ARU Makes Desperate Attempt to Improve Poll Performance

Features Sport Arts Torture Garden Rob Andrew Martin Rowson Review Page 18 Interview Page 30 Exclusive cartoon and interview Page 16 Issue No 673 Friday Feb 22 2008 varsity.co.uk e Independent Cambridge Student Newspaper since 1947 ARU makes desperate attempt to improve poll performance “dedicated to the NSS” located all fi nal year students to nobble” and Varsity News Reporter over the Cambridge and Chelms- NSS stickers on sandwiches sold in ford campuses so that they can the university cafeteria. Emails leaked to Varsity from sen- fi ll in “a good online response”. In a later email McHugh re- ior management at Anglia Ruskin He advocates that lecturers “keep quested that lecturers “do your University have revealed damn- pumping out the message” and bit by discussing the survey” with ing evidence of the University’s “get students to march off to a ter- fi nalists, who would be sent NSS encouragement of efforts by staff minal straight away” in addition to reminders, and informed staff that to hike ARU’s National Student informing them of other colleagues there would be survey-dedicated Survey results. who will be sent “out and about... computers in both AR campus- The NSS, which surveys over looking for fi nal year students to es’ libraries. In a memo to staff, 300,000 students annually on their nobble”. At no point in any of the McHugh suggests that “More en- university experience, has been emails is any reference made to thusiastic colleagues may decide seen by ARU senior management any attempts to improve the is- to allow a class to fi nish early and as a way of improving their uni- sues complained about by ARU that students are directed to near- versity’s public reputation in the students in the NSS. by computer terminals to complete wake of having fi nished bottom of Responding to suggestions that the survey!” the 2007 Sunday Times University the survey’s fi ndings might be Asked if this was an appropri- League table after students slated skewed by students’ self-interest, ate use of resources, Paul McHugh ARU on grounds of “teaching, or- McHugh said that he did “not ap- said that it was “a convenience ganisation and management”. prove of crude attempts to per- for our students” and added that An email sent in the wake of the suade students to give their Uni ARSU had also provided dedicat- publication of the Sunday Times ed terminals. As to whether fi nal- League Table from Vice Chancel- ists should be putting the survey lor Mike Thorne highlights aware- before their work, McHugh told ness that “everyone who reads the “it is important that Varsity that “students have been [Sunday Times League Table] was we do not attempt reluctant to complete the NSS deeply shocked to fi nd us bottom” online which means that they are and discusses the fact that “we to infl uence students often pestered by phone later”, need to respond to [this] pretty and argued that “this is more dis- smartly, both internally and exter- unduly” ruptive and disturbing” than the nally.” university’s promotion of the sur- This manifested itself several vey. Whiffen told Varsity: ‘It’s not months later, not in the form of ‘good marks’” but that he did “think aggressive marketing. You get so a drive to improve standards of it is worth explaining to students much stuff, like junkmail, sent to “teaching, organisation and man- how the survey is increasingly be- you all the time.’ agement” but in an missive advo- ing used outside the higher educa- CUSU, who staged a protest in cating a push to redress the damage tion sector.” which they burnt copies of the sur- done to ARU’s reputation through McHugh emphasised the role of vey and promotional material out- the NSS. A 31 January circular the NSS as a channel for feedback, side their old Trumpington Street from Dr Paul McHugh, Director of and was joined in his praise of ARU offi ces last year, remain highly Student Affairs, explained that al- tactics by Frankie Whiffen, Anglia critical of the survey and promotes though “it is important that we do Ruskin Student Union (ARSU) opting-out. CUSU is now the only not attempt to infl uence students President, who told Varsity: “a union in the country to do so after [responding to the NSS] unduly... lot of students are apathetic and Oxford and Warwick’s student un- I do think it’s reasonable to point won’t visit their student union, ions ended their opposition. out... that NSS results are increas- but this is an easy to access way Last year Cambridge was the ingly seen as a key component of to contact the university.... The only higher education institution MICHAEL DERRINGER a University’s external reputa- university is always trying to gain in the country not to reach the 50% tion and that reputation will be feedback. This is how it works at response rate required by the NSS Lighting up the lawn attached to the degree with which Anglia Ruskin.” He added: “we’re to publish its fi ndings. The then they leave us”. not set in our ways, we’re dynamic CUSU Education Offi cer, Jacob Over 200 students took part in “Orange Wednesday”, McHugh added that lecturers and changing.” an event organised by Cambridge University Amnesty should fi nish their lectures early The NSS push involved “col- International to call for the free trial or release of inmates and encourage students to head leagues out and about at Cam- CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO at Guantanamo Bay. down to the computer terminals bridge and Chelmsford looking for Fashion Face Off Interview Varsity Fashion Editors chronicle Robinson crusade: Churchill Mitchell and Webb on London Fashion Week ght them on the beaches That Mitchell and Webb Look » Pages 16-17 » Page 14 » Page 21 News Editors: Clementine Dowley, Richard Power Sayeed, and Isabel Shapiro Friday February 22 2008 2 NEWS [email protected] varsity.co.uk/news CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE In Brief Head, described the NSS as a waste of “precious resources” and Foie gras protestors its content as “over-simplistic to the point of meaninglessness”. He Access overhaul attack top restaurant was highly critical of the “aggres- Cambridge restaurant Midsummer sive marketing of the survey”, in » ‘Stalled’ recruitment initiative under review House was sprayed with graffi ti by which the NSS would telephone animal rights protesters opposed students up to eight times to encour- to it serving foie gras. Responsibil- age them to complete the survey. Michael Stothard dents from lower socio-economic state schools. As in Cambridge, ity for the attack, which took place Cambridge has so far re- backgrounds. This is compared to this figure is declining. on Saturday, was claimed by the fused to pass on students’ other Russell Group universities The recent move to abolish the Animal Liberation Front, who said phone numbers to the NSS. The University is to radically which accepted one in five stu- separate application form is hoped that the restaurant “made itself Last month Pete Coulthard, current overhaul its undergraduate re- dents from more disadvantaged to make the process of applying to a target by continuing to support CUSU Academic Affairs Offi cer, con- cruitment strategy in the recog- backgrounds. Cambridge easier and less daunt- and profi t from the horrifi c animal demned the University for “leaning nition that its initiative to become The revamped admissions poli- ing for state school pupils. abuse involved in the production of on the Heads of Houses (e.g. Masters) less elitist has “stalled”. cy will now put “significant” new The Chairman of the Sutton foie gras”. Protestors glued door to put pressure on JCR Presidents to Despite costly recent recruit- funds into recruiting pupils from Trust, Sir Peter Lampl, said that locks, damaged windows and spray- encourage students to participate”. ing attempts, the proportion of he was encouraged by the latest painted slogans such as “Stop Sell- Coulthard also criticised the format Cambridge students from state news: “Any moves by Cambridge ing Foie Gras” and “Ban Foie Gras” schools has actually declined over and other top-ranked universities on the Michelin-starred restaurant. the last few years. Two years ago Cambridge is to attract more non-privileged Police are currently investigating 58% of Cambridge students were planning to market students – and to break down the the criminal damage which took Cambridge supports from state schools compared to barriers which prevent them from place in the incident. But the attack the NSS and has put 56% last year. The figures for this itself as the cheap applying – are very welcome. was not the fi rst example of pro- year’s intake are expected to be There is a particular need to make test against the use of foie pressure on CUSU to even lower still. university sure that young people are fully gras: on Valentine’s Day, at “Progress has stalled. We’re aware of the bursaries and other a peaceful protest organised change its stance not happy with where we are so financial support on offer, as our by Animal Rights Cam- we are rolling up out sleeves and middle ranking state schools. most recent research showed that bridge, campaign- working even harder,” said Di- “We have put so much attention non-privileged students are often ers carried plac- of the survey, its over-simplicity and rector of Cambridge Admissions on the hardest-to-reach students ignorant of this.” ards saying: timing, which he claimed has dis- Geoff Parks. that we have overlooked those “Foie gras rupted fi nalists’ work in past years Cambridge is planning to mar- from reasonably successful main- = diseased liver” CUSU is lobbying the NSS to ket itself as the cheap univer- tained-sector schools,” Parks told and “Don’t buy into make a ‘bank’ of additional questions sity, with low rents, virtually no the Guardian newspaper.

Load more