BRO"'N THE University ' rgh, Old College South Bridge, Edinburgh EH8 9YL STATIONERS Tel: 031-6671011 ext4308 WE'RE BETTER 13 February-1 March EXHIBITION CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE 20 Nicolson Street Edinburgh EHS 9DH (University Torrie Collection still on show) 031-667 8844: 668 3804 Tues-Fri 10 am-5 pm Admission Free Subsidised by the Scottish Arts Council Legal, Commercial, Edueational & Social Thursday, February 9, 1989 20p MAXWELL Student is marking National Aids THE DAVIES Awareness Week (11-18 Feb) .SHAMEN talks to by giving away 1 free condom Interview and Student, with every issue of the paper. Review page 10. Thanks to Mates Health Care for their p~ge 7. co-operation. Plus 8-page Arts supplement • Senior official claims Government loans scheme is "misconceived" 's ~· oans entitlement to social security by Katka Krosnar Education and Science's assump· tion of a I 0 per cent default means benefits, pointing out that the 'FHE Government are facing that non-repayment of loans projected £65 million savings in 1990/91 are "paltry" in compari­ their most serious setback to would be condoned. A further fault lies in the initial increase in son to the social security budget of date in their attempts to public expenditure necessitated £48 billion. introduce a student loans by the scheme. Mr Johnson's The Government's declared scheme. underlying criticism of the Gov­ aim - "to reduce the students' A senior bank official has this ernment's proposals is that "the dependency" - is, according to week attacked the Governmen(<; administration of the scheme has Mr Johnson, "misconceived, proposals. Mr Christopher not been fully worked out"_ since most students are bound to Johnson, Chief Economics The bulletin mentions defects depend on someone other than Adviser with Lloyd's Bank, pub­ which have come to light in the themselves for finance, and there lished his criticisms in the bank's· administration of loan schemes should be no disgrace in getting Economic Bulletin on Monday_ introduced elsewhere. In West modest sums from social security. He told Student that his major Germany, for instance, students Housing benefit is particularly objection to the scheme was that it have taken to working their way well targeted to cope with the had not been properly worked through college, hence taking wide variations across the country out longer to complete their degrees. in student lodging costs." Commenting on Mr Johnson's Above: Ludovic Kennedy at the debate. Photo: Hugh Pinney The bulletin states that the "T_his is exactly what the UK White Paper comes at a time when should seek to avoid, at a time proposals, a spokesperson for the GLASGOW'S Dialectics beat Edinburgh Diagnostics in the "the average gross grant has fallen · when a shortage in the supply of Department of Education and Science said: "Education Minis­ first-ever meeting of the two ancient debating societies. by 20 per cent in real terms" since graduates is developing." 1978/9. "It is time to recognise ters will look at the comments Mr The teams debated the motion "This House would block the Mr Johnson proposes an alter· that students have had a poor Channel Tunnel" and the occasion was organised in memory of native scheme whereby parental Johnson has made and_ what h_e deaL" The grants cuts have "in Michael Lockwood, the previous President of the Diagnostics who contributions would be "re- has to say and these will contn· many cases adversely affected the died tragically last year. ' placed" by commercial bank loans bute to the debate." He added, quality of their education and to parents, backed up by a "last however, that "th~ amount of t~e Lord Cameron of Loch broom, who chaired the distinguished panel their lives"_ of judges, said that he had enjoyed the speakers "most witty resort facility" allowing a number loans and the ~?stc structure wtll The White Paper's aim, Mr presentation" and that the decision as to which team deserved the of Goveni'ment loans to students not be changed - Johnson states, "appears to be to Michael Lockwood Challenge Quaich had been debated almost as who need additional finance. He . The Government is currently restore the student grant to its real fiercely as the motion. advocates an 18 per cent increase ·· involved in ne~otiati_on~ ~ith level in 1978/9". He criticises, Sources close to the panel reported that it was split evenly between in the statutory award, and the tax· ~anks and other fman~m_Imstttu- however, the manner in which the the teams and that Lord Cameron, as chair, had used his casting vote. - relief for parents on loans to cover twns on how to admtms_ter the Government have attempted to Speaking to Student later at the champagne reception, he agreed their stipulated contributions. scheme. The co-operatton of promote this aim. The top-up loans to students these organisations is vital to the that he had been very conscious of being a former President of the Access to higher education, the would cover those whose parents succes~ of the proposals, an? one ~iagnostics. He said: "There's nothing worse than having to pass bulletin points out, might be dis­ were unable or unwilling to tssues for dtscus· Judgement when your impartiality is questioned even bet·ore you ~f th~ 1mpo~tant couraged by the Government's finance them. This scheme, he SIOn ts the stze of the fee the Gov­ speak." proposed scheme of student . states would cost the taxpayer ernment are prepared to pay the George Sitwell, current President of the Diagnostics, who loans. This would be true particu· · less than the Government's prop- banks for administration. Mr organised the event, said that he hoped it would become an annual larly in the case of the economi­ osals. Johnson, however, is criticaL meeting. He said that money raised through sponsorship and cally disadvantaged. Students "Even if the Government pay donations would be used to subsidise wine at future Diagnostics' would also be encouraged to get He also criticises strongly the the banks a fee," he told Student, events and might go towards the cost of next year's debate. Full report proposed withdrawal -of students' "I still think it is a bad scheme .. , inside. into debt, and the Department of 2 Thursday, February 9, 1989 NEWS STUDENT Alternative Sermon on Careers Sex Maany people try to use sex to fill by Martin Crowther "God made us by choice sexual beings," Mrs Rankin continued. the emptiness in their lives, but "sex cannot stand the strain of giv­ However, it is only right in God's ing meaning to life," she con­ LAST Friday lunchtime Mrs eyes when carried out within mar­ cluded. There must be a spiritual Stella Rankin, Christian riage. dimension. preacher, schoolteacher and There were, she argued, six Fifthly, she identified a need for mother of four children told a steps to "maximum sex"; not getting back into a proper wide eyed Teviot audience, tially, we must recognise that sex relationship with God, and, lastly is indeed a great and a good gift. for getting into a "right" relation­ from personal experience, Secondly, we should understand how best to enjoy the delights ship with your partner. Above all, that such a relationship is vulnera­ the presence of a forgiving of "maximum sex". ble and needs protection. Thirdly, attitude in a relationship was high­ "Maximum Sex" was, she said that "harmful" sexual activities lighted as an essential component "the ability to achieve maximum such as pre-marital sex and in its long term success, without satisfaction through sex." Not, homosexuality are to be avoided. which many relationships found­ she added, "to have sex Mrs Rankin acknowledged that erect. the maximum number of times." · this is difficult due to the existence Anone wishing to do that of what she called "pleasant phys­ Stella Ran kin's address was one ical temptations." of a series given last week as part shouldn't be here, but be THI6 year's Alternative Building Society, Friends of the of the Christian Union organised Earth, the International Volun­ Next, she urged those present Careers Fair will take olace in engaged elsewhere. to "get sex into proportion." "Big Question" event. the Chaplaincy Centre, on ary Service and Tradecraft. The Wednesday 15th February. It event is to be opened by Richard Crane, author of Running the runs from midday until5 pm, and is designed as an alterna­ Himalayas and Bicycles up tive to the Careers Service's Kilimanjaro. Talks will be given Principal issues glossy by some of the organisations tak­ Milk Round. Last year it was ing part, and a "bumper package" very well attended. Amongst those taking part in of alternative careers will be the Fair this year are the Ecology suggested to all those attending. University review THE latest initiative from the tainties in higher education. widely recognised -for example Principal's office is a glossy But he warns of the difficulties in a recent review the Earth Sci­ company-report style annual ahead, as the University works to ences were described as among reduce its deficit through the plan­ the best in the country. review of the University. ned loss of around 170 staff. He is Writes Sir David: "This is the also critical of suggestions for full Elsewhere in the annual report, first annual report which I present cost tuition fees, a system which which has a completely new for­ as Principal of the University. It he says "would abandon the con­ mat this year, the University "sets appears in a changed format as cept of free higher education" and the record straight on student part of our continuing initiative to which comes at a time when there admissions", a guide to the princi­ develop the style and substance of is a demand for a higher propor­ ples and practice of under­ FOLLOWING the success ot will be on sale at desks at Potter­ our communications, both with its first club at Coasters in row (Thursday and Friday) and tion of the workforce to be edu­ graduate entry; there is a review the public at large and, particu­ cated to graduate level.