Glasgow University 10th February 2009 Scottish Student Newspaper of the Year Folk Maestros Vintage classics Oisin Kealy and Lewis Porteous on Eleanor Mitchell promotes individual the highlights of Celtic Connections style over copycat chic Music Lifestyle Glasgow Uni occupied by Police fail activists George Binning A SERIES OF STUDENT-DRIVEN to advise protests and occupations in aid of Gaza have prompted drastic action by universities across Scotland. On Wednesday February 4 students of Strathclyde University of attackSarah Smith First-year English Literature staged an occupation of Strathclyde’s Exclusive student, Becky Sharp, told Guardian registry and on Sunday January 25 why she feels it is important for the the Stop the War Coalition (SWC) police and the University to notify and Scottish Palestinian Solidarity THE RESIDENTS OF MURANO students when attacks like this occur. Campaign (SPSC) also staged an Street Student Village were shocked She said: “I think it was irrespon- occupation of the BBC headquarters to learn this week that they had sible for them to not alert the Murano in Glasgow. not been informed of an attack Street residents of the attack as it is Today 10 February around 30 which took place close to one of its important that we know of the threats students of Glasgow University main entrances. that surround the area. were continuing their occupa- A 29-year old woman was inde- “I have, so far, been quite casual tion of the Computing Department cently assaulted whilst walking over about being alone and in the area of the University. The occupation the canal footbridge in the early late at night, and hearing about the was a response to the events of hours of Saturday January 31. The attack makes me feel more suscep- last Thursday when students associ- assailant has not yet been caught tible to the danger and more likely to ated with the SWC marched on the and the police have issued an appeal be cautious. Principal’s office with their demands for witnesses. “It is important to give the attached to two petitions. Despite this, the students living students that awareness so that they The first set of demands, supported at Murano Street were not contacted can make a more informed choice by 560 signatures, requested that about the incident, nor were they about wandering around the area at the University publicly condemn the warned about the fact that a poten- all times.” BBC’s actions concerning the DEC tially dangerous man was known to Another Murano resident, Rachel appeal, that the appeal be publicised be in the area. Mitchell, explained that what was around campus and the University’s Guardian spoke to a number of especially concerning was that the website, also that a collection day students who expressed concern attack took place right next to one of for Gaza be organized. Their second about the lack of information given Murano Street’s main entrances. petition, with 350 signatories, to them. (Continued on page 4) Protesters take to the roof of the Computing Department in solidarity with Palestine (Continued on page 5) Scottish principals receive 10% pay rise GLASGOW UNIVERSITY’S PRINCIPAL, Craig MacLellan The increases will see an additional However, the Scottish Government has Sir Muir Russell, received a pay increase £255,000 taken from Scotland’s higher educa- announced that the figure would rise by only almost four times the rate of inflation last lecturers have seen their pay rise by only 5% tion budget, with the total paid out to principals £30 million. year, making him the highest paid university during the same period. now topping £3m for the first time. Recent research has also shown that English principal in Scotland. Guardian recently discovered that graduate This comes at a time when the higher universities, who already have the advantage Sir Muir, who is due to step down from teaching assistants at the University of Glasgow education sector is dealing with the tightest of top-up fees, are increasing their share of his position in October, received a pay rise of have not recieved a salary increase since 2002 settlement since devolution. research funding. 12.1%, increasing his salary from £205,000 in and, in some cases, may be earning less than In the budget settlement of November 2007, Glasgow University defended the decision 2007 to £230,000 in 2008. When pensions are the national minimum wage. Universities Scotland, the body responsible for to increase the principle’s salary, stating that the included, the figure rises to £262,000. There are meetings planned to address this representing and promoting Scotland’s higher pay rise is related to performance and reflects University principals across Scotland saw situation, but it is unlikely that any increase in education sector, had asked for an increase of the University’s recent success. their salaries rise by an average of 10%, while pay will be as high as 12.1%. £168 million over three years. (Continued on page 3) 2 NEWS [email protected] 10th February 2009 Number of student enrolments down Student survives wall Ross Mathers collapse at Kelvin Hall THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ENROLLING News Staff in hospital overnight. He was discharged the in Scottish higher education institutions has following day with minor injuries to his arm fallen, according to new figures. A MEMBER OF GLASGOW UNIVERSITY’S and stitches in his knee. The Higher Education Statistics Agency basketball team made a ‘miracle’ escape after MacLaren recalled the team’s reaction and recently published a report showing that the being crushed by a falling wall in the Kelvin expressed amazement at Astromkas’ escape. number of students enrolling in Scottish univer- Hall International Sports Arena last week. He said: “The way the debris fell it was sities, and some colleges, had fallen by 2 per On February 4, Glasgow student Vytautuas a miracle no bones were broken. The whole cent in 2007-08. Astromkas was trapped by the falling rubble team went up to the hospital, to give him a bit The number of enrolments in Scotland after the entire backboard came loose bringing of support. He’s a good player who regularly stood at 210,180 last year with a 2 per cent the wall with it. The accident took place while features in our 1st team.” decrease in full-time enrolments and a 3 per the University’s team was warming up for a MacLaren also confirmed that Astromkas cent decrease for part-time enrolments. match against Caledonian University, during was up and walking again, and anxious to get While the figures for Northern Ireland and the inter-university Glasgow Cup. back to training. Wales show similar declines, the number of Douglas MacLaren, captain of the Glasgow The collapse took place on the internal enrolments in English higher education institu- University Men’s Basketball Club, witnessed wall of court three and has raised serious tions has increased. the accident from on-court. concerns as to the safety of the Kelvin Hall. An The government has been quick to He told Guardian: “As he dunked the investigation into the incident by Health and blame the trend on the previous Labour basketball, the inner wall started to peel away, Safety is underway. government, which held power in Scotland then the backboard and a lot of masonry came A spokesperson for the Kelvin Hall from 1999-2007. down. Luckily the backboard took the brunt International Sports Arena said: “Due to the Speaking to Guardian, a spokesperson for of it.” accident and ongoing investigation the use of the Scottish Government said: “The bulk of Paramedics swiftly arrived at the scene and the court has been suspended.” students covered by these figures applied to go were able to free Astromkas from the wreckage. On Sunday the hall was opened again to to university under the previous administration, Jim Wilson He was taken to the Western Infirmary and kept host the Scottish Rocks match. before the improved student support introduced by this administration and before the abolition of the graduate endowment fee.” Claire Baker, Labour’s education spokes- person, has been criticised for “scoring an Landmark stem cell trial at Glasgow own-goal” after referring to the new figures as Sarah Smith Dr. Keith Muir, the Principal Investigator research in particular. “a very worrying development indeed.” for the trial, explained to Guardian how impor- Father John Keenan, Glasgow University’s A spokesperson for Claire Baker, RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF tant this preliminary research is to the develop- Catholic chaplain, told Guardian that although speaking to Guardian, claimed the decrease in Glasgow have been granted approval to begin a ment of improved care for stroke patients. Catholicism opposes embryonic research they 2007-08 was the result of the first year of an trial involving stem cell therapy to treat victims He said: “It will be the first time that stem were in support of adult stem cell research. SNP government. of stroke. cells are used as a potential treatment for stroke He said: “We draw a fundamental distinc- He said: “The HESA stats show that for The UK Medicines and Healthcare Products by delivering them directly into the brain. tion between embryonic stem cell research the first time in years the numbers of students Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have given their “If the trial establishes that the treatment is and adult stem cell research. We are always at Scottish universities actually dropped. This permission for Glasgow University, together safe then there can be further trials to establish asking the media to make that distinction. We is for 2007/08, the first year of the SNP with the ReNeuron Group plc, to begin a the effectiveness of the treatment.” are against is embryonic research, that is to say, Government and the first year of the abolition clinical trial to investigate the use of stem cells Although the trial has been approved by the you creating human embryo and the purpose of of the graduate endowment.” in the treatment of ishaemic stroke, the most MHRA, it must also receive ethical approval creating that embryo is to harvest stem cells, The Scottish Government, however, have common form of the condition.