WCffTVX! COPf STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE WEDNESDAY, 25th JANUARY, 1984 No. 701 Price 10p Student poll reveals startling facts . Hall catering under attack KEEP POLITICS at meeting One might assume from the low turnout to the General Meeting on accommodation that everyone is happy with both university and private accommodation facilities. OUT OF IT! However, the comments from the 56 people who did turn up were far from complimentary. A poll of students at Newcastle University shows that a large majority believe that General Meet­Although the meeting was inquorate there was no problem ings should concentrate on “ purely student issues” and that membership of the National making the discussion last the full hour, with complaints being Union of Students should be a decision taken by the individual and not by Student Unions. centred on the Halls of Residence and Castle Leazes in particular. This information comes When asked: “Should member­ that their grant is “adequate”. voters, but this might explain the Out of a debate which centred ship of N.U.S. be voluntary?”, This may reflect the fact that the extraordinary difference between around the price of living in Hall from the results of a poll 78% said yes and 20% said it respondents were mainly First this poll and the national average and the facilities provided came a carried out by Conserva­ should be compulsory. If this is Years and have not yet run out of for the Labour ‘vote’. practically unanimous agreement looked at in conjunction with the money, or that the answer comes that meal vouchers should be tive students (F.C.S.). Lastly, unemployment was *When asked: “Do you question: “Do you think there are from people who are becoming introduced by the University. any advantages, benefits of accustomed to hard times. overwhelmingly named as the The basis for the idea is that think that the issues discus­ facilities gained from our mem­ most important national issue vouchers should be available (63.4%), with defence second sed at General Meetings bership of N.U.S.?” — to which either weekly or monthly so that When asked who they would (15.6%) and a host of subjects should be mostly political 28.5% said yes, 56.5% said no, vote for it there were to be a students and University Catering and 28% said they didn’t know — sharing the remaining 21% (7.5% can plan ahead so saving money or related purely to student General Election next week, didn't know). Katy Collings, issues?”, 70% thought then it must be deduced that 42.2% said Conservative, 18% and cutting out waste. A further N.U.S. does not have a good said Alliance, 13.3% said Labour, *The poll took place in December suggestion was that students in Accommodation Officer purely student, 3.7% Halls could be required to buy a image with Newcastle students. 10.7% would not reply, and 1983 and surveyed 194 students management with a guaranteed thought mostly political 15.8% said they didn't know. It in Halls o f Residence. proportion of the term's vouchers in advance, say 33%, and then block of money to stabilise the and 25.6% though there Possibly a surprising result was may be presumptuous to say that system and cut out a heavy cash that 49.5% of students believe the "no replies” may be Labour Tony Hay. buy extra tickets as necessary. should be a balance. This would provide the catering flow during the term. Tony Hay Late night bus 4 star treatment for academics The Senior Common Room, along with brass fittings and soft light­ with the Postgraduate Common ing. Before the move Ger­ iei*y!ce scrapped man/Scandinavian students and Room have moved from the Bar- The more central position of Spanish students took their coffee that the several hundred loss of the mini-bus service will be ras Bridge building to the circular the S.C.R. will be a distinct The late night mini-bus ‘old Library’. advantage, and the S.C.R. Com­ in the large common room on pounds it would cost to run partly compensated for by other level 6 of the Claremont Tower, service which was to run to facilities which will be open to The move has cost several mittee are obviously trying to lure take students home from the mini-bus throughout the lecturers away from their but they are now forced to use a students (particularly unaccom­ hundred thousand pounds and has much smaller room on level 3 in the Union on weekends has the year can be put to bet­ panied women) who may have caused s6me controversy, for the usual lunch-time haunts. Perhaps though, through its the Old Library. been withdrawn. The Wel­ ter use. problems getting home late at Postgraduate Common Room has The Spanish students have night. benefited little from the move. modernisation, the new S.C.R. fare Officer, Dominic Grin- The Welfare Officer agreed has lost its old intellectual atmos­ occupied the new area, however There will be personal alarms The Senior Common Room, the Head of Department has stead, said it was with that the expenditure would be available on loan from the Por­ phere, thereby being more suited value for money even if it pre­ however, located on Level 2, to a new generation of intellectu­ ruled that Spanish must share “ great regret” that the ter’s Lodge, as well as the facility promises to draw the teaching with German/Scandanavian stu­ decision to stop the service vented one attack, but he claimed for students who are short of cash als. The older variety of which that lack of support, particularly staff to dine in comfort for what prefer not to sit in a golden and dents. after a hard night’s socialising to used to be a rather dingy room Whilst the alliance are fairly was taken, but pointed out from the Women’s Group, has led borrow money for a taxi. Less ivory sanctums, but keep faith in that on some weekends only to the situation where it was no has been transformed into a four their own ideal of an ivory tower, happy with this outcome there are immediately, a Women’s Self star luxury dining hall. still some misgivings among G er­ 4-5 people were using it. longer viable to spend such large Defence course is available, free and to their old, well-worn sums of money on the protection The area is split into 2 levels, haunts. man and Scandinavian students The Executive now believe of charge, to anyone interested. about having to walk two floors of so few. He believes that the Jerry Cooke. the top gallery is a coffee area, Meanwhile whilst staff are whilst the lower level is desig­ happy with their new spacious for a cup of coffee. As with all nated for diners. Large troughs surroundings, an inter departmen­ things European a poor com­ with plants partition off the two tal war has broken out in the promise was the only possible areas which are both decorated Modern Languages Department. outcome. Students fight Marika Graham Sir Keith fine Contrasting Conditions The fight by Warwick University University services which cost an Students’ Union to reverse the General Meeting by 406 votes to estimated £20,000 and managed .250. £30,000 fine imposed on it by to persuade some Trade Union Warwick University is gaining organisations not to use Warwick Negotiations continue but it greater momentum. as a Conference Centre. appears that the University will The fine was made because The boycott of services and a be forced to retreat in the face of some people amongst a crowd of student anger at a fine which was student demonstrators damaged proposed rent strike were then stopped so that negotiations could reactionary and short-sighted. Joe Sir Keith Joseph’s car and jostled Carlebach (Union President) him. The union denied responsi­ be entered into with the Univer­ sity authorities. The Union summed up the situation when he bility for the few who marred a stated that the Warwick Execu­ Executive managed to reach a ieaceful demonstration and sent tive was right “in condemning the fetters of apology to all con­ concensus with the University treatment of Sir Keith Joseph, but cerned. However, the University over future conduct by both sides — that demonstrations would be the University acted entirely decided to punish all of War­ irresponsibly in penalising every kept in order and that the Union wick's students for the actions of single student in Warwick for the a few. would not have its finances cut in actions of a few” . Before Christmas Warwick mid-year — but the deal has been Union organised a boycott of rejected by Warwick students at a Tony Hay. The Foreign Languages Common room The teaching staffs common room NEWCASTLE'S ONLY POSTER SHOP AND THE ONLY POSTER SHOP IN THE WORLD WITH OVER 6000 TITLES IN STOGK. POP. ROCK, ART, HUMOR, BIKES, ETC. SCARVES £1.30 0ver2000 sew All this and lots Arcadia on patches 50p TO £2.50. Different GREETINGS CARDS without more only 250 metres greetings. 3000 BADGES 20p TO £1.00 also badge making service. from this Union OFF PERCY STREET STUDDED LEATHERWEAR, VIDEOS, JUKE BOX, PIN BALLS, Six Days 9.30 to 5.30 T-SHIRTS. VIZ COMICS. THE COURIER Wednesday, 25th January, 1984 Medics face S.C.A.N. buys Editorial alienation Student Officers are doing their Union via a telephone to answer queries on clubs, societies and a Mercedes best to get a foot in the door of the Just as last terms first editorial opened with a plea fornew Medical School with a request events etc., and would be manned S.C.A.N.