Besma Ayari

Let’s do it the higher education way

Besma Ayari News
Vice Chancellor talks to students

An important debate has taken place in the LPAC building on the University of Lincoln campus. The debate which was styled in a ‘Question Time’ format was held by Vice Chancellor Mary Stewart.

The debate was organised after students occupied a room in the University of Lincoln for several weeks, in protest at the rise in tuition fees. The occupation ended after they spoke to Mary Stuart, the university’s vice chancellor.

Along with Professor Stuart the panel members were: Chris Charnley, president of Lincoln’s Student Union; Jack Dobson, a journalism student and a representative of the Lincoln occupation group; and Richard Keeble, a lecturer at the University who was acting as head of the Lincoln School of Journalism.

The debate started with each panel member giving a five minute speech followed by answering pre-submitted questions.

Chris started the debate off explaining the importance of fighting the cuts; he declared the Student Unions view on it is clear.

Professor Keeble talked about the importance of taking action; he suggested a more political approach.

Jack Dobson spoke about the significance of unity in this fight against cuts, he wants a unified Lincoln University to fight against the rising tuition fees.

The vice chancellor was passionate and explained cuts have already taken place, and that we should now ‘look at the facts’.

The discussion continued while questions were being answered.

Richard Keeble added: “It is difficult for universities to help disadvantaged students; this is a serious disadvantage. In most European countries you don’t pay or pay a lot less for tuition fees. Students will go away from England and will study on the continent; there is little incentive for them to stay here.”

The Student Union’s president Chris Charnley concentrated on students expecting ‘a higher quality service’ because they are paying ₤9,000 a year in comparison to a student who paid ₤3,000 a year.

He said: “We need to ensure these students who are paying more can expect more as well.” He added “We should embrace it as an opportunity to provide this.”

The vice chancellor gave a passionate speech about the importance of higher education. She declared that there is a group of vice chancellors who are concerned about the cuts that are coming.

She said: “The state has paid for your education and if you don’t pay it back, jolly good they should pay!

She continued: “We are clever people, let’s be clever, let’s do it the higher education way”.

The vice chancellor is suggesting a new campaign, where the media should be shown another image of the anti-cuts movement.

She finished with asking: “Are you with me?”

Students hit the roof in housing row

Besma Ayari News

Pavillions student accomedation is booked out.

“It feels like the University has betrayed us”.


Chris Goss, Journalism student

The University of Lincoln has been severely criticized by students in the last few weeks. After announcing that they would reserve up to 700 rooms in approved student accommodation, “The Pavilions” students feel left out in the cold by their University.

Chris Goss, a second year Journalism student said: “I live at the Pavilions now, and I would have liked to continue living there for my third year. But this is as of now not possible because the University has reserved all the rooms for first year students.

Chris said he feels its “unfair” to second and third students who would like the security of a room as well. It feels like the University has betrayed us”.

Chris added that the University should have announced earlier that they would be “reserving” the rooms for first years, he said: “I would have had more of a chance to find a room in time if the University told me that they would book out Pavilions.

Chris is not the only student desperately searching for a room for the next school year. Students reacted to the announcement by starting the facebook page: ‘Pavs Stole My Home’.

The creator of the page, calling themselves “Pavs sold my home” on facebook started the page with the following statement: “Pavs sold all the d**n rooms without a single warning to their loyal customers; awful! Here’s a page to yuck it up and spread the word about alternative arrangements.

Already a few opportunities inside. Spread the word to all those forgotten, tossed aside and affected by Pavs’ big, dumb f*** up.

The University has responded to the outrage by saying: “It is, unfortunately, impossible for every student to be accommodated in these developments, as the University’s full-time higher education population in Lincoln is more than twice this number at around 8,100”.

The University explained their reasoning and said that: “In common with the majority of universities in the UK, the University of Lincoln seeks to prioritise the allocation of student accommodation to new entrant students. The expected number of new students on the Brayford campus from September 2011 is several hundred higher than was the case in 2010.”

Lenora Caton a third year Business and Marketing student who lived in Pavilions in her first year said: “I think it’s ridiculous that Pavilions is booked out, if I was not graduating this year I would be upset as well. What about the students who want to have a room for themselves? Pavilions is almost the only option for them”.

The University said that in the future they would review its student accommodation strategy to ensure that the availability of high quality student accommodation continues to be in line with our ambitious plans.”