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Students to Graduate Without Degree Class As Boycott Continues

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Students to Graduate Without Degree Class As Boycott Continues Winner of Mirror/NUS Student Newspaper of the Year 2005 Summer Term Week Five Tuesday 23rd May 06 www.nouse.co.uk NOUSE Estd 1964 University call time for campus bars Results of ‘Save The Bars’ campaign revealed: find out where you’ll be able to drink on campus next year Page 3 Students to graduate without degree class as boycott continues By Daniel Whitehead uation ceremonies is proceeding as Students are kicking off big style.” NEWS EDITOR normal. The decision made by the “I deeply regret any anxiety Senate on Tuesday means that it is YORK UNIVERSITY last week which students experience as a following universities such as Keele announced plans to award stu- result of the action. My primary in awarding incomplete degrees to dents’ degrees that are incomplete objective during this period is to their students. A published docu- as a result of work not being ensure that all students can com- ment, which outlined the plans for marked or set, after the Association plete examinations and assess- how degrees will be awarded, stat- of University Teachers (AUT) ments, that final years can graduate ed that the situation was “deeply assessment boycott continued into and others can progress on to the regrettable. its third month. next phase of their studies.” “The situation has become The announcement comes as However, AUT members have more acute and there is a signifi- concerns heighten in universities reacted angrily to the decision, and cant risk that some assessments throughout the UK over the voted unanimously on Thursday to will not be completed and/or chances of examinations being continue the boycott. Dr John marked”. 10% of York undergradu- marked in time for final-year stu- Thornton of the Department of ates are set to be affected if the dents to graduate this summer, Electronics called the verdict a “dis- industrial action continues. with the University of York admit- grace”, adding that he thought An email from the Politics ting this week that 10% of its stu- there was a “much better solution” department to its students empha- dents will be affected by the dis- from achieving a proper pay deal. sised the concerns of several pute. Other members thought that by departments within the university The contingency plans, which allowing students to graduate with- and stated that there is a possibility were passed by York University out completing their degree would of exams being postponed until Senate on Tuesday 16th May, prom- mean the “dumbing down” of next academic year if the dispute is ise to “safeguard academic stan- degrees and would be “very bad for to continue throughout the sum- dards while giving priority to stu- the university”. mer term. A second-year Politics dents interests” by ensuring stu- In a recent press statement, undergraduate, who wished to dents graduate even when they Simon Parker, Vice-President of remain anonymous, said he was cannot sit their exams or have them the York AUT called the decision “deeply worried” by having to sit marked. “concerning”, adding “it is a sad day even more exams in his final year, This will involve students who when the University of York, which adding “this is just added pressure have work missing as a result of justly enjoys a reputation for the which we don’t need, the dispute examinations not being set or quality of its degrees, is prepared to needs to be resolved immediately.” marked still being able to receive harm the reputation and devalue Meanwhile at Manchester their degree on their scheduled the currency of its students.” University some students are being graduation day if at least 7/8ths of However Sue Hardman, University forced to attend exams even though the work is already marked. Academic Registrar, has said that exam papers have not been set as a Students who have less than the the University is “safeguarding aca- requirement for them to pass the required amount will be forced to demic standards and its excellent module. wait until the end of industrial reputation”. Nationally the likelihood of a action before their work can be The move has been supported settlement was reduced last week marked or they can sit exams. by YUSU, which became one of sev- with the University and Colleges However Brian Cantor, York eral SU’s nationwide to criticise the Employers Association’s (UCEA) Vice-Chancellor, said he expected AUT’s methods in negotiations new offer of 12.6% being rejected scheduled exams to go ahead as with employers. SU President unanimously by national AUT rep- advertised. “Students will be Micky Armstrong called the deci- resentatives who called the offer informed by their departmental sion “the best of a bad situation. “unacceptable” and said that “only a offices if there are any changes to “The University is in a very credible offer would be put to the scheduled examinations and awkward position which is the full membership for acceptance.” assessments and planning for grad- result of the AUT’s actions. See page 4-5 for full report Some exams have started to be cancelled. Photo: Ally Carmichael Sponsored by NOUSE :THE UNIVERSITY OF YORK STUDENT NEWSPAPER 2 News Snappy Snaps 23rd May 2006 Student outrage at arms shares By Toby Green of the company. In October Payroll and Pensions EDITOR 2005 Nouse first revealed Manager of the University, THE PEOPLE and Planet that York had 115,000 shares confirmed that the shares in Society has hit out over the in BAE after the information BAE were not brought University’s continued was revealed through the through Schroders. investment in BAE Systems, Freedom of Information Act, Lander has reiterated the third largest arms and York Vision has since the need for the University to exporter in the world. joined the campaign against set its own ethical policy Ric Lander, the Chair of the investments. regarding shares. “The the York Student group, said Since the issue was first University's decision to that the University’s policy is brought to light, the default to Scroder's policy a “complete misnomer” and University has brought over shows a lack of interest and has continued to call for the 30,000 more shares in direct understanding of the issue.” Vice-Chancellor to pull out holdings in the company, He has also stated the which was the result of a need for students to show 1999 merger between British that it is an issue they care Aerospace plc and Marconi, about, and has praised Micky an American-based electron- Armstrong, and the SU for ics company. The University its continued interest. He has previously claimed that it said “I believe a strong show- subjects itself to the ethical ing of student support is policy of the investors needed to make the Schroders plc, through University understand how which it holds over £5 mil- important this issue really is. lion worth of shares in GKN, “I find it difficult to who are involved in automo- understand that Brian tive and aerospace engineer- Cantor knows nothing of this ing. However in an email issue when it has been raised seen by Nouse that was sent in both student papers and to The People and Planet through the Unions proper The UK based BAE Systems plc is the world’s third largest defence contractor Nouse, October 2005 Society, Bill Hemingway, the channels.” Goodricke ignores University’s Fairtrade stance with Nestlé event sponsorship deal By Robin Seaton and the event. Rob Wilson, another Union policy. The Ethical Corporation, the Biscuit, a good thing, it’s always good Kate Smith Nestlé are traditionally Goodricke Ents Rep, said Investment Policy, passed Cake, Chocolate and to explore other options. unpopular on university “Our job is to put on the best last December, stated that Confectionery Association, Many people have worked GOODRICKE COLLEGE’S campuses due to their partic- events we can, with severely the SU would “lobby the and Phil Wells, the former very hard to achieve York’s flagship event, ‘Playboy ularly controversial methods limited resources, not to University to adopt an ethi- director of the Fairtrade Fairtrade University status, Mansion’, is to be sponsored in the 1980s in marketing uphold ethical stances. cal investment policy”. The Foundation. During the and accepting sponsorship by international food giant baby milk formula in the Everyone happily queues up SU has previously been sup- debate, Nestlé’s representa- from a company with a repu- Nestlé, whose Rowntree divi- Third World. to get a Kit-Kat Chunky from portive of the Make Poverty tive was closely questioned tation such as Nestlé’s under- sion is based in York. Their activites provoked the numerous vending History campaign and at one by students about the com- mines this good work”. The event, which will outrage in many quarters, machines between lectures. point resolved to “refuse pany’s commitment to Fairtrade chocolate was take place on Friday week and led to a boycott that is We’re not even giving Nestlé publicity to Coca-Cola, in our Fairtrade, following the provided at a previous five, is being billed as still supported in over 20 any money. It’s just some free publications, at Student introduction of their Goodricke college event by ‘Playboy Mansion: Chocolate countries. chocolate”. Union events, and in our Fairtrade range. the SU, and Bird said that Encore’ with the Nestlé logo Andreas Masoura, one The position taken by buildings”, although this has Molly Bird, the former she believed “the (new) appearing on promotional of Goodricke College’s Goodricke in looking for now been revoked. SU Environment Officer, Environment Officers would material for the event.
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