Barefacts09-05-02

09/05/02 The University of Surrey Students’ Newspaper www.ussu.co.uk Issue no: 1032 FREE Page 11 - Show Your Support For The Rent Protest With A Full Page Poster For Your Campus Room Window News In Brief Irish Terrorists Get 30 Years Republican terrorists Fintan O’Farrell, Declan Rafferty and USSU Michael MacDonald were each sen- tenced to thirty years imprisonment for conspiracy to cause explosions and twelve years for offences under the Terrorism Act at Woolwich Crown Court. The men were arrested Protest Vote after MI5 agents convinced the BY JOHN GEESON ever before. By protesting, the students are hoping men that they were Iraqi officials VP Finance and Development to help UniS help itself by minimising the cost of living, to get more people to come to Surrey. and wished to sponsor a terrorist Student council voted unanimously last week to The university is committed to the government ini- organisation. The men had asked for mandate the union executive to organise a peace- tiative of Widening [university] Participation, that is £1.5million in cash as well as five ful demonstration. Students are disillusioned about to make sure 50 % of people from 18-30 have higher thousand kilos of explosives and two the prospect of a general rent increase of 24 %, that education experience. Recent research has found hundred rocket propelled grenades. would see Twyford and University Courts hit over £ that family background matters more than ever in 381 a month. the progression into higher education: “those in the Aligator Racing—The Nation’s Students are scared at the prospect of their entire highest socio-economic group are seven times more New Sport student loan being spent on rent alone. Sabbaticals likely to enter HE than those in the lowest group” are feeling the pressure of this mammoth rent (HEFCE 2001). The UniS accommodation price increase too. Students, whether via the bulletin accelerator is going to make this university even The same company, Blue Square, bored, student council or plain old ‘find a sabb and more inaccessible to students from non-wealthy that brought hamster racing to let them know what you think’, are lobbying their backgrounds. Looking at the UniS website, it says London last year has this week Union officers for their right to be represented. In ‘excellent accommodation at affordable prices’. Will announced its intention to introduce response to this the Union, with its membership’s this be the case in the future? When asked if £381 a aligator racing to the capital. The ali- welfare at heart, has organised a demonstration month was affordable, Lynzi Asworth, a Guildford gators, dressed in coloured coats are on Wednesday the 15th of May. Incoming NUS College student commented ‘I would not pay that persuaded to leg it down a twenty President, Mandy Telford, is also likely to make to live in student digs; In fact I could not afford to foot course separated by glass par- an appearance as this issue is becoming a national pay that at all’. This highlights a potential student titions to prevent them from eating problem. Final details of the protest have yet to be recruitment and retention problem facing UniS and confirmed, but more information can be found on its students. each other. Only thing is, none of the www.ussu.co.uk/skint. The demonstration against this 24 % rent adjust- ‘gators hasd ever raced before, so all Not only are students’ disposable incomes hitting ment illustrates student unease about the University’s have odds of 9/2. Incidentally, as you rock bottom, so are the UniS application rates. Less latest move in a string of controversial accommoda- could have guessed, the whole thing people apply for UniS courses than those of any tion issues. There is a lot of talk from students, but is for charity. other higher education establishment. It is fact that we shall see who really put their mouth where their students loans go up by the rate of inflation each money is! See you Wednesday week! Spider Man Breaks Box Office year. It is also fact that students are in more debt than Record Smash hit Spider Man broke records this week with an opening weekend Dutch Right- of over $100million in the United States, making it the fastest selling film on record. Amy Pascal, head of Sony Pictures said “Not in our wild- est dreams did we expect this scale Wing Politician of demand for Spider Man”. The film opens in the UK on June 14th. Assassinated Regulars BY HONEY BARTER-GODFREY immigration and anti-EU spending issues. News 1-3 His friends and lawyers have said that he Letters 4 The Netherlands is in shock after Monday had been the recipient of threats during his Barearts 5-12 brought the first Dutch political assassination. campaign, and he had recently been hit with Pim Fortuyn, the head of the Pim Fortuyn List cream pies laced with urine during one of Services 14 party, was shot dead outside the media centre his walkabouts. Mr Fortuyn had expressed Sport 16 in Hilversum after giving a radio interview. fears for his safety and was one of the few Just days before the country’s general elec- Dutch politicians to use security guards. tions, Mr Fortuyn was campaigning on anti- continued on page 3 2 News 09/05/02 Editorial Team Editor Tristan O’Dwyer An Open Letter To UniS Deputy Editor Richard Watts An open letter to Battersea Court last year and experienced the strategy requirements (which are set by News and Political Editor UniS in response to leaking windows. I do, however, disagree that the HEFCE) with large rent price rises will Reuben Thompson last week’s letter from University should not have to fund this out of its become increasingly difficult. Music Editor B.D Barnard, Director large reserves. At the University’s annual meeting 3) Campus prices affect the price of private Kevin Marston of Business Support of Court last semester I saw a well put together accommodation in the area. If private Film Editor Services, published in presentation on how good the Universities finances landlords see UniS putting up it’s accom- Navroop Sehmi Barefacts (02/05/02). are. The Times Higher Education Supplement modation by large amount then so will Sports Editor recently called UniS the “rising star of higher they, regardless of whether they need to Vacant Sir, education” in reference to its healthy bank bal- spend large amounts on maintenance. Production Editor ance. Why then should future students pay for the Vacant Features Editor I would like to take University’s prior lack of investment? In your letter So, as you can see it’s not strictly true to say that Vacant issue with a few you say that the University HAS to pay for it our the Universities hands are tied by HEFCE. And if Arts Editor Tristan O’Dwyer points you raised in of rent because HEFCE rules say so. In looking it were the case, we would be very interested in Jana Kristensen Editorial last week’s letter. through the HEFCE rules this is what I found in hearing whether or not UniS would lobby HEFCE You start by saying HEFCE briefing 5/96.: to look at their rules and if not, why not. Contributors that the percentage You say in your letter that we quoted only the that students rent is to be increased at UniS is not “Provision of Contractual Services en-suite rooms as having high rate rises. I accept Honey Barter-Godfrey important, but that what is important is how we that the University has a range of lower priced Adam Jakeway 60. In determining the price to be charged for the compare to other institutions in the area. This is accommodation, but this is not set to be the case John Geeson following, irrelevant, and something I cannot accept. Each indefinitely. The University is planning to eventu- James Buller institution is different and in a different situation, - residences, catering and conferences ally move all accommodation to the new Manor [email protected] so to compare us with them is not an excuse. The Farm development, and it seems that the plans amount that OUR students will be paying HERE is the Institution shall assess the full cost of the serv- are to have entirely en-suite provision. This is not barefacts is an editorially independent newspaper, important. If other institutions compare themselves ice to the Institution. likely to help encourage those from lower socio- published by the University of Surrey Students’ Union to us will they use that to justify increasing their economic backgrounds to apply. Interestingly Communications Office. 61. The Council expects the full cost of such activi- rents? Will you then use that to justify increasing enough a recent Unison report – B308, concludes ties to be recovered unless the Institution considers The views expressed within the paper are those of our rents further still? that nationally “quality of accommodation has individual authors, and do not necessarily repre- it appropriate to do otherwise having regard to the You then go on to say that in 1994-95 the Union improved… [mainly] so that the owners can pro- sent the views of the Editor, the Editorial Board, circumstances of the particular case.” the University of Surrey Students’ Union or the made “a far-sighted agreement” with the University vide rooms for delegates attending conference at University of Surrey. to see rents go up by at least 4% per year indefi- the University.” It seems clear from this that the rules state that This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in nitely.

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