David Kato College along with Anne Lister College form a new student accommodation centre.[6] David Kato consists of nine blocks arranged over three to four floors with a central community Hub containing study spaces, a laundry room, and social spaces.[7] The design focuses on modern design principles and sustainability but also borrows some architectural elements from existing buildings on campus such as the university's iconic 1960s covered walkways.[6]

A photo showing the outside of the David Kato hub overlooking the pond. The photo was taken at sunset on a January afternoon, the sun is reflecting in the glass of the hub with contrasting black metal pillars.
Outside of David Kato hub

Services

David Kato has a range of room types, all of which are ensuite. Each room has access to a communal kitchen shared by 6-10 people. While the rooms are classed as self-catered, like other Campus East colleges students can attend the weekly college meal held in the Piazza Building, which is included with rent.[8]

College shield

The college shield was one of 22 entries to a competition to design it. The scroll has the phrase 'A luta continua', which translates as 'the struggle continues'. It has connections to David Kato from its use by his supporters at his funeral, but is not the motto of the college.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b "David Kato College - Contact and support". University of York. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  2. ^ Gettleman, Jeffrey (27 January 2011). "Ugandan Who Spoke Up for Gays Is Beaten to Death". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  3. ^ "New University of York college named after human rights defender, David Kato". University of York. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  4. ^ Lewis, Haydn (19 March 2023). "New college opens in York". yahoo! news. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Contact and support". University of York. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Landmark University of York student accommodation development completes". Graham. 18 October 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Facilities at David Kato". University of York. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  8. ^ "David Kato College accommodation". University of York. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  9. ^ "David Kato College shield winning design". University of York. Retrieved 3 May 2023.