The following is the text of an unreleased Press Release from 3rd March 2010. The situation changed quickly and the project was left behind in the dust. It was good fun, so here it is:
University of Southampton students today protested their outrage at the proposed loss of chaplaincy services to the university by taping their chaplain to a sign.
Since the news broke in November last year that the Diocese of Winchester was planning to withdraw funding from university chaplaincies to help combat a budget shortfall, enthusiastic students have been campaigning to raise awareness and funding for this much needed post.
Although pledges of £5000 a year have been gathered by the recently set up University of Southampton Chaplaincy Association (USCA) and various funding opportunities are being discussed by the Diocese and other parties, nothing definite has been forthcoming in the three months since the budget has been approved, so today USCA members decided to raise awareness of the continuing uncertainty surrounding the continuation of the valued service, by attaching the current Anglican chaplain, Rev Simon Stevens, to the 'Chaplaincy' sign using gaffer tape.
A spokesman for the USCA said:
“This may look like another student prank to you, but it is just the tip of a very large iceberg. Every day we are discovering more and more instances of chaplains being gaffer taped to immovable objects by students who don't want to see the removal of an invaluable service. All it takes to stop this epidemic is one small monthly payment, the equivalent of one clergy stipend per year can save this poor creature from a life of misery. Please help to fund the post of a protestant chaplain to the University of Southampton.”
No chaplains were permanently harmed in the making of this press release.
University of Southampton students today protested their outrage at the proposed loss of chaplaincy services to the university by taping their chaplain to a sign.
Since the news broke in November last year that the Diocese of Winchester was planning to withdraw funding from university chaplaincies to help combat a budget shortfall, enthusiastic students have been campaigning to raise awareness and funding for this much needed post.
Although pledges of £5000 a year have been gathered by the recently set up University of Southampton Chaplaincy Association (USCA) and various funding opportunities are being discussed by the Diocese and other parties, nothing definite has been forthcoming in the three months since the budget has been approved, so today USCA members decided to raise awareness of the continuing uncertainty surrounding the continuation of the valued service, by attaching the current Anglican chaplain, Rev Simon Stevens, to the 'Chaplaincy' sign using gaffer tape.
A spokesman for the USCA said:
“This may look like another student prank to you, but it is just the tip of a very large iceberg. Every day we are discovering more and more instances of chaplains being gaffer taped to immovable objects by students who don't want to see the removal of an invaluable service. All it takes to stop this epidemic is one small monthly payment, the equivalent of one clergy stipend per year can save this poor creature from a life of misery. Please help to fund the post of a protestant chaplain to the University of Southampton.”
No chaplains were permanently harmed in the making of this press release.
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