In this issue: Investigations • Online Society Elections Thwarted • Mazzig Returns • UCL’s White Christmas Issue 60 – Spring 2018 cheesegratermagazine.org
Humour • An Excerpt from Theresa May’s diary • George Farha noticeboard Soc Bitch • UCL Boat Club get woke
The Fight For The Heart of UCL The fate of the university is on the line Jason Murugesu & Peter Fitzsimons
A battle is raging at UCL, one that will define the very nature of the university for decades to come. It all came to a head this week at a town hall-style meeting in the Cruciform chaired by former cabinet minister and former Chair of UCL’s governing body, Lord Young (who was, inexplicably, wearing a tuxedo). The room was packed with academics from all departments voicing their grievances. The question at the heart of the meeting: are senior management in
over their heads? The resulting discussion was frank and emotional. Academics made impassioned pleas about mental health, the lack of space on campus, and the transparency of senior management. And, in a bizarre turn of events, Rex Knight, UCL’s infamous Vice Provost, was even heckled into revealing the value of his bonus (more on this later).
How Did We Get Here?
Understanding the story of how we got here, goes a long way to explaining all the issues students face at UCL, namely the lack of mental health provisions and the shortage
of study and teaching space. In the last five years, UCL’s student population has doubled to over 40,000. It now holds the dubious title of the largest university in the country. In fact, UCL’s ballooning population will only continue to grow. Last year, Provost Michael Arthur told academics that there will be 46,000 students by 2025 (see CG 58). Arthur argued UCL’s expansion is the only way to continue paying for world-leading research and funding the refurbishment of a dilapidated campus.