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Thursday 26 February 2004 Published by the USSU Communications Office issue number 1076 barefTHE UNIVERSITYaa OF SURREYcts STUDENTS’ NEWSPAPER IN THIS WEEK ’ S PAPER INTERNATIONAL WEEK V SHOW 2004 Week 7 is International The Chinese Asian Society GU2 107.3FM | Find out when your Week at the University of introduce you to the wonders favourite shows are on GU2 | page 5 Surrey - find out what’s on of the V Show, held on 29th EXTRA TERRESTRIAL | Want to know what’s offer for one of the most on TV this week? It’s all here! | page 9 February 2004 in the University exciting weeks this year. SPORT | All the latest from the University Hall... Union | page 5 sports teams | page 19 & 20 Union | page 7 Situation Vacant BY CHRIS WARD & PHILIP HOWARD Professor Dowling regarding variable fees, EDITOR & NEWS EDITOR for example, the university policy would be directly affected - the new VC will arrive DO YOU HAVE a PhD? Are you a prominent at a crucial time in the progression towards professor who has contributed to an awe- the new system. Professor Dowling recently inspiring research area? Do you have the announced plans to form a team to assess the academic prowess to lead a top University use of new funding received from variable into a prosperous financial and academic fees, including student representatives; it future? If the answer is yes, perhaps you will entirely depend on the new VC as to should consider applying for the vacancy of whether he chooses to take particular note Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the of this team or not. University of Surrey. The position boasts Also at a crucial stage is the Manor Park a handsome salary and many perks as one development - plans for the new campus of the leading figures of the University in are expected to have been approved by the regards to the future of UniS and its future Council in one form or another by the time educational investments. the new VC arrives, and much of his or It has been announced that Patrick J. her tenure at Surrey will be involved with Dowling CBE DL FREng FRS, Professor seeing the project through to establishing of Civil Engineering, will be standing down the new campus. Many decisions remain to as Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive be made, and the vision which the new VC of the University of Surrey. An advert for has will directly affect its implementation. a suitable replacement is currently being The University of Surrey is at a crucial publicised on the UniS Vacancy Website for moment in its history, with variable fees, someone who could provide a notable and new developments, a new campus and the monumental performance as the University continued expansion of Surrey’s image and of Surrey’s new Vice Chancellor and Chief fame. The next Vice-Chancellor will be Executive. The job-description emphasises instrumental ultimately in the success of the that the successful candidate should have future of Surrey. The question on barefacts’ “strong leadership and vision”, “academic lips is: Who is in the running? credibility”, and “significant leadership and management skills” to “continue the development of the University in the challenging HE environment. In addition to retirement from the University looking forward to the opportunities and news last January, he pushed towards of Surrey, Professor Dowling has agreed to challenges of this position.” independence from the government, take on the chair of the BA Council, the Professor Dowling has presided over much raising the possibility of privatisation British Association for the Advancement of the expansion of Surrey on its Stag Hill of the university. Any prospective of Science announced at the beginning of campus - Austin Pearce, the Duke of Kent candidate would have to conform to February. In a press release sent from the building, Millennium House, University these ideals, and be able to continue the University, the Vice Chancellor said, “I am Court, the Daphne Jackson Building, and schemes started over the years. delighted to be taking up this important the Surrey Management School; he is Precisely who gets the job will have a appointment as Chair of the BA. It is currently working on the new Manor Park direct bearing on students at Surrey. Those absolutely fundamental to the future health plans to expand the university across the A3. graduating before the summer of 2005 are of the nation’s economy and quality of life The VC has been instrumental in making unlikely to be greatly affected, but there will that the role of science be fully understood, the university known internationally, and be an extensive hand-over period. If the appreciated and supported by all. I am has promoted UniS far afield. Hitting the new VC has particularly different ideas to entertainments | centre Film | page 7 Competition | page 8 Interactive | page 16 2 NEWS 26 February 2004 EDITORIAL TEAM 2003-4 Education Shuts Down Editor in Chief Sarah Butterworth BY SARAH BUTTERWORTH Second Reading vote with a small majority At Union Council on Tuesday 24th February, comms EDITOR IN CHIEF today’s action shows that there is widespread The University of Surrey Students’ Union @ussu.co.uk opposition to plans to fees. held an indicative vote to show whether MANY STUDENTS AND lecturers shut down “It is abundantly obvious that students do not Surrey students were generally in support Editor further and higher education campuses want to be forced into a marketplace where of or against the AUT action this week. Chris Ward yesterday (Wednesday 25th February) as they have to choose their course based on the Council concluded that it would generally cs21cw part of NUS’ week of action in protest ability to pay and not on aptitude and further show support for the industrial action this @surrey.ac.uk at the government’s plans to introduce to be taught by underpaid and demotivated week, but voted against supporting the variable top-up fees. Many students downed lecturers. ‘working to rule’ which will be commencing Deputy Editor their books for a complete shutdown of “The government needs to act now and on Monday 1st March. The consequences of Neil Christie campuses in a nationwide action which listen to the concerns raised by universities, this could mean students do not have their ms33nc involved demonstrations, pickets and students, staff and the general public. The work marked or returned, exams may not be @surrey.ac.uk rallies. The lecturers’ union the Association HE Bill as it stands fails to address these set, and fi nal year students could see a delay of University Teachers (AUT) were also out concerns and must be stopped before it is in receiving their fi nal degree. Deputy Editor on strike against their employers’ current too late.” Ben Berryman pay proposals. ma91bb At 10:30am on Wednesday Mandy Telford @surrey.ac.uk and Sally Hunt lent their support to students at the University of London Union, Malet Music Editor Street, who were handing out degrees from Matt Badcock the ‘University of Hard Knocks’ in protest at ms01mb the government’s funding proposals. @surrey.ac.uk They then joined the picket line at the University College of London (UCL), Music Editor Gower Street entrance at 11:30am, where Jon Allen students and lecturers stood shoulder to bs21ja shoulder in protest at the government’s plans @surrey.ac.uk to force a market onto higher education. NUS President Mandy Telford said: “In an unprecedented move up to 5 million students Film Editor and lecturers will make it plainly clear to the Neil Boulton government that it has not won the war on cs21nb @surrey.ac.uk top-up fees. Despite scraping through the Theatre Editor Daisy Clay Scotland. One student, Tom Davies, said it was not the fi rst time the union had tried to ps21dc @surrey.ac.uk Bristol Leaves NUS make the break: “Most people won’t think this will make any difference, maybe a THE STUDENTS’ UNION at the University of by many at the University of Surrey. few less discounts in student shops. Bristol Literature Editor Bristol has voted to disaffi liate itself from President of Bristol Students’ Union, Can students are politically disengaged from Jennifer Walker the National Union of Students (NUS). At Okar, who proposed the motion, said “It student and national politics anyway.” ph21jw an AGM on Thursday 5th February, students costs more than £40,000 a year to be part of Last year University of Surrey students @surrey.ac.uk voted 227 to 145 in favour of forming an the NUS. We felt it wasn’t value for money voted to stay affi liated to the National Union independent union, with 22 abstentions. and we don’t feel it is representative of the of Students in a campus wide referendum News Editor This is a particularly notable move as Bristol student body here. We have to now look at held at the same time as the 2003 Sabbatical Philip Howard Students’ Union was a founding member of alternatives to having some kind of national Elections. However, 10% of students were ph02ph the NUS. voice.” not in favour, a rise on two year’s previous. @surrey.ac.uk Offi cers from the Union said the NUS was Bristol University isn’t the fi rst union to This will come up for a review in a year’s now too expensive and did not adequately make the break. It joins Students’ Unions time, unless a motion overriding it is passed represent Bristol students, a feeling shared at Southampton, Imperial College and in Sports Editor through Union Council before that time.