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- Thursday - 19 February 2004 Published by the USSU Communications Office issue number 1075 free www.ussu.co.uk election special -- barefTHE UNIVERSITYaa OF SURREYcts STUDENTS’ NEWSPAPER IN THIS WEEK ’ S PAPER ELECTIONS USSU ENTERTAINMENTS As voting week This week sees a special pullout COMMUNICATIONS | Remember, GU2 Radio approaches fast, find out within a pullout, giving you is broadcasting on 107.3FM | page 5 all you need to know about the latest on the entertainments UNION | All the fun of the V and Dave this year’s candidates, in Projects with Scott and Carol | page 6 coming to USSU over the next barefacts’ election pullout. INTERACTIVE | Ben Berryman brings you few weeks... elections | centre more interactive distractions | page 17 ents | pages 9 - 12 To Strike or Not to Strike? BY EDUARD SCOTT or no idea about the impending industrial action previous to picking up barefacts, Following the Government’s narrow victory and so assumes that the 731 (out of over to vote in the new Higher Education funding a million in the UK) students polled were bill, the topic has slipped out of the public not adequately aware of the situation when eye. Coming up next week UniS could entering the poll. see academic staff on strike. The NUS NUS President Mandy Telford argues, has named Wednesday 25th February as a “Students have no desire to be taught national day of action, with the rest of the by poorly paid, de-motivated lecturers week a local week of action. The AUT - which is what will happen if these plans (Association of University Teachers) have go through. This debate needs to be about announced that their industrial action will the chronic under funding of the whole of commence on Tuesday 24th February and higher education, something that top-up include UK wide strike action to coincide fees do not address.” A valid point Miss. with a student shutdown on Wednesday 25th Telford. So if this debate needs to be about February. the chronic under funding of the whole of The AUT is a trade union and professional higher education, what are you (the NUS) association for over 47,500 UK higher doing to find sources of alternative funding education professionals, affiliated to the to improve the situation? TUC (Trades Union Congress). Membership In a joint press release prepared by the includes academics, researchers, NUS and the AUT the following sentence administrators, librarians, computer staff was included: “The NUS recognise that and postgraduate tutors. One of their stated industrial action may be necessary by AUT aims is to “negotiate members’ salaries and to protect their members interests.” But conditions of employment, and represent is the NUS not set up to protect THEIR their views on professional matters affecting members interests? THEIR members being higher education.” So this begs the higher education students? Has a conflict of question, can their aims conflict with those interests not arisen here? of the employing institutions, or those of members, therefore the odds are that almost staff appraisal; boycott job evaluation and The AUT website has on it a number of their students? all students will have one or more lecturers refuse to cover for absent colleagues. An resources related to the impending industrial In a recent ballot AUT members voted pondering strike action. The effect at UniS example of this in layman’s terms would action. Included is a document entitled overwhelmingly to take industrial action. will not be decided until Wednesday 18th involve the piece of final year coursework “Template - ‘Dear student’: letter to students The history behind this decision can be February at a local meeting of the AUT. The you spent the last four days slaving over day on AUT action “. When the author was drawn back to 20th July 2003 when initial options open to members are as follows: and night sitting in your lecturer’s office reading this template the following line proposals to change the higher education industrial action short of a strike or strike for an extended period of time, and only seemed to stand out (in reference to gaining pay framework were first tabled and agreed action. Strike action is simple to define: marked and handed back to you when the students’ support) “I hope you understand with all major unions except for the AUT. AUT members will not work their regular AUT’s executive committee choose to call that I do this with a heavy heart knowing At the time the AUT opposed the new jobs on Tuesday and Wednesday next (24th of the industrial action (which could delay that my employer’s actions may mean proposals and have been in negotiations & 25th). Legally they are permitted to strike your graduation). a reduction in the quality of education since, until the UCEA (Universities and up to eight weeks after the ballot therefore The NUS have backed the AUT on this available to you in the coming weeks.” Colleges Employers Association) refused anytime up to Thursday 8th April. Industrial campaign. In a recent poll (January 2004) Bearing in mind that the AUT themselves to agree to changes proposed by the AUT in action short of a strike is a little more of 731 students (performed for the AUT), recognise the detrimental effect industrial December 2003 and asked the AUT to drop complex: the AUT are calling for members only 12.3% were opposed to the union’s action will have on students’ education out of negotiations. (beginning on Monday March 1st) to boycott consideration of strike action. The author – they still ask the student body to support It has been estimated that approximately student assessment and examinations makes the assumption that the majority them. 40% of university lecturers at UniS are AUT activity; boycott call-out cover; boycott of students reading this article had little - Question the 2004 Sabbatical candidates tonight (Thursday) in the Main Union from 7pm - Elections | centre 16 pages Film | page 7 Competition | page 8 Sport | page 20 2 NEWS 19 February 2004 EDITORIAL TEAM 2003-4 Baccalaureates: Confusion For All Editor in Chief BY PHILIP HOWARD grades, and a split in the scale provides universities with an for jobs. Sarah Butterworth NEWS EDITOR at GCSE into foundation and advanced diploma which is Charles Clarke has set comms intermediate diploma levels. suitable for entrance to higher out four tests to judge the @ussu.co.uk Baccalaureates are likely to A-level coursework would education.” recommendation: Excellence replace GCSEs, AS- and A- be replaced entirely with a Each time the system is - does it stretch the most able; Editor levels, as teachers welcome single dissertation, to help changed, there is a considerable Vocational - does it redress the Chris Ward the recommendation made by universities distinguish between momentum to overcome. Few traditional failing in making cs21cw Mike Tomlinson, former chief top candidates. All pupils would businesses are able to keep up stdents fi t for work; Assessment @surrey.ac.uk of Ofsted and the man charged leave school with a ‘transcript’ with the changes when they - does it reduce the burden of with overhauling the 14-19 of achievement, which would try to recruit, and face yet assessment; Disaffection - does Deputy Editor curriculum. After recent changes be available to universities and another form of qualifi cation it reduce the high drop out rates? Neil Christie to AS and A2, and the 2002 employers. to compare to those already in On disaffection, Mr Clarke said ms33nc A-level crisis, Mr Tomlinson Teachers are welcoming the existence. Director general of to the Guardian on Monday: @surrey.ac.uk was brought in to assess the recommendation - deputy the Confederation of British “From about 14 onwards too education for the critical 14-19 general secretary of the Industry, Digby Jones, said that many kids are turning off what Deputy Editor age range. Secondary Heads Association, scrapping GCSE and A-levels is going on at school. They feel Ben Berryman The interim report, published Mike Ward said: “The four-tier, would leave employers unsure there is nothing in it for them.” ma91bb on Tuesday morning, two-track diploma structure will of the capabilites of candidates @surrey.ac.uk recommended a four-tiered bring coherence and unity to national diploma to replace the present complicated list of Music Editor GCSEs and A-levels, and qualifi cations. The diploma will Campus Theft Suspect Arrested Matt Badcock suggested that all pupils study also give a much needed boost ms01mb the core subjects of English, to vocational qualifi cations, BY PHILIP HOWARD thefts which have occurred @surrey.ac.uk maths and ICT throughout their which have been regarded as NEWS EDITOR in the library and gymnasium school lives, in an effort to make second best for far too long in over the preceeding months. Music Editor sure students leave school with this country.” reports the educati Police are advising Surrey Local Offi cers, who organised Jon Allen basic skills exceeding GCSE on.guardian.co.uk. students to be ‘extremely the operation in liaison with bs21ja levels. The new scheme would Mr Ward also noted the benefi ts careful’ in communal areas on University security, used all @surrey.ac.uk be phased in slowly, with to universities and employers, campus after a male suspect resources available in efforts students over 13 still sitting saying it would give them was arrested and subsequently and on Tuesday 10/2/04 an arrest GCSEs and A-levels. “more, and better” information, bailed in a covert Police was made of a male suspect Film Editor The recommendation includes and had some words of caution: operation on campus last week. aged 25 who was subsequently Neil Boulton a 7 point scale for A-level “we shall look for a much The library and the gym have interviewed.