1 THE NEXT ISSUE U.41' IS OUT STUDENT: ON JUNE 6 INDEPENDENT LEEDS AREA STUDENT NEWSPAPER M • 0 • PUPPET? LUU has condemned the visit of he could nominate a group to He argued that scientific milit- the Chief Scientific Adviser to attend. ary research enhanced the lifes- the Ministry of Defence, Profes- President. Kevin Shute. told tyles of individuals. allowing sor Richard Norman, to the Leeds Student he had received the development of calculators University. "nothing at all" from the Reg- and digital watches for inst- LULI only found out about istrar's office, ance. the meeting through a leak a In a press release circulated Norman said that the Uni- day before it was due to take on the day of the seminar the versity Vice-Chancellor's refus- place. Union said Professor Norman's al to support a campaign to It had been the intention of visit should have been con- secure research facilities for the the University authorities to ducted more honestly. MoD amounted to censorship. bar all students from the profes- Only six students were pre- It was pointed out to him that sor's seminar. The invitation sent at Professor Norman's there were only six students at circulated by the Registrar's seminar on 9th May, three had his seminar. office was confined to depart- been sent ht the Union. the Norman faced hostile ques- ments that held current re- others walked in unopposed de- tions from the academics. there search grants from the ?viol/ spite a large security presence. was a call for a vote of censure Sheona Merton of the Reg- There were less than ten pickets on his visit. Paul Brannen, istrar's office claimed there was outside the Textile Industries President elect of the Union. nothing secret about the visit hall where the meeting look told Norman that he did not since all heads of departments place. wish to see the University re- • Picker against talks on military funding of university departments. had been informed. The seminar discussed MoD search facilities turned into When asked why the Union funding of British universities "branches of the defence indus- professor who never mentioned they had no alternative but to had not been consulted she said and the research potential of try". "weapons" during his seminar. depend upon MoD money. it was "inappropriate for stu- 'Star Wars' technology. Two second year English stu- The students felt that it was "We should support our lectur- dents to attend the meeting". Professor Norman claimed dents Duncan Crossley and Pe- important to ensure that uni- ers," they said. adding that the Union Presi- he was "just another academic" ter Chapman noted the euphe- versity departments were not dent had been notified and that engaged in academic research. mistic language adopted by the placed In the positron where Ian Attkinson JOSEPH CUT ON THE ROAD TO RUIN "The Government has simply statement, which also made vague partments it can make a profit out learnt nothing and is continuing promises about giving "more funds of." he revealed. down the road of destruction of to better research departments and The Government's policy of university education," said Vice less to the less good", was a "har- favouring specific universities im- Chancelloi Sir Edward Parke'. last row boy approach to higher educa- plies the closure of "unpopular" Tuesday in response to the Uni- tion". ones and this can only mean a fall versity Grants Committee's (UGC) Mike Fin. Department of Educa- in numbers at a time when only 4( decision to cut Leeds University s tion and Science (DES) spokesper- per cent of applicants get a place at spending power by approximately son disagreed that rewarding uni- a British university. 2.5 per cent versities for providing "value for Helen Sfingshy The cut was expected and Leeds money" smacked more of the busi- was actually one of the universities ness rather than education ethic. which was spared the worst, Aston. "What's wrung the rewarding ex- I lull, Newcastle. that is, the more cellence?" he asked. modern institutions. plus the Asked what criteria Sir Keith majority of Scottish and Welsh uni- will use to determine "good" and • "So what if Kenneth is a better looking guy than me, at least I'm drier versities face even harsher cuts. "bad" universities and research de- than him." As well as hitting arts and huma- partments, he said the DES was Confirming all rumours of a Cabinet reshuffle, Kenneth Raker took nities the UGC has requested that following the UGC's findings and over from Sir Keith Joseph as Secretary of State for Education last science courses must also retrench told Leeds Student to wait for the LIGC's detailed report which com- ednesday, and this appears to contradict the Former Secretary of State for the Environment, Mr Baker Government's policy of promoting es out next week. more technical and business orien- Responding to Sir Keith Joseph's bodies the new, caring, soft image the Government is trying to tated courses. concessions, chair of WU 1-CS, attain in order to win back the support it lost in the recent local and Frank Horvath. Treasurer Jeremy Galbraith believes they will bye-elections. thought it "illogical" for the (kw- encourage universities to reach a He looks good, smiles a good deal and is apparently not as dry as ernment to cut Aston and Salford higher standard of education and he first appears. However, his answer to the question "What is your for the are both "industrial tinnier- will bring in more private invest- main ambition?" "I want to serve my country". made even the snies". ment. Ile added. -The private Daily Telegraph reporter wince. Not the most appropriate com- In his last speech to the Com- firms can tell a good university fur ment to make considering (he Tories have now made education a mons as Education Secretary. SIT these are the ones the Milkround Keith said, "Universities with good major policy. records in research and manage- WU General Secretary. Ruth Asked for his opinion of Mr Baker. chair of LULI's FCS, Jeremy ment efficiency could expect in- MI:Ishii!l doesn't relish ph% ate in- Galbraith, said "Although his presentation of policies will be better. LOTS OF creascs in Government funding vestment quite so much. "The he is not exactly a radical." Rob Minshull replied that the fact that Boni autumn 1987." Government is planning to reduce Mr Baker "is not suffering from mental illness s ill he an advan- Speaking on the -Calendar' TV central funding of unit, ersities by tage. but given the nature of this Government's strategy, one programme last Tuesday. the Vice moving in the private sector. which RAMONES change at the top won't make an item of difference." Chancellor claimed that Josephs will in turn only invest in the de- THINGS LATEST BOOK RELEASES REVIEW Page 6 INSIDE CENTRE PAGES INTERVIEW Pages 8-13 • .U Page 2 NEWS NEWS IN BEATING THE BRIEF HARD Fund raising for the South Afri- can scholarship scheme at UP Leeds Poly has fallen to an all BENEFIT SYSTEM time low. Five students who took the un- In response to this fact LPSU usual step of appealing against At the end of the summer term vice-president Paul Syryscko their fair rent decision have been successful in achieving an 68 per cent of students will he pointed out that enough money overdrawn to the tune of £51). has been raised to sponsor a average rent of E10.00 a week. L200..These were the findings student for the coming year. the initially, the students had of a survey conducted in York- Student Union is trying to build their rent for their Cliff Mount shire and Lancashire by 'Over up its resources for the scho- house reduced from £16.50 to 16' magazine published by larship fund. £12.00 but still felt this was in- National Girobank. One proposal suggested to adequate. They immediately Over half of the students with revive funds is the placing of an lodged a complaint with the an overdraft had found the optional levy on the Poly union Rent Appeal Committee. card. Normally the landlord grant to be inadequate. A - spokesperson from Lloyds hank LUU vice-president Anne appeals to this body but their said "the popular view of stu- Baxter commented that the landlord failed to do so. dents just isn't true. We find momentum for fund raising has Instead, the Appeal Commit- that those students coming to been maintained and the target tee viewed the house and com- see us for overdrafts are of £3,001) has already been pared it to similar properties raised. registered in the area. They genuine cases of hardship." A recent government survey Zoe Osbourne voted to reduce the rent by a further £2.00 to £10.00 a week. found that the average student. Paul Allison. a student from One of the students. Andy spends £14.00 per week on Leeds University. will be part (Arras remarked. "we're thril- alcohol but the same survey of a four man mountaineering led to bits, our action shows that agrees with the hank's view of team set up to scale the if students get it together they student hardship. 'Shimhal Weisshorn', in North- can make an impact on the Does the competition be- ern Pakistan this summer. housing benefit system." tween the High Street banks The 21.0110 foot peak has However. LUUs Welfare make overdrafts an easy option never been successfully climbed Office believes the appeal went for students who might other- before but the experienced so smoothly because the land- wise manage? Colin Byrne tit team.