Thursday 18 March 2004 Published by the USSU Communications Office issue number 1079 barefTHE UNIVERSITYaa OF SURREYcts STUDENTS’ NEWSPAPER IN THIS WEEK ’ S PAPER DATE RAPE DRUGS SUPPORT & REPRESENT A Surrey student recounts Vice President Education & BF INTRODUCES... | PC Jon Carver, Park her experience of drink Welfare Claire Iles brings you Barn’s local bobby on the beat | page 5 spiking, and shows how 2 pages on just what the Welfare COMMUNICATE | barefacts brings you the new 1350AM GU2 schedule | page 9 you can stop yourself and Representation Unit at USSU ENTRA TERRESTRIAL | 19 top films on TV in becoming a victim too. can do for you right now. the coming week | page 19 Mind your Drink | page 8 Union | page 10 Students Show Anger at NUS BY CHRIS WARD & SARAH BUTTERWORTH current situation and other services on offer EDITOR & EDITOR IN CHIEF from the NUS by passing a motion at their recent Union Council to disaffiliate from STUDENTS’ UNIONS FROM around the country the organisation. Exeter University are also have been angered by the NUS’ decision considering removing their affiliation with to support the Association of University NUS. Teachers in the recent lecturer strike action. With around 40% of academic staff at Students are infuriated that an agreement Surrey being members of the AUT, Students was signed by NUS in support of the strikes, are also already feeling the effect of these despite the fact that many students have strikes. Many final years have already been heavily affected by the action. Many started showing their displeasure at the lack are worried that they will not graduate this of coursework being returned, something year, as following a ballot of members, the which is already having an impact on the AUT has decided that member lecturers studies of many students. Questions are should carry out a ‘working to rule’ until being asked as to whether students can the UCEA (The Universities and Colleges really expect their graduation ceremonies, Employers Association) come back to the which are planned to take place on June negotiating table. In layman’s terms, this 17th and 18th, to take place. has meant that many lecturers have stopped At a recent meeting of the Union Executive marking coursework submitted by students, the topic of NUS affiliation was discussed Drug Theft from Hospital with a substantial backlock already building at length. USSU Currently spends £30,000 up over the past three weeks of action. a year on being a member of the National BY CLAIRE ILES in our own Students’ Union on Friday night The blind agreement of support from Union of Students’. One of the benefits of only serves to underline the importance of NUS has forced many students to consider NUS membership commonly mentioned A SERIOUS THEFT from the Royal Surrey ensuring that you keep your drink with you whether or not NUS actually is in touch is the training offered to Sabbatical and County Hospital on Wednesday 10th March at all times. Even with the building being with the people they represent, some to Executive Officers, principally over the has provoked a public warning. The items draped with 250 balloons and numerous the extent that their Unions are considering Summer. However, a lesser known fact is targeted in the theft were a selection of five posters warning of the dangers of spiking, disaffiliating from the National Union of that each 3 or 4 day training course costs different types of drugs, including opiates, five student volunteers still managed to place Students. in excess of £300 per person, on top of the which have in the past been used to spike a sticker on over 600 unattended drinks, Students from University College London affiliation fee. people’s drinks. with very few reports of students noticing have been told that the marking of their The Executive are currently looking into The Police were informed about the theft these actions. Hopefully the ease at which French and Italian coursework will be the benefits currently offered by NUS, as immediately and warned that if the drugs large numbers of students were targeted and delayed this year, and that they will not well as all the services we currently receive. were not taken under medical supervision, the local warning will only emphasise the be given exam classifications in time for In 2003 students at Surrey voted with a 90% they could be extremely dangerous. They dangers of drink spiking to Surrey students. graduation in June. The Education and majority to remain a member organisation also stated that “There is concern that the One student who worked with USSU to Welfare sabbatical at UCL, Alex Coles, of the NUS, but when questioned, the drugs could be used to spike drinks and coordinate the campaign said “Overall I stated that “the NUS, because they don’t 10% discount at shops such as Top Man everyone drinking in pubs and clubs is think the campaign went extremely well, have their own students and don’t have and HMV was cited as the main reason for reminded to be aware of such dangers and to and we hope that we were able to prevent to deal with individuals, have neglected voting in support. However, Unions such as keep an eye on their drinks at all times.” at least one person from falling prey to this this issue. If they don’t reconsider we will Southampton who have already disaffiliated However, it is not just in public bars that new danger which is increasingly prevalent consider our affiliated status to them.” have had little problem in negotiating similar you have to be aware of drink spiking, a in our society. We also hope that it has raised Similarly, Bristol University have registered or better deals with shops in the locality of recent study in Australia found that although awareness amongst ‘spikers’ that steps their annoyance at the NUS’ decision. The the University 70 per cent of drink spiking related reports are being taken against them.” The latter President of their Union told the press: “We The future of USSU’s affiliation to the were in nightclubs, bars, pubs, the other comment is reinforced by the University will support AUT’s goals, but not their National Union of Students could feasibly 30 per cent were in private areas, either at who have stated that if any student is caught actions. The dispute is not just continuing, be brought into question at the next Union private functions or inside residences,” spiking an individual’s drink they will be it’s hotting up”. However, Bristol Union Council, where every student can have their The recent awareness-raising event held ask to leave the University. has already shown its unhappiness at the say on this contentious topic. Letters | page 3 RAG Week | page 6 Ents | centre Sports | page 27 2 NEWS 18 March 2004 EDITORIAL TEAM 2003-4 Costly Vandalism at USSU Editor in Chief Sarah Butterworth Union budgets suffer after repeated vandalism in the Students’ Union building comms forces constant repairs to be carried out. @ussu.co.uk BY SARAH BUTTERWORTH The Union also owns a fl eet of minibuses, Editor EDITOR IN CHIEF which are used regularly by societies and Chris Ward sports clubs travelling to carry out their cs21cw ON THURSDAY LAST week the men’s toilet in activities. However, these buses are regularly @surrey.ac.uk Chancellor’s Restaurant suffered the latest discovered with signifi cant amounts of in a spate of vandalism incidents in the damage to them which has not been reported Deputy Editor Students’ Union building. This is the second at the time of damage. This year the cost of Neil Christie time in the last six weeks that the Union has minibus repairs has run into thousands of ms33nc been a victim of this mindless vandalism, pounds, and also has the effect of increasing @surrey.ac.uk with the same toilets being smashed up the Union’s insurance premium. during February, calling for a lengthy Other items of Union equipment, such as Deputy Editor closure period. The repairs to the toilets the Oscar Film Unit’s video camera, have Ben Berryman the channie’s toilets, minus the vandailsed basin have set the Union back over £1000, leaving also been discovered with costly amounts of photo: chris hunter ma91bb a signifi cant dent in the budgets for this damage done to them. @surrey.ac.uk year. In addition, the poster display boxes Bob Anderson, the General Manager of the located in the toilets have been repeatedly Students’ Union has urged students to think Music Editor vandalised over the past few months. twice before committing acts of vandalism, Chambers Matt Badcock Each bit of money that is spent repairing or which often take place when students are ms01mb replacing items of Union property damaged under the effect of alcohol. “What may @surrey.ac.uk by vandals is money that is taken away from seem like a bit of fun at the time can cost societies, clubs or amenities, or even money the Union signifi cant amounts of money Steps Down that could go towards stopping the rise in to fi x, taking money away from you, the Music Editor IT HAS BEEN announced in a press release from Jon Allen drinks prices. students.” Michael Chambers that he will be standing bs21ja down as Chairman of the Conservative @surrey.ac.uk Society and will not be running for re- election at the next AGM. The press release Film Editor detailed that Michael has decided it is time Neil Boulton Minister Visits UniS to “move on”, and that he wishes to put more time and resources into both academic cs21nb BY MICHAEL CHAMBERS claim that the introduction of top-up fees progress and his fashion design business.