The University of Surrey Students’ Union Newspaper issue 1042 www.ussu.co.uk THURSDAY 31 OCTOBER 2002 free WHAT’S ON YOUR CAM- PUS STEREO? A little A new future for HE? glimpse into the audio LABOUR CHAIRMAN CHARLES Clarke By Richard Watts said his new role was “a fantastic challenge” world of has been appointed as the new Secretary of and that he was “really looking forward” to campus and State for Education in Tony Blair’s cabinet remedy the current student funding doing all he could to improve education in its inhabitants reshuffle following the resignation of Estelle arguments that are currently plaguing the the UK. He also praised the “commitment | page 18 Morris. Mr Clarke, a former NUS President government and the fiasco that was this and integrity” of his predecessor, for and known “straight-talker,” now faces a year’s A-level marking. whom many her resignation and honesty in HE tough job as he must seek to Speaking of his appointment, Mr Clarke departing the job was thought “dignified” T A- and hallmarked her approach to the job. TEAM The two party leaders reacted reassuringly Details of what differently to the appointment. Tony Blair the V-project is said he wanted Mr Clarke to carry on the all about and reform programme started under Ms Morris. how you can Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said get involved the resignation of one person would not save with the fun the “crisis” in education. and festivties The National Union of Students (NUS) of it all | page 12 welcomed the appointment of Charles Clarke. Mandy Telford, the NUS President, said: “Mr Clarke has certainly got his hands IN THIS WEEK’S PAPER full, especially as we approach the release date of the government’s student funding review. We know that top-up fees would Why we lobbied Parliament result in an elitist system where a student’s Toni Borneo reflects on the action taken by wealth, rather than intellect, would determine student officers last week and argues why it their success. This is a perfect opportunity is necessary News | page 3 for the new Minister to boldly stamp out the threat of top up fees and commit to a funding Seriously what week? system where all students are offered the During this awareness week, we should pay chance to fully realise their potential.” tribute to those who lead a more sheltered life argues Ben Supper Comment | page 7 INSIDE The eternal student syndrome Dr Russ reveals that there is a life beyond If you want something then you have to the pearly gates of this university life we The London Eye last week as students descended on Parliament to lobby MP’s concerning the Government’s pay for it argues Graeme Phillips - education students lead Professional Page | page 9 White Paper on student funding expected next month. See page three for more details. does not come free | Comment barearts watches lots of films xXx and Slap her, she’s French get the Who is this man that could hold the key to our financial futures? review treatment in the new, “in association Here’s to this new can of push for Maths the 1992 defeat, one less than £40k) and the super- with the Odeon” section barearts | page 10 worms. Charles Clarke is a competence. JOHN SLATER of Neil Kinnock’s fees that we heard of recently. Life after the womb large, loud man, the opposite Being the NUS main men, and Incidentally, a major student of Ms Morris’ quiet demeanour president for a short while isn’t more recently worked in the report from 18 universities Rich Watts decides that this lobbying busi- and slight figure. Estelle his only claim to identifying Home Office and of course – The Aldwych Report – warns ness is a lot more difficult than the profes- was touted as a great thing with the yoof of today, in fact the education department. In that if the proposed £10k fees sionals make it look Lifestyle | page 21 originally, as she had been a he was one of those political the 1980s’ ‘seething political are put in place, the middle Netballers make a week of it schoolteacher before, and what students, to the extent that he crucible’ (as the Guardian puts class would be excluded. So could be better than a teacher spent a year in Cuba as a radical it) of Hackney council, he even after the exit of a sparrow in A good week for the three netball teams of as Education Secretary? Well Marxist, alongside the likes of had as one of his constituents a an overflowing nest, we have UniS as they see off each of their respective once again we will have to pick Peter Mandelson, Paul Boateng certain young Mr Tony Blair. the arrival of a large figure in opponents Sport | page 24 our expectations – you’ll be and Fiona McTaggart. As impressive a CV as it both stature and politics, and he please to hear that Mr Clarke He’s seen it from the lecturer’s is, the key things as ever are will have a lot to do – the split was NUS president from 1975 side, as a part time lecturer in the policies. I’m sure that his between those who support his to 1977, after being Cambridge Maths for a time. He has in apparently imminent push grant schemes and those who Students’ Union’s president, the past promoted the General (so says The Daily Mail) for dislike his push for graduate so obviously he’ll know what Teaching Council during 3p in the pound graduate tax could be his undoing. By students need. Except that in his time in the education tax will delight the student all accounts, Mr Clarke is the mid 70s, students got grants. department in 1998 as schools populace, almost as much as not going to get an easy ride. Students did alright. He is a standards minister, alongside the combination of limited Perhaps his shift as the stoic Cambridge man, with a Maths scaring the LEAs and rooting maintenance grants (up to £1k, face of government can last and Economics degree so we for the cause of retaining school beginning around 2004, for longer than Ms Morris, before can perhaps hope for a renewed playing fields. He was, until families with an income of the next changing of the guard. 2 NEWS 31 October 2002 Sussex Students’ Union facing liquidation National SUSSEX UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ By Richard Watts Union (SUSU) is facing a financial crisis president that could result in its possible liquidation predecessors in an impossible position. “We within two years. During the last academic asked the university for assistance two years year, the Union overspent by £120,000 and ago to help make up the deficit. The response lambastes a similar deficit is predicted by the finance from the finance office, was that we should officer for this academic year too. spend the union’s reserves, which is very SUSU is supported, like all other Students’ improper, put beer prices up or cut staff.” top-up fees Unions, with an annual block grant from Up to now, the union has had to spend its the university of £470k (in comparison to own reserves in order to compensate for the IN HER MONTHLY column on The USSU’s £613k) and receives further profits overspending. The current reserves now lie Guardian’s website NUS President, Mandy from Sussex University Students’ Union at just £270k, which, at the current rate of Telford, warned the government that top- Services Ltd (SUSUS), the union-owned spending, is enough for just two more years available.” up fees would simply “cripple” higher trading company, though this arm of its of the union’s existence. This is not the first crisis at the Sussex education and that “asking cash-strapped operations ha been in decline recently. “We can’t buy ourselves out of this crisis. University Students’ Union to be reported students to find even more money is an insult A campaign run by the student newspaper, We can’t charge any more for a pint. At by barefacts. In November 2000, we to the hardship they already go through.” The Badger, launched last week asked the student union bar a pint is £1.95, in the reported that the Union had been disbanded Her comments follow the revelations last university to increase this subvention, and one university-run bar it is £1.50. They are as a result of failing to reach a quorate level week that Sir Richard Sykes, the rector warned in an editorial that the “union would putting their prices down, while ours have to at its Annual General Meeting, as well as a of Imperial College, London, advocated be preparing itself for the worst, including go up,” said Mr Mooney. similar story the year before. the introduction of market fees and thus across-the-board cuts in the provision of key A statement issued by the university said: The University of Surrey Students’ Union left students facing the possibility of £15k services to students and the possibility that “The university and USSU are working has also faced financial difficulties in recent tuition fees each year. Ms Telford, who The Badger itself may be lost.” together to tackle both of these issues as years. Two years ago, the University bailed was the president of NUS Scotland when it University and Union representatives met all parties share the desire to ensure that the Union out after it was revealed the successfully forced the Scottish government last week to discuss the possibility of a joint services to students should become more financial position was so dire that, should to change their funding system, said that Sir emergency funding package and allocated coordinated.