Barefacts-Issue1059-110903
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Thursday 11 September 2003 Published by the USSU Communications Office issue number 1059 free www.ussu.co.uk THE UNIVERSITY OF SURREY STUDENTS’ NEWSPAPER FESTIVAL FEVER COMMUNICATE IN THIS WEEK ’ S PAPER Sarah Butterworth and Music Editor Matt Badcock CHALLENGE CHOPS | this week the new VP heads to Glastonbury Amelia Lefroy introduce the Sports tries out gliding. | page 24 Festival, whilst Andrew wonders of student media INTERACTIVE | it’s back, with loads of new Malek gives us a taste of the at the University of Surrey things to distract you! | page 20 action at Reading 2003. Students’ Union.. BULLETIN BOARD? | Neil Christie tells us Festivals | pages 18 & 19 Communications | page 8 of the wonders of the USSU BB | page 9 Lights. Camera. Reaction. BY SARAH BUTTERWORTH show the council really are taking notice of EDITOR IN CHIEF students’ concerns. However, this is only the start, and the THIS SUMMER HAS seen some significant Students’ Union must keep up the pressure successes for the ‘Lights Camera Action’ to ensure that this issue is not forgotten campaign being run jointly by barefacts and about. As yet there have been no security the University of Surrey Students’ Union. cameras installed at either of the Tesco’s As detailed in many of last year’s barefacts, underpasses, nor the more worrying several incidents in the underpasses Southway one. surrounding campus prompted students to During a meeting with Tony Watling call for better lighting, security cameras and from University Security and members other safety measures to be implemented. of the local police force, the Sabbatical After a series of correspondence between Offi cers of USSU expressed their concern the Union, University and local council, that the South Way underpass was being the ball has started rolling with the furthest overlooked, and that although the painting and longest underpass on the journey from and light installation was a positive start, campus to Tesco’s being painted a bright there is still a signifi cant way to go until yellow, and new strip lights being installed students can feel safe on their journeys to in the roof of the tunnel. This is a stark and from campus. contrast to the dingy, graffi ti-covered walls Details of the ongoing campaign, and new unpainted as yet: the Southway Underpass photograph by chris hunter of a few months ago, and a positive step to aims will be in the next issue of barefacts. Guildford Students: Better off on Benefi ts BY SARAH BUTTERWORTH week - far less than they would get on the expensive town to live in in the South East EDITOR IN CHIEF dole. It is incredible that in the 21st century region. It is estimated that Surrey students students are being treated as second-class have an average annual income of around SHOCKING NEW FIGURES from the South citizens - they would be better off on £3,400, and outgoings in excess of £8,500, East Area of NUS (SEANUS) show that benefi ts.” leaving a shortfall of over £5,000 per thousands of students in Surrey are being With the Government’s widening student, every year. Figures for London forced to survive below the poverty line. participation initiatives of recent years and the rest of the country are around the These fi gures, released on 27th August 2003 yielding successes in many parts of the mid £4,500s, and the average fi gure for the show that many students are forced to live country, in the South East it is seen to be South East does not top £5,000, meaning the on around £25 a week, compared to £42.70 failing as they refuse to acknowledge the Guildford students are the poorest students for the Jobseekers allowance. high cost of living. These costs quickly in the UK. Commenting on the new fi gures SEANUS spread to local communities, pricing At present, the only solution can be to Area Convenor Jamie Day said “SEANUS both students and local residents out of introduce a weighting for South East is appalled that a government who claims its their own homes. Financial barriers are a students similar to that in London, where number one priority is education is forcing principal reason for students dropping out of students receive several hundred pounds thousands of young people in the South University in the South East, and prevents extra on their student loan each term East to live below the minimum threshold many even applying due to the prospect of compared to students studying elsewhere that it believes a single person can live on. colossal debt from the high rents and other in the country. SEANUS are campaigning After paying expensive South East rents our costs. tirelessly to ensure the government take members are expected to live on £25 per Guildford in particular is seen as the most some action on this issue. letters to barefacts | page 3 Try your hand at the BF Pub Quiz | page 20 trivial pursuits | page 22 2 NEWS 11 September 2003 Visa Charges hit Surrey Students EDITORIAL TEAM 2003-4 BY SARAH BUTTERWORTH fi nancial burden on international students, track’ scheme for student visa extensions EDITOR IN CHIEF who already pay high tuition fees in order which means the University does the bulk Editor in Chief to study in the UK in the fi rst place. Verity of the preparation. It is therefore diffi cult Sarah Butterworth THE HOME OFFICE announced on this summer Coyle, the Vice President Welfare for NUS to understand such a high charge by the that from 1st August 2003 it would begin to says: “The Department for Education Home Offi ce for applications submitted comms @ussu.co.uk charge foreign nationals in the UK for visa and Skills promotes student mobility and through this scheme. It will also present a renewal and settlement applications. positively encourages international students problem for students who wish to stay in the These charges are now applied whether to study in the UK. NUS believes this is UK for a period after ending their course to Editor or not the application is successful. Postal directly contradicted by the Home Offi ce’s attend their graduation ceremony. In this Chris Ward applications £155, with what the Home plans to charge for visa extensions. The UK circumstance they would be expected to pay Offi ce term as a premium same-day service has prided itself in attracting international an additional £155, even for a stay of a few cs21cw costing £250. students, and the great work undertaken by weeks. @surrey.ac.uk The reasons given by the Home Offi ce for the sector as a whole could be completely The President of the Students’ Union, Pete the introduction of charging are that it is undone by this proposal.” Tivers, has been in contact with Guildford’s Music Editor “unfair” for the UK taxpayer to pay for This change will hit University of Surrey local MP, Sue Doughty, and urges anyone Matt Badcock this service, it will save the Home Offi ce students particularly hard, with the who feels strongly about this situation £90m, and allow them to provide “a better proportion of international students studying to do the same. For more information on ms01mb service”. at undergraduate and postgraduate level at these changes, visit www.nusonline.co.uk @surrey.ac.uk NUS and USSU are deeply opposed to almost 40% of the student population. At or speak to Pete in the Students’ Union the introduction of charging as a further the University of Surrey we offer a ‘fast- Activities Centre. Music Editor Jon Allen bs21ja @surrey.ac.uk Mysterious News Editor markings Phil Howard ph02ph @surrey.ac.uk appear round Film Editor campus Neil Boulton cs21nb BY CHRIS WARD @surrey.ac.uk EDITOR OVER THE PAST few days, chalk markings that Theatre Editor seem to be related to The Omen fi lms have Daisy Clay appeared on pavements all over campus. ps21dc The messages range from simply “The @surrey.ac.uk Omen”, to “You don’t get the point” or simply just “O”. Of course, these messages may have more than just a total randomness Literature Editor of choice. Jennifer Walker The Omen, which depicted the birth of the ph21jw anti-Christ and the havoc he wreaked upon UniS Students up @surrey.ac.uk those around him, had many crucial scenes fi lmed in and around Guildford Cathedral. The fi nal culmination of the fi lm, where Photography Editor | position vacant Damien’s (the anti-Christ) biological father for National Awards attempts to kill him, was shot inside the position vacant Sports Editor | cathedral on the altar. If anybody has any light to shed on BY SARAH BUTTERWORTH CONTRIBUTORS this mystery… you know the number… EDITOR IN CHIEF Michael Gibbons and Charlotte Jones of [email protected] the School of Engineering have both been Ben Berryman KERRY MEXSON (PICTURED above), a shortlisted in Mechanical Engineering and Andy Blair microbiology student who graduated this Materials Engineering, and Christopher Chris Bradshaw year and spent her professional year at Osborne and Simon Walker, both from the Dave ‘Chops’ Chapman Leatherhead Food International has received Physics Department have made it into the Neil Christie a Highly Commended award after being fi nal round of the Best Physics Students. Anthony ‘Deano’ Dean nominated by LFI for the Oxoid Technician The awards, organised by the World Scott Farmer of the Year. The company commented that Leadership Forum, are sponsored by a Chris Hunter “It became apparent at once that Kerry was range of companies and institutes including Claire Iles an exceptional student. She immediately QinetiQ, Lloyd’s and BOC, and are widely Zoe Kilb understood both the scientifi c side of regarded within the scientifi c community as Catherine Lee the business and, more importantly, how the ‘Oscars’ of UK science and technology Amelia lefroy that science fi tted into the operations and education.