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1 I flj fl| II Tetley Bittermen. E H * f l f ; Join’em. No. 225 Friday 21st March 1980 Free. GRANTSLoans system criticised NOW The question of students loans successful. At the moment, only THREATENEDBy the News Staff instead of grants looks like be the Midland Bank runs a scheme to coming an issue again. Leighton Andrews said that it do with education, which is aimed The Under Secretary of State would be too late to protest when at parents Jiaving difficulty meeting for Higher and Further Education and if the Government announces the full parental contribution. The Dr. Rhodes Boyson has said that that it is going to implement a loan interest rate on that scheme is set he is in favour of at least a system system. at 4% above the minimum lending of partial loans. On Wednesday, Mr. Andrews said that he did not rate, and stands at present at 22%. NUS Executive member Leighton think that it was particularly likely Ms. Ablack says that if there Andrews visited the University that the Government would were to be no change in fee levels Union to give a talk both on loans, introduce such a system, but that it or interest rates in the next three and the more general topic of was vital that students be made years, the cost of a loan for a three grants. In addition Union NUS aware of the problems that such a year study period would be Secretary Joanne Ablack has system would involve. £8,167. In fact fees are to be published a leaflet explaing what ‘The Government does not increased by 25% next year. a loan system would mean. appear to have an education policy Ms. Ablack is worried about the NUS seem to be trying to pre other than not wanting to spend effect such a system would have, empt the Government on the issue, money on it”, he said “We believe “Even at low interest rates a that the arguments do not show standard. loans system would Leighton Andrews. Pic Dave Brown. that loans could save money”. inevitably lead to a fall in numbers, He pointed out that in Sweden causing sixth formers and students and Japan, where the system has from poorer backgrounds to back been introduced, no more than 20% away from higher education. has been recouped for the first “With graduate unemployment 20 years. rising, and the link between higher He said, too, that he was education and earning power concerned about the effect that a becoming more questionable, a loan system might have on school leaver cannot be expected graduates choosing what to do after to commit him or herself to a getting their degrees, lengthy period of repayment”. “It would chanel students not Both Ms. Ablack and Mr. into socially useful jobs or research, Andrews were concerned that the but into the best paid jobs to repay system would act as a positive the loan as quickly as possible”. hinderance to poorer students He explained that the scheme entering higher education, Mr. would discriminate against students Andrews said, who were not in the conventional “The loan system wou]d only age bracket, because of the burdens help the well-off”. of repayment. He felt that the system had “It would be a massive not been analysed by its Block 19 disincentive for mature students”. supporters in enough detail, Ms. Ablack’s leaflet explains the “It does’nt take up any of the details of the system. The loans real questions of education. It has officially would come from private massive consequences that have not enterprise, if Dr. Boyson is been considered”. opened To raise money for Action in The Economics and Social Studies Distress, a charity which helps Building, at the University, better Third World Countries, University known as Block 19, was officially Doctor passes Brighton Union Welfare Officer, Paul opened on Tuesday by Professor Stratford has volunteered to brave Rolf Dahrendorf, the Director of Geoff Brighton, the homo-sexual for a working party to be set up situation does not arise again. He the elements and spend a night in the London School of Economics. student who was refused a medical to analyse the problems that is chiefly concerned about the The ceremony was attended by a polythene shanty-hut outside the the Vice Chancellor, and the heads certificate by the Student Health the case highlighted. “division of responsibility” Union building. of the four departments in the Service, has been issued with one Union President Steve between doctors and academic The idea was hatched last week faculty, their staff, and a number by another doctor in Leeds. Aulsebrook, said that the granting departments in deciding who is when the weather was promisingly of students. fit to train to be a teacher. This means that he is now able of the certificate should have some spring like. But on Wednesday The building was one of the effect on members of Council As. Mr. Brighton is registered when Mr. Stratford had promised last buildings to be built under the to take up his place on a teaching at Student Health, Dr. Fraser still auspices of the now latent building who had previously voted against to camp out, it was snowing course at the University starting the campaign, he said has to sign the certificate, but Mr. committee. Professor Dahrendorf in October, as he had already heavily. pointed out that Leeds was “It will give those who need Aulsebrook foresaw no problems, He is being sponsored for the extremely lucky to be opening a been accepted for the course it a reason to change their minds. “I would have thought that pending the medical examination. event by members of the Union, new building, devoted to Economic I’m very pleased that he got it”. it was just a formality. It would and stands to make over £70 for and Social Studies in the present cause a real row if he blocked it economic conditions. The news comes at a time when Mr. Aulsebrook said that the the charity. After the ceremony, the the University Council is problem now was to make sure now”. Professor gave public lecture on considering a motion from the that the working party comes up Mr. Brighton was unavailable for Picture of Paul Stratford, by K. the theme of social inequality. Staff/Student Committee calling with proposals to ensure that the comment. Law. UNIVERSITY OF LEED UNIVERSITY LIBRARY i prnQ Page 2 LEEDS STUDENT - 21st March. 1980 LEEDS STUDENT Sad Cafe cancel 21st March, 1980 It’s your choice Mr. Phillips was full of honest and candid revelations last Tuesday. He admitted that NUS at present does not give value for money to its largest contributors. He admitted that it could no longer do its full job. He even went so far as to say that the members of NUS Executive have not always done what they have been told to by conferences. There was at least no pretence that all in the NUS garden was rosy. The major call from Mr. Phillips was for unity. He said that open criticism of NUS at the wrong time undermined the Union’s position, and he cited the example of a story in “The Times” about a “split” in the NUS at a time when the claim for a 36% increase in the grant was being presented. That is a dangerous call for him to make, as it is no more than using an opportunity to try to stifle public criticism of the way in which student affairs are being handled by elected representatives. That being so, there is much in the rest of Mr. Phillips’ argu ments. NUS cannot be all things to all students, and now is the Pictured above — Sad Cafe, who’ve pulled out of their contract with the University Union time for a decision to be made about the role that it should fulfil. It is vital, now as never before, that students should have Leeds University Ents suffered another blow this week with National representation, for decisions are being taken by the news that Sad Cafe, booked to play on Wednesday 19th, Government that affect every student. It would be foolish to had pulled out of the gig. destroy the only chance that there is of students influencing The problem arose after the Union says announcement that in the future “It is understandable from the such decision. Equally, NUS has a vital part to play in co only 1500 people would be able to band’s point of view, because of ordinating and communicating the activities of student Unions attend concerts in the Refectory, the financial rewards to be gained no to nukes up and down the country. because of tighter adherence to the from singles sales resulting from an Beyond that the issue becomes less distinct. It can be argued existing fire regulations. A new appearance on Top of The Pops. contract had to be drawn up These are pretty despicable business that the responsibility for individuals rests with local students between the band and Ents, but tactics, but fairly typical of the The University Union is to unions. Mr. Phillips’ fourth activity for the National Union is this re-negotiated contract was music industry.” He added that it is step up its opposition to the perhaps the most contentious and has been the cause of a never signed. Sad Cafe will instead usual for a band to rearrange the gig use of nuclear power. nuinuer of NUS’ problems. Many students have felt that NUS be recording for “Top of the Pops” at a later date when something Monday’s meeting of Union has been the tool of political groups, such~as the Broad Left, on Wednesday.

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