24/01/02 The University of Surrey Students’ Newspaper www.ussu.co.uk Issue no: 1022 FREE Life after the Greensoc: “Vox Pop” Barearts Womb Convert-a-cup! nope. It’s gone! Cooper Temple Clause p4 p5 p nowhere p6-12 News In Brief Exam Board Makes Mistakes Exam board Edexcel has been harshly criticised this week following serious errors in the handling of AS-level exam- inations. First a question in one exam had the wrong diagram and was hence Not In Our impossible. Then a school received an exam papers with two pages missing and only received the missing pages by fax half an hour before the start, giving teachers little time to photocopy and insert the pages. Many are calling for investigations or the withdrawal of the board's licence. David Hart, head of the NAHT said "If Edexcel have been as incompetent as they appear to have been, I don't see that the government has any Building option other than to sack them as an examining board. The apparent lack of quality assurance and cavalier disregard HRB Guest Arrested On Drugs Charge for the interests of students is breathtak- ing." BY TRISTAN O’DWYER Editor Omagh Bomber Convicted Republic dissident Colm Murphy was A MAN was arrested early on convicted this week of the Omagh bombing in August 1998 which killed Sunday morning in the Helyn Rose twenty eight people in the small Tyrone Bar of the Students’ Union on sus- town. A court in Dublin found him piscion of possession of class A guilty, and it was made clear he was a drugs with intent to supply. long time terrorist with previous convic- The 22 year old man, whose name tions in both Eire and the United States has not been released, was stopped for which he had served prison terms. and had his outer clothing searched The case has been surrounded by contro- by Union doorstaff when they saw versy since the court decided that evi- him acting suspisciously. A lump of dence from two police officers was "fab- ricated" and the defence called for a brown, resin like substance and a retrial. number of small white tablets were found and University Security were STOP PRESS immediately informed. Police attended and arrested the man for questioning. He has since been Fire In Surrey Court released on bail for six weeks Two fire engines were called to attend whilst tests are carried out on the to a fire in Pickard, Surrey Court at 9pm on Tuesday 22nd January. They substances to determine exactly were called after a UniS Security offi- what they are, which is common in man said “I think this sends out a cer saw smoke pouring out of a 3rd all such cases. Exam Paper Blunder floor window. A fireman said the fire It is believed that the man is not a very positive and firm message. was put out in a couple of minutes, student, and was in fact a guest of a The Union has a drugs policy, and and was not very serious, although the student. This is therefore the latest will stick to that policy. Anyone large amounts of smoke made it look in a series of incidents in which caught using or dealing drugs in Could Help Cheats our building will not be tolerated, so. Extractor fans were needed to clear guests have been involved. BY MIKE CHAMBERS blank, genuine University exam be they a student, or a guest.” the smoke. It was thought to be an The man was attending a Correspondant answer papers in great number. A electrical fire. The 1st floor room was Drum’n’bass night organised by Union president, Adam Jakeway, number of the boxes were opened, unoccupied at the time. the Presha society and it is thought pointed out that the Union has dis- and a few booklets had been taken. It Regulars that he may have been on the guest ciplinary procedures for such Last week, you may have picked up looked rather like a 'help yourself' sit- list for the night or possibly a “plus cases, and will now follow them. your copy of Barefacts in the foyer of uation, and evidently people had been News 1-3 one” on the list. It is currently not He also praised the Union’s securi- the Teaching Block, next to a mound helping themselves. As anyone who known what repercussions this ty staff for the handling of the situ- of document boxes stacked neatly has taken exams will know, you are Letters 4 could have for the society. VP ation, saying that once again they over two tables. These boxes arrived issued with answer booklets in which Barearts 6-12 Societies and Culture said “that have shown themselves to act in a there at some point in mid December, to write your answers. They are not Services 14 would be an issue for the discipli- very professional manner. The you may well have seen them, or the ones that provide the questions, Sport 16 nary board. I couldn’t possibly police also praised the security walked right passed them not realis- however should you not feel up to comment.” staff. ing the value of their contents to the revising long and complicated formu- The doorman who searched the effort-minimising student. For these lae, or other problem solving meth- [email protected] boxes, around 20 of them, contained ods, perhaps some cont. page 2 2 News 24/01/02 2 Queen’s Golden Jubilee Celebrations Will Be Flop Editorial Team Editor News is emerging that the Queens Golden rational debate about the whole idea of a monarchy, and whether we should Tristan O’Dwyer Jubilee celebrations (June 1st - 4th... if you have one or not. To many people it is very clear that we should not. Deputy Editor didn’t know... which I didn’t!) are in dan- One area of progress in society has been the slow move away from a class Richard Watts ger of becoming a real flop. “The Times” based hierarchical society to a more meritocratic thing. However such a News and Political Editor reported on Tuesday 22nd January that “ change will never be complete until the monarchy is abolished. The monarchy Reuben Thompson ministers are coming under pressure to only goes to reinforce class. Music Editor subsidise street parties for the Queen’s Monarchy also encourages people to look to the past instead of facing up to Kevin Marston Golden Jubilee amid fears that costly the present and looking to the future. Enoch Powell used to say that the Film Editor bureaucracy will turn the event into a flop. monarch's head on coins was a 1,000-year-old symbol of national sovereign- Navroop Sehmi Even in royal boroughs and towns only a ty. Sports Editor handful of parties have Possibly the biggest objection to the monarchy Dave Chapman Tristan O’Dwyer been planned. Across the however has to be the whole idea of the heredi- Production Editor country tales abound of We should remember tary system. The fact that you hold a higher place Vacant Editorial apathy and indecision.” that this country is a in society simply because you share the same Features Editor It goes on to add that blood as someone is an idea that should have Vacant organisers are being asked to pay £150 public liability insur- democracy, and we been ditched centuries ago. The argument that Arts Editor ance, as well as obtaining planning permission to close should act like one. you will be better at a job is you’ve had your Vacant streets down, adding a further £150 to the bill. whole life to train for it holds no water. If that The question we should be asking ourselves however, is were the case, why don’t we extend it to the rest Contributors what is the real reason the celebrations aren’t going to be big? Are we really of society. If your father was a pilot, then you should be a pilot because you Jana Kristensen to believe that the reason that we will not have millions on the streets like in will be able to learn how to fly from birth. The fact that you may be blind does- Emma Van Huysse 1977 is because it costs a little more to hold parties? The answer is most like- n’t come into the equation. Fair enough, the analogy may be slightly exager- James Buller ly no. The real reason that we will not celebrate as much is because people are ated, but it goes to show how ridiculous as an idea the hereditary principle is. Kathy Marshall beginning to realise that there’s not much to celebrate. More and more people We should remember that this country is a democracy, and we should act like are starting to question the monarchy and its very existance, and that is a good one. It’s an embarrasment to see that great meritocrat, Tony Blair, have to go [email protected] thing. to Buckingham Palace to ask the Queen if he can form a Government. The barefacts is an editorially independent newspaper, pub- No doubt we will soon be deluged with articles in the more traditionalist very fact that it is referred to as Her Majesty’s Government is an insult to the lished by the University of Surrey Students' Union papers (the Daily Mail etc...) saying how wonderful the Queen Mother is (des- people of this country, who elect that very government. Communications Office.