04 gairrhydd MAY.05.2008
NEWS
NEWS@gairrhydd.COM
FA CUP FINAL? NO NO NO
Emma Jones Reporter Two Cardiff University students have been told they cannot sit their exam an hour earlier than timetabled in order to catch Cardiff in the FA Cup Final at Wembley. Nick Young and Jo Borley, the daughter of Cardiff City club director
Steve Borley, are missing their team’s clash with Portsmouth on May 17 due to a three-hour Managerial Accounting and Finance exam. The exam is due to finish at midday, which leaves the fans only three hours to reach Wembley in time for the 3pm kick off. The University stated that they have always held exams on Saturdays and
student, and Mr Young, an Economics and Finance student, asked to start their exam an hour earlier so they can catch an earlier train to London Paddington and have a better chance of getting to the game in time. A University spokesperson has said: “It would be unusual for any examination to be rescheduled following publication of the examination timetable.”
that there will always be students who are ardent fans sitting exams and missing the final. But Ms Borley said: “There is a massive difference between the teams that make it almost every year and the underdogs making the final.” It is the first time the Bluebirds have reached the final in 81 years. Ms Borley, a Business Management
Bursary for care students Sian Symons Reporter Cardiff University students are eligible for a £1,000 bursary and optional assistance if they declare themselves to have been in care. The scheme, which seeks to aid teenagers who are leaving care to go on to further education, is being offered to encourage them not to feel prevented by physical disabilities. The package offered includes a £1,000 bursary, a named mentor at the University’s Student Support Centre to discuss topics and issues that concern them, while accommodation requirements will also be arranged and discussed. The move to support those in leaving care is due to the fact that they are the least represented group in higher education, across the United
Kingdom, which was brought to light in government white paper ‘Care Matters’, which found that only six percent of those leaving care enter higher education. This, in contrast to the 50% of society as a whole which has gone on to further education, shows the startling disparity in opportunities between these groups. Cardiff University was awarded the Frank Buttle Trust Quality Mark because of its support for groups such as these. Cardiff was the first university to be awarded the mark and now other universities across Wales have started their own schemes.
Cardiff University and Chinese institutions join to research the causes and cures of cancer Wen G Jiang and Professor Howard Kynaston. Professor Wen G Jiang moved to Cardiff from China in 1989, and 17 years on became a Doctor of Medicine. He said: “There is very little effort in the world on cancer spread, which is surprising as that is the killing factor.” Mr Williams, who helped fund the scholarship, said: “China is providing some of the finest young medical scholars in the world and I am delighted to be able to support the ongoing initiative.”
Sian Symons Reporter Cardiff University has joined forces with institutions in China to attract medical scholars. It is hoped that working alongside talented Chinese scholars will improve research into the causes and cures of breast and prostate cancers. The Chinese Medical Research Scholarship has been set up at the University Hospital of Wales by Professor
Students demand change More choice n More diversity n Improved communication n Less alcoholic events
Corinne Rhoades Reporter Cardiff University students want more choice, more diversity and better communication, the results of the second universitywide Student Satisfaction Survey have shown. In March 2007, gair rhydd revealed that students wanted to see fewer flyers around the Union and major improvements made to sports facilities and relations with the Heath Park campus.
These were among the opinions gathered from the first ever Student Satisfaction Survey, which canvassed opinion from the entire student body in an effort to understand the overall experience of Cardiff students. But this year a decline in respondents reflects a similar decline in other areas of the Students’ Union (SU). Following the cancellation of Rubber Duck in March, events that took place in Solus this year, such as Access All Areas and RAID, were rated poorly.
The survey showed that respondents, who consisted of 9.8% of the student population, desired SU events to become more diverse, focus less on alcohol, and for more to take place during the day. Students did express satisfaction in other areas, however. In particular the new Union security staff were highly rated. While customer service in other areas of the Union, such as in the Jobshop, received a number of complaints, top of the list of last year’s grievances with Union and University-run services was
the quality of transport and sports facilities. This year, of the respondents who used the Athletic Union, there was a high level of satisfaction, although students rated the availability of information about activities and opportunities to join throughout the year as average or below. Communication from the SU was a hot topic in this year’s survey. Students called for a complete overhaul of the recently redeveloped cardiffstudents.com website, as well as better advertising outside the
Union building, such as in halls of residence. Heath campus communication also came under scrutiny, with students expressing “worry” that the Union would close the MedClub. Union President Jonny Cox, said: “The more feedback we can get the better. “All the executive’s e-mail addresses are available on the website, and I would encourage students to get in contact with any of us if they would like to give us any feedback,” Cox added.