The University of Surrey Students’ Union Newspaper issue 1045 www.ussu.co.uk THURSDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2002 free We only went and won them! THIS WEEK HAS been the most succesful BY RICHARD WATTS Above: the two media awards, won respectively by broadcasting.” His sentiments were echoed period in living memory for the student me- GU2 radio station (inset) and the very paper you hold by Tristan O’ Dwyer, last year’s Communi- in your hands, barefacts. They are the first awards the dia of the University of Surrey. medium in their relatively short histories student media of UniS has ever won and reflect an cations & Marketing sabbatical and editor of On Thursday of last week, GU2 1350AM, and were met with jubilation and unbounded unparalleled year in terms of participation, quality and barefacts: “This award means an awful lot the student radio station of UniS, was named exuberance from all of those who attended commitment. Photos: Paul Wright & Scott Geary. to me and everybody that was involved with “Student Radio Station of the Year” at the the awards ceremonies. Gareth Davies, the newspaper last year. To receive a nomi- annual student radio awards; this was fol- the station manager of GU2 for which the INSIDE nation for the first time in barefacts’ history lowed two days later by the “Best Student award was presented, said: “This is a great was great, but to actually walk away with Campaign” award for barefacts at the achievement for the station and everybody pages 6 & 7: a two page special looking the award, ahead of some great campaigns, National NUS/Independent student media involved, especially given that this was our at the achievements of barefacts and GU2 is unbelievable.” awards, recognising the series of newspapers first year of full-time broadcasting. We were The two awards represent the culmination that contested the University’s planned rent a bit surprised to win but it is a testament photos from both of the awards cer- of much work by students, the Union and the emonies, quotes from those that were there increases last academic year. Both awards to everyone involved that we are the station University respectively, and place the media and the histories of GU2 and barefacts are the first for each communication that has won the ultimate prize in student in a very strong national position. 2 NEWS 21 November 2002 REVELLING IN THE “They are willing to pay for a car, so why not an education?” asks new Education Secretary GLORY OF THE VICTORIES Two pages dedicated to GU2 and Clarke delivers warning shot barefacts to cel- ebrate the great IN AN ARTICLE written for The BY RICHARD WATTS achievements Independent on Sunday, Charles Clarke, of the last week the new Secretary of State for Education, government need to asses how universities | pages 6 & 7 has suggested that children from middle are run such that they can utilise their class families will have to pay more for a assets in a similar fashion to hospitals and university education, and that the argument businesses. More worryingly for students, BAREARTS EXCLUSIVE over top-up fees is in danger of reaching he also delivers an assured message to A “iconic status.” those who benefit from the HE system, INTERVIEW Mr Clarke, a former president of the highlighting both alumni and individual Rachael Bemrose meets National Union of Students and Cambridge students as primary examples of these. up with Clare University Students’ Union, commented In the case of the latter, Mr Clarke Buckfield that “speculation about how to pay [for maintains that “as NUS president, one (that’s right higher education] seems to have replaced of the most powerful arguments of my a necessary debate about the future of HE,” generation was that we should be treated - Dec’s girl- and highlights that his priority was not higher as independent at the age of 18 and not be white paper to be delivered in January will friend) to have education (HE) funding but improving “the financially dependent upon our parents.” It contribute to this focus. a chin-wag and quality of education in our schools.” is then suggested that “many young people Objetcting to top-up fees, on the other talk about her In his first article since the resignation do not think twice about taking out a loan or hand, is Claire Short, the International new play bar- of Estelle Morris four weeks ago, entitled credit to buy a car or holiday,” even thought Development Secretary. Calling them “ a earts | page17 “They’ll happily pay up for a car, so why they, unlike education, are depreciating really bad idea,” Ms Short warned that the not for an education?” Mr Clarke delivers assets. Accepting that “each [option for introduction of top-up fees would create a a thorough analysis of the current situation funding] brings strong postive and negative two-tier higher education system, similar to PHONECARDS in HE and its funding, accepting that there is responses,” Mr Clarke concludes that the that in the US, and that she was sure “the a funding deficit faced by many universities funding ‘drift’ tolerated by successive government could find a more intelligent The Union has started selling phone- and asserting that the public and governments must be addressed and that the way through.” cards. Turn to the poster on page 14 for details on this new scheme. I’m glad someone is saying something University of IN THIS WEEK’S PAPER Fortunately, the NUS Whichever way the top-up president is at the centre of fees decision goes (and I Surrey awarded UniS jump the gun on new site the debate concerning the think we all have a fair in- “will-they-won’t they” circus clination of what might hap- A new roadsign has appeared on the currently entertaining the pen), what has the continual Queen’s medal roundabout outside Tesco’s that could be domestic political landscape concentration on Mandy and potentially embarrasing for UniS opposite as the “Labour division” re- Mandy alone contributed to BY SARAH BUTTERWORTH garding top-up fees continues proceedings? Monotony. It EDITOR The firefighters made the news to take up excessive column is no offence to Ms Telford, ICHARD ATTS Two viewpoints on the firefighter’s strike of inches (of which here are a R W of course - that she is the one LAST WEEK THE University of Surrey last week: did they come out of it well, or few more to boot). that always has to get up and became one of five Universities around Unfortunately for students, speak is part and parcel of will the suffer? Comment | page 8, 9 “Not one article has the country to be honoured with Queen’s however, this particular pres- the job; it is just how that mentioned Mandy Telford’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further ident is not the current one must appear to everyone else name, let alone any of the barearts misses James Bond - a certain Miss Telford - but that is really worrying. If I Education, one of the most prestigious NUS’ policies or demands.” Having not been able to watch the film, instead the one that used to were a government minis- awards in the country. It was presented in barearts previews it anyway - it’s not like run the show and who used ter, faced with a national recognition of its contribution to industry and you listen anyway... barearts | page 13 his time in office to fight for president who repeats day outstanding work in the fields of ion beam “more financial independence from their after day the very same argument, as well applications and optoelectronic devices Short story competition parents for 18 year olds” - a hairy situation as year after year the “annual demonstra- for over 30 years. The research groups, Chris Ward introduces you to the barefacts indeed for those who may have a stake in tion,” I would register a passing “ah bless” headed by Professor Alf Sealy and Professor “short story” competition that will be run- the financial future of Higher Education. thought and move on to realistic business, Alf Adams have carried out cutting edge ning next semester barearts | page 16 Over the last four or five weeks, especially such as figuring out the capping level for research developing articles such as CD since Sir Richard Syke’s announcement any possible top-up fees and how bursary and DVD players, printers and microwave A kick-ass music section over Imperial’s market-fees plans, not a funds can be maximised so that the under- circuits for satellite communications. day has gone by without a columnist’s or privileged can also attend university should Four pages of music, including singles, The only facility of its kind in the analysist’s viewpoint on how HE should be their abilities allow. Reminiscent of a nag- albums, gigs and the return on “What’s on country, the Surrey Ion Beam Centre is finded, and whether or not students should ging five year old child, you don’t just give your campus stereo?” barearts | page 22 acknowledged as a European Centre of pay for their education. Interestingly, none people what they want in order to make Excellence and much of the work has of these articles has even mentioned Mandy them go away. So maybe the NUS should Footballing heroes return involved collaborations with over 30 other Telford’s name, let alone any of the policies go away and have a think about what it can university groups. The centre is currently They were there in the first issue of the year or requests she, as NUS president, might actually achieve, otherwise its moans will building on its success, having received a and now they return victorious: the men’s have to make on behalf of virtually the en- continue on into the terrible-teens.