www.thecourieronline.co.uk Monday 12 May 2014 Sum Issue 1292 mer Free
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The Independent Voice of Newcastle Students
HEAVEN IS A HALFPIPE
We examine the thrill, camarderie and misconceptions of skate life p.30
FOOTY’S FASHION-MISTA p.16
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AXIS OF TUNES ss.3
£13,500 for exams in Premier Inn - Breakfast not included
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EXCLUSIVE By James Simpson News Editor The University is paying Premier Inn £13,500 to hire the venue to hold exams because there isn’t enough space on campus. Students were left amused and confused when the Premier Inn appeared on their exam timetable with a number thinking it was a mistake. Hiring external exam venues this year has cost the University a total of £22,560. The budget hotel, which advertises rooms “from £35.00”, has set the University back £13,500.
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‘Pop-Up Library’ space forced uni to find an external venue
The remaining £9,060 is used to hire out Turbine Hall for both Semesters 1 and 2. Third year Classics student Danielle Kaye told The Courier that she didn’t understand why the University had to use external exam venues at such costs. She said: “It’s good to see that Newcastle University are spending my money wisely!” Academic Registrar Lesley Braiden explained that the venue is being used for the duration of the exam period due to the addition of the new ‘Pop-Up Library’ space occupying the Lindisfarne Room which is “normally used as a
large exam venue”. She added: “The use of external venues is not related to the current student population size. It reflects the need for “Good to see venues of a particusize to accomthat the uni lar modate certain coare spending horts for particular exams.” my money However, second wisely!” year Law student Victoria Armstrong expressed concern saying: “It seems bizarre that the University is expanding the student Continued on page 5
University for whom? •
Student experience continues to suffer as basic needs aren’t met
By The Courier Editorial In the news story to the left of this editorial you will read how students are being made to take exams in a budget hotel. For many of these students these will be the biggest exams of their lives that could well define what they do with the rest of their lives. Students who have had exams in the hotel before will talk about how noisy it is and the stress it causes. Noise from the motorway just outside, noise from the metro running under the building, noise from the hen party upstairs. Yet the University believes it’s acceptable for students to take life-defining exams in such an environment. Last week this newspaper wrote about the closure of the 24-hour reception and halls security at Castle Leazes. Yet just last weekend Leazes staff had to call out the police twice and call for two ambulances. At the start of the year we told you about more than 200 first years who were forced to find private accommodation because the University didn’t have enough space in halls. In our university, of just over 20,000 students, there are 700 of us using the welfare therapy service. There are only eight therapists. We all understand that the University doesn’t have a bottomless bank ac-
count. But what is up for debate is how much, and on whom, the University chooses to spend its money on. The university will tell you about the millions of pounds it spends on students, it does, but what it doesn’t tell you about is the even greater amount it spends elsewhere whilst not covering basic student expectations. For our annual fees of £9,000 you shouldn’t have to battle for a seat in the Robinson Library. For £9,000 you shouldn’t have to worry about queues to use the gym. For £9,000 you shouldn’t have to wait weeks to see somebody when you need help. There are major areas which students clearly feels require immediate investment, whether that be library space, sporting facilities or a lack of student accommodation. There were days when a university could afford to ignore many student demands but now the key financial driver has changed and with it so have the students. The rise in tuition fees may have been opposed by students but now that students are paying £9,000 their levels of expectation have justifiably increased. Students, and the key priorities which they highlight, have to be put at the top of the agenda, this is a new era of higher education and if Newcastle fails to react the impact will be substantial.