Thursday 23 October 2003 Published by the USSU Communications Office issue number 1065 free www.ussu.co.uk THE UNIVERSITY OF SURREY STUDENTS’ NEWSPAPER STUDENT DEBT? GU2 HEAD TO RADIO 1 IN THIS WEEK ’ S PAPER Natalie Howard gives As part of GU2’s prize for V PROJECT | Carol Main tells of her trip to a different view on Top winning ‘Best Student Radio Aldershot Forest to be on TV | page 6 Up Fees, being part of the Station of the Year’, Mr Mental EXTRA TERRESTRIAL | Some nice and scary year who will be the first to and P spend some time at Radio Halloween films for us all |page 17 experience them in 2006. One HQ in London. PROFESSIONAL | Lorne Smith gives the Volunteering| page 5 Communication | page 8 views of a 1970s USSU President | page 9 Watch Your Drink BY CHRIS WARD Claire commented: “The swizzle sticks and beer mats only EDITOR react to a few drugs, whereas hundreds are used by attackers to incapacitate victims. Unfortunately, because people AFTER INCREASED INCIDENTS in Guildford Town Centre believe that they are 100% reliable, it often encourages involving drink-spiking, Surrey Police in Guildford are victims to lower their guard, leaving them prone to attack.” introducing a new initiative warning people to watch their The Roofie Foundation (TRF) was set up in 1997 to help drinks. those who are interested in finding out more about the effects This mirrors the recent incident at the University of date-rape drugs, and also for those who have been victims. of Cambridge where two freshers found themselves Their website, www.roofie.com, emphasises: “Everyone is experiencing the symptoms of Rohypnol, one of the drugs aware of their own personal tolerance to alcohol. If you feel commonly misused by attackers to make potential victims odd, nauseous, slightly drunk, tipsy or wasted after only a lose consciousness. Cambridge University are conducting couple of drinks, or you know that you cannot be drunk, their own investigation on the matter. there is more than a chance that your drink has been spiked. John Ford, senior tutor at Caius college said: “The safety If so get yourself immediately to a place of safety.” of our students is of paramount importance... If any member “If you are with a close friend tell them of your worries, get of a college was involved, there is no way it could be treated them to get you out of the place as soon as possible and to apart from with the utmost severity”. In regards to the get you home either in their car or by cab. Once safely home students involved, he reported: “They both wish to get on ask them to stay with you until the effects of the drug have with their first term at college and have put the incident worn off. However be very sure that you implicitly trust the behind them”. person or friend you are asking. USSU’s VP Education and Welfare, Claire Iles, emphasised The University of Surrey Students Union take the matter of the importance of creating awareness of the possibility of drink-spiking extremely seriously. USSU Head of Events such events occurring on a night out. She pointed out that Safety, Ben McCauley, stressed: “If anybody feels they although a lot of women socialise using swizzle-sticks that are under the influence of rohypnol or any other drug, they change colour when they come into contact with a drug, the should come to the front desk immediately, and it will be publicity they have is misleading. treated with the utmost of urgency”. Barefacts Nominated for National Award BY SARAH BUTTERWORTH campaign, and The Warwick Boar EDITOR IN CHIEF (Warwich University) for their Liberty Park campaign. THE UNIVERSITY OF Surrey Students’ The nomination is particularly impressive Newspaper, barefacts has this week been as barefacts was the winner of the very shortlisted for the award of ‘Best Student same award a year ago, for its coverage of Campaign’ sponsored by ActionAid in the Uni$kint campaign, protesting against the NUS National Student Media Awards. the University’s planned 24% rent increase The nomination came about due to the over the next few years. coverage in last year’s barefacts of the The presentation ceremony for this year’s ‘Lights, Camera, Action’ campaign, which Media Awards takes place on Sunday is continuing this year. 22nd November 2002 at the luxurious Barefacts is up against ROAR at King’s International Hotel in Canary Wharf, after surrey students demonstrate University for their Accommodation the annual Student Media Conference. Narrowing Participation? | page 5 GU2 visits Radio One | page 8 Sandy Stars | page 21 2 NEWS 23 October 2003 Clarke Fails to Convince Parent EDITORIAL TEAM 2003-4 BY CHRIS WARD answered questions based on his student the government shouldn’t pay for it. She Editor in Chief EDITOR fees policies. However, by the end of the emphasised that her youngest daughter may Sarah Butterworth program, he had still failed to convince a be put off going to a prestigious university The Higher Education Minister failed to mother of three. One of her children had because of the possible debt of £21,000 at comms convince a parent that the top up fees were just started University, and the other two the age of 21. @ussu.co.uk the only way forward on “Blair’s University hope to go in the future. She insisted that From the other political viewpoints, Challenge” earlier this week. The show, everybody needs a graduate workforce, i.e. Damien Green stated that the Conservatives Editor which consisted of two panels, one for top doctors, lawyers, etc. and doesn’t see why would scrap the 50% government target for Chris Ward up fees, and one against; higher education, and would presented the debate on fees introduce a vocational system cs21cw @surrey.ac.uk as a mockery of University for those wishing to enter Challenge. The two panels a non-academic workforce. answered questions related Phil Willis emphasised that Music Editor to higher education, and were student fees should be paid Matt Badcock occasionally asked questions for by general taxation. on their stance in the fees NUS President Mandy ms01mb debate. Others who shared Telford emphasised that @surrey.ac.uk their political and personal bringing a market into the opinions that evening were higher education system Music Editor Conservative Damien Green, would “skew the system and Liberal Democrat Phil Jon Allen entirely”, because “students Willis. from poorer backgrounds bs21ja Clarke, who was NUS will choose cheaper @surrey.ac.uk President in the 70s, courses”. News Editor Philip Howard ph02ph Students’ Independent Complaints Board @surrey.ac.uk BY CHRIS WARD it will magnify this,” However, students Film Editor EDITOR will also be able to complain about non- Neil Boulton academic grievances, such as problems over The Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University accommodation. If complaints are upheld, cs21nb @surrey.ac.uk of Oxford, Dame Ruth Deech, has been the adjudicator can recommend fi nancial appointed as the fi rst “independent compensation. adjudicator for higher education”. Starting Professor Norman Gowar, chairman of Theatre Editor next year, students with complaints against the Offi ce of the Independent Adjudicator Daisy Clay their university will be able to appeal to said that having an independent complaints Letters to barefacts her. She will consider issues that have not commission covering all universities will Letters must be received by 5pm on the Monday before publication to be published in the next newspaper. ps21dc been dealt with by a university’s internal create a more coherent and equal system. @surrey.ac.uk Letters may be edited for length or clarity | [email protected] grievance procedures. Students will also At the moment, older universities forward be able to complain if they feel that services complaints upwards to “visitors”, who may Literature Editor and facilities promised in the prospectus are be a bishop, or even the Queen. He called not being adequately delivered. this situation “anachronistic”. Universities Jennifer Walker This news was welcomed by the National are not legally bound by the adjudicator’s ph21jw Union of Students. Chris Weaver, of NUS, rulings, but Prof. Gowar is confi dent that @surrey.ac.uk stated: “We are in a consumer culture, where universities will feel obliged to comply with people are much more ready to complain. her decisions. And when students are paying for courses, Sports Editor Peter Nichols barefacts is an editorially independent Do you have a complaint cs11pn newspaper and is published by the University barefacts notices @surrey.ac.uk of Surrey Students’ Union Communications against this newspaper? Office. Barefacts Meeting | Thursday 23rd October | 5pm | Media Centre If you have a complaint about any item in this newspaper which CONTRIBUTORS The views expressed within the paper Aikido AGM | Thursday 23rd October | 8pm | Sports Centre are those of individual authors and do not contains inaccuracy, harassment, intrusion or discrimination write to Matt Adams Claire Iles necessarily represent the views of the Editor, Swimming AGM | Friday 24th October | 2pm | Committee Room Tuoko Amuka Catherine Lee the University of Surrey Students’ Union or the our editorial team about it. University of Surrey. If you remain dissatisfied please Natalie Barette A Little-Person contact the Press Complaints Women’s Basketball AGM | Tuesday 28th October | 1pm | Committee Room Ben Berryman Carol Main This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part, stored in any form, copied or Commission - an independant Andy Blair Dina Mystris distributed, without the express permission of organisation established to uphold Men’s Basketball AGM | Tuesday 28th October | 1.30pm | Commirrww Room Dave Chapman Lorne Smith the publisher beforehand.