www.thecourieronline.co.uk Monday 18 May 2015 Issue 1313 Free
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS What foreign students really think of Newcastle and the UK p. 33
The Independent Voice of Newcastle Students
Est 1948
HAVING A GRAPH ALL HANDS ON DECKS Three of Newcastle’s top DJs on how Life in the library, summed up to pick tunes like a champ p. 32
NUSU President slams ‘woeful’ NUS conference
in three pictures p. 14
Union head co-signs letter damning National Conference which “made a mockery of the student movement” Anyone outside of leftist clique was “intimidated”, say Presidents towards opinions diverging from the mainstream of left-leaning opinion. “There needs to be much more effort Newcastle University Students’ Union paid to ensuring the inclusivity of all president Claire Boothman has co- delegates to ensure everyone gets a signed a letter of complaint to the NUS fair chance to contribute, and ensuring from several students’ union Presidents that people aren’t intimidated against challenging the ‘popular’ view,” the from across the country. The letter runs for nearly three pages authors of the letter state. It also cites and has been authored by the President the NUS’ own quality mark and points of Bristol Student Union. It has not yet out that the Union would fail its own been sent to the NUS, but The Courier standards of excellence. The inaccessibility of the conference can reveal exclusive extracts that shed light on the issues and concerns several was another major issue raised by delegates have over how the National the delegates. “The conference days Conference in Liverpool went on this were often long with very few access breaks offered, making year. “The fact that conference a gruelling “As delegates elected by students at our delegates were too and difficult experience even for abled respective Unions, we came to Conference afraid to speak is students,” the letter states. “The number excited to debate a shameful” of complaints made number of motions put forward by Unions from across the particularly by disabled students about country, including our own,” the letter the lack of access requirements being states. “We were looking forward to met by the NUS - including the stressful, contributing to the debate, speaking noisy, intimidating atmosphere - was for and against motions, and most appalling. The fact that delegates were importantly, affecting some real change too afraid to speak, and were “quaking” for our students. However, this didn’t when they did, is shameful. Every student should feel able to participate at happen.” The delegates continue by stating conference and the NUS should go the that they believe the two reasons for extra mile to ensure that.” One of the other criticisms expressed the clunkiness and dysfunctionality of the NUS conference: lack of time in the letter was the inadequacy of the management and the abuse of motions elections for positions in the NUS, with by other delegates “to prevent open the small number of candidates for full-time positions (only two students debate in order to filibuster.” What is described as “the bulk ran for the position of President of the of the complaint” focuses on the NUS), and the voting process, described intimidating, unwelcoming atmosphere as “woeful” and “archaic.” The Presidents of Winchester, Bath of the National Conference. The letter describes prevalent feelings of and Exeter Students’ Unions also cointimidation, fear and intolerance signed the letter.
By Antonia Velikova News Editor
I like it. What is it?: Artists prepare for final degree show Behind-the-scenes photo preview, p. 25
Confusion as tickets for extra Congregation guests sell out within minutes of release By Mark Sleightholm News Editor Students hoping to purchase additional tickets for their Congregations were disappointed at the lack of available tickets. All students were given two tickets for free, but needed to pay for a third. The small number of additional tickets sold out within minutes of release, and students have been told that further tickets are unlikely. King’s Hall, located in the Armstrong Building, opened in 1906 and has been the setting for the Congregations of
generations of Newcastle students, as well as the place where Martin Luther King received his honorary degree in 1967. Lesley Braiden, Director of Student Services and Academic Registrar, said: “The King’s Hall is an intimate and historic venue which provides an excellent location for the University’s Congregation ceremonies. “Unfortunately, the hall does have a limited capacity meaning that all candidates who apply to attend their Congregation ceremony by the prescribed deadline are only able to be guaranteed two (complimentary) guest
tickets within the King’s Hall. “As most students take up this opportunity, this means that there are only a very limited number of additional guest tickets available for the King’s Hall for any graduate wishing to bring more than the two guaranteed guests.” There will be 36 separate Congregation ceremonies, with King’s Hall expected to be full for all of them. Students were unhappy with the attitude of the Examinations and Awards Office. Rosie Bellini, third year Philosophy student, said: “If they saw you buying more all tickets were Continued on page 4