Stormont Dormant As Browne Prepares Market Revolution
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TheGown. Monday 20 September 2010Gown. Monday 20 September 2010 FREE THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT QUEEN’S SINCE 1955 THEGOWN.ORG.UK Stormont dormant as Browne Freshers’ prepares market revolution pull-out inside leader will still influence the LORCAN MULLEN decisions and policy-making of UUP ministers. s Lord Browne pre- Worryingly, neither leader- pares to publish his ship candidate seems to have a review into higher edu- university policy of note, or even cation funding and as a distinct informed opinion. the coalition govern- While platitudes from politi- Ament readies its drastic mooted cians are no new phenomenon, spending cuts, The Gown can in this case they reflect a wider reveal a disturbing disinterest lack of original policy interest in higher education on the part in Northern Irish politics. The of the UUP, the Stormont party typical impact of this is the tasked with administering our thoughtless replication of West- universities through the depart- minster government policy at ment for employment and learn- the Stormont level. For students, ing (DEL). this mentality could lead to an Sir Reg Empey, the current enduring disaster in how we leader of the UUP and minister organise and fund our education for employment and learning, system. signalled his intention to stand Last year, The Gown pub- down after a disastrous general lished the leaked results of the election campaign. Tom Elliot Northern Irish review into tui- and Basil McCrea, MLAs for tion fees and student finance, a Initiative set to improve student-resident relations Fermanagh-South Tyrone and review commissioned by Empey the Lagan Valley respectively and carried out by Joanne J AMES DOUGLAS are competing to take Sir Reg’s Stuart, head of the Institute place. of Directors in Northern Ire- hursday 9th September with both the student population if the campaign is to succeed. He Empey’s department has land. Contrary to the wishes of saw the launch of the and local residents in an effort also believes a wise first step for repeatedly refused to make the Queen’s, and the Russell Group ‘Respect’ campaign, a to find “tangible solutions that students is to introduce them- Minister available for an inter- of self-selecting “elite” universi- Belfast City Council ini- will result in a better quality of selves to their neighbours in view with The Gown, and DEL’s ties to which it belongs, Stuart tiative aimed at improv- life for everyone.” order to establish an initial rap- recommended that fees should ingT relations between students In spite of the stigma that port. The Leadership not rise. Most strikingly, Stuart and residents in the university often comes with being a student Unsurprisingly however, went on to say that universities area. in Belfast, Queen’s University’s students are warned of the dan- election provides had not yet made the case that Tensions between students Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor gers they face in their new com- greater fees equal greater qual- and permanent residents of the Tony Gallagher, argues, “Stu- munity, and are encouraged to studets with a rare ity. university area have become dents have been a vital part of be vigilant and take care when She also suggested that DEL a recurring part of life in the the community in south Belfast out in the area, particularly if insight into the “examine in detail” the National Queen’s quarter, particularly in for more than 100 years.” Indeed alcohol has been consumed. The Union of Students’ alternative, a the Holyland area. The ‘Respect’ the 7,000 welcome packs due to PSNI’s Chief Inspector Trevor party’s‘‘ thinking on fees and progressive graduate tax. campaign, supported by vari- be sent out to households in the O’Neill emphasised, “While This review was subsequent- ous agencies including Belfast south Belfast area are intended I don’t want anyone to stop student finance. ly shelved by DEL and will now City Council, the PSNI and to ensure the safety and wellbe- enjoying themselves, I would only be released for public con- NIHE (Northern Ireland Hous- ing of students as much as resi- strongly urge everyone to be sultation in conjunction with the ing Executive) as well as both dents. These will provide essen- careful of how much alcohol they officials have been very cagey Browne review, commissioned by of Northern Ireland’s universi- tial information concerning bin consume.” Moreover, students with regard to policy. The lead- the erstwhile Universities Secre- ties and the District Policing collection times and advice on should also be aware that Bel- ership election provides stu- tary Lord Mandelson. There is a Partnership, aims to tackle the diet and exercise, as well as fast City Council wardens regu- dents with a rare insight into consensus among student union issue head-on. Councillor Ian details of support contacts. larly patrol the university area the party’s thinking on fees and leaders that Stuart’s review was Adamson, chairman of Belfast One sentiment shared by the between the hours of 5.00pm student finance. ‘buried’ due to its unexpectedly City Council’s Health and Envi- groups involved, and voiced by and 3.00am, and can issue spot While both candidates have pro-student results. ronmental Services Committee, Jay Downs, VP Community at fines of up to £100 to deal with confirmed that they will not stresses that the campaign’s Queen’s Students’ Union, is that litter, noise and unruly behav- enter the Executive before the continued inside on main objective is not to give stu- “students are partners in the iour, which could potentially be March Assembly election, party page 2 dents a list of “dos and don’ts,” area,” and that respect must be documented on the individual’s insiders accepted that the new but rather to actively engage manifested equally on both sides record. 2 Monday 20 September 2010 TheGown. 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Monday 20 September 2010 News continued from page 1 newsreader confirmed that there TheGown. will be “no major shift” from DEL officials and Stormont Empey’s policies, due to a tight politicians now speak only of fiscal climate, but acknowledged The Independent Stuart’s work as being second- that as leader Elliot would take Student Newspaper ary to Browne’s looming effort, an interest in the department. at Queen’s since 1955. a review of the similar but of When pressed for Elliot’s views course seperate English system. on education, Nesbitt offered up: Monday 20th September 2010 The Browne review, unlike “Tom stresses the importance Stuart’s, does not have student of higher education and further The Gown is available every representation on its working education” and “investment in Monday fortnight across the group, and is expected to recom- education is key.” Queen’s campus. mend a substantial increase in Basil McCrea was at least fees in conjunction with more open in his support for a mar- Editor: Connor Daly openings for private for-profit ket in education. He told The [email protected] colleges. Browne is a former BP Gown that “it is inevitable that Ian Hill Obituary chief executive and honourary the cap will be lifted”, and that News Editor: Kerri-Anne Campbell graduate of Queen’s. this was the only way invest- an Hill, a former Gown pendent student newspaper in [email protected] The changes Browne is ment in Higher education could editor and member of the these expected to recommend would be maintained with the govern- Gown Trust, suddenly islands. He never forgot his Arts & Entertainment Editor: create a market in education, ment under so much fiscal pres- passed away on Friday 16 debt to The Gown. Ben Finch with variable costs depending on sure. When The Gown pointed July 2010 at the age of 73. [email protected] the course and university con- out that higher fees mean high- I When the newspaper faced a cerned. In layman’s terms, that er student loans, which means Mr Hill was editor of The crisis in the 2008-2009 aca- Features Editor: Emma Gallen means the creation of a high- more up-front Treasury spend- Gown during the 1957-1958 demic year, Ian was a one of [email protected] cost, highly stratified US-style ing, McCrea did not seem to academic year. Despite study- half a dozen Gown alumni who system. Rich universities would follow. He believes the changed ing dentistry at Queen’s, he came together to form a new Sports Editor: Damien Edgar levy ever-higher fees, penalis- fiscal situation renders Joanne went on to become an art crit- advisory trust, which led to [email protected] ing lower and middle-income Stuart’s findings less work- ic, travel writer and journalist, the successful relaunch of the students; less prestigious uni- able than those being mooted by contributing to numerous radio newspaper in 2009. His advice Photography Editor: Claire Wright versities would compete for ever Browne. programmes as well as news- and guidance, and his friend- [email protected] scarcer resources, being forced papers including the News Let- ship and good humour, will be to lower fees to attract students. ter, Irish Times and Belfast sadly missed.” Design Editors: Niall Mooney & Such changes would take place H ave Your Say Telegraph. He is survived by Rose Kelly against a backdrop of devastat- his wife, Helena and his two Conor O’Clery, [email protected] ing 25-40% spending cuts. Do you think the UUP leadership daughters. Chairman, Mike Nesbitt, the unsuccess- will have an impact on the higher The Gown Trust. Business, Advertising & Marketing ful UUP general election can- education impact system? Let us “Ian Hill was one of a number Manager: Niall Crozier didate for Strangford, spoke to know your opioions on th issue of prominent journalists whose [email protected] The Gown on behalf of Tom Elli- careers were launched by The Catherine Arrell ot’s campaign.