Students from northern England are fighting back against feelings of isolation and 'culture shock' at a university they expected to be a northern stronghold. The University of York has seen a significant revival of its Northern Society, driven by students who were surprised to find themselves in a minority on campus.
A Northern Expectation Meets Southern Reality
Lucy Morville, from Burnley in east Lancashire, says she arrived at York anticipating most students would be from the north, choosing to 'stay local' like her. The reality proved starkly different. "I hadn't travelled much down south before university, and I was like, 'Oh my gosh, they're all from London and Cambridge.' It was such a shock to me," Morville explained.
In her first-year accommodation, she found herself living with 16 students, only one of whom was from the north. This sense of underrepresentation prompted Morville and her friends to actively revive the university's Northern Society. The group now hosts events like a northern-themed fancy dress pub crawl, featuring icons such as Wallace and Gromit and the Gallagher brothers, with Morville herself dressing as a Pendle witch.
More Than Sausage Rolls: Building Community and Identity
The society's activities extend beyond social events, aiming to foster a deeper connection among northerners. Plans include a 'Yorkshire Olympics' featuring traditional activities like black pudding throwing. Morville emphasises that the society also helps students from different parts of the north learn about each other's distinct regions and cultures.
This drive for community finds a serious context in national findings. A survey commissioned by the social mobility charity the Sutton Trust revealed that more than half of northern students at UK universities reported being mocked, criticised, or singled out because of their accent. One student from Newcastle recalled a peer from London asking a group if they could "actually understand [my] accent".
For Morville, the society is a direct response. "I feel like we go to university and get fun made of our accents, so it's time to fight back," she stated. The society maintains a northern-only policy to preserve its intended space, though this has led to attempts at infiltration, including one southerner who was caught using a fake Scouse accent throughout an event.
A Diverse North Under One 'Rainy Umbrella'
Novelist and journalist Adelle Stripe, who was born in York, notes that such societies acknowledge the north's many distinctive identities. "The north is not homogenous," Stripe said. "Politically and culturally, it carries many shades... Language, history and economics vary enormously, even from North to South Yorkshire."
She supports the societies' role in fostering community for those feeling isolated or under-represented in elite university settings. Meanwhile, the Northern Society at the University of Cambridge highlights a more outreach-focused mission, aiming to demystify the application process for prospective northern students.
The revival at York underscores a broader narrative of regional identity and belonging in higher education, where students are creating their own spaces to celebrate and defend their heritage against stereotype and prejudice.
