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Welfare victory sets national precedent
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Report by Niall Hampton PLANS carried out to 'improve' UEA during the summer have been attacked by a Student Union Officer, just one year after the University was rapped for "unnecessary expense." Last September, the then Communications Officer, Richard Hewison, attacked the University Authorities' "very sad set of priorities" for spending money on improvements "at a time of unprecedented student hardship." And now Jacqui Mackay, who took over Richard's post, has pointed out that whilst the more recentenhacements may improve the look of the University, funding is still lacking in other areas. 'The Union •s main concern is not the views people have from their seminar rooms or residences but the actual standard of teaching and academic provision they are recieving", she said. "At a time of increasing studentnumbers, residences do have to expand. "It is vital that library services are expanded, that seminar groups don't increase further and that the teaching students receive is first class."
UEA has carried out extensive building works in the old Bus Turnaround, invol~ing the installation of what appears to be a central flowerbed .. ln addition, benches have been added around the sunken garden in Registry Square. When asked about the work on the Bus Turnaround [soon to be re-named Union Place], John Wood, a spokesman for the University, claimed the Turnaround was an "eyesore." "We believe it was run down, despite its lovely views, and the University was seriously concerned as to its appearance". he said. "UEA's policy has always been to keep the campus respectable, but not all universities have adopted this policy." He claimed that improvements made to the appearance of the campus encourages an "institutional self respect." But when Jacqui was asked if she thought the enhancements were for the benefit of the conference business, she· replied, ''Due to the increase in student numbers, the University is corn-
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After enquiries, Concrete has been told that the latest addittion to the Plain is a sculpture named 'Extrapolation', and not an abstract aluminium toast-rack as previously thought. mitted to providing more residences on site. One might be cynical and think that improving the looks of the University is to attract conference trade rather than to benefit students." John Wood admitted that con-
UEA's Independent Student Newspaper
ference business is important to the University's revenue, but added, "Conference proceeds are very much applied to residences and successful conferences mean lower rents. "Most students like to have an
attractive campus." "Improvements are for the benefit of all users". he said. •Last year, the controversy was caused by the construction of a sunken garden at the end of the Arts Building.
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THE UNION has scored a major victory in a decision that sets a national precedent for intercalating students attempting to claim state benefits. Social Security A Commisioner has judged that a UEA student who took time out from study from July 1991 to October 1992 was entitled to Income Support for that period, a decision which overrules the previous ruling of a local Social Security Tribunal. Janet Peck, Union Welfare Co-ordinator, raised the case two years ago, and the NUS eventually arranged for an experienced barrister to represent them. She was delighted at the Commisioner's ruling. "I'm ab olutely over the moon. It's been bard work and we tried every route possible, including lobbying MPs and writing to ministers", she said. The Commisioner rejected the local tribunal's approach that to qualify for income support on the basis ofhaving abandoned a course of full-time study, a student has given it up "unilaterally and completely". He said that that was too inflexible and erroneous in Jaw. taking the view that ordinary usage of the word 'abandon' could include giving up a course temporarily. Before last week's ruling, any intercalating student would stiU be classified as a student for the duration of their time away from university and would not be entitled to the state benefits that were denied to students in 1990, when the Loans scheme was introduced. With the new decision, it is possible for them to claim income support and housing benefit. SaysJanetPeck, "It's a very iniquious system and has caused some students to withdraw from their courses."
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