THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN
14
14 September 2015
News in Brief
Editorial
T
Universities must be accountable to students first, politicians second
he higher education governance bill has the best of intentions, but it falls spectacularly short by way of ensuring genuine transparency and accountability. The bill does nothing to ensure that students themselves have the opportunity to hold those with powerful positions within universities to account. All it does, in effect, is allow one group of powerful people (politicians) to hold another group of powerful people (university managers) to account, and that is simply not good enough in an era in which power is meant to be devolved from government to the people. A mechanism has to be put in place that allows students to hold senior managers of Scottish universities directly to account. At Glasgow, the principal welcomes students to the University during Freshers’ Week and then does not address them again until they graduate. Most students do not know who the principal is or what he does. Students who take an interest in the business of the University Court or the Council of Senate are few and far between. All too often, that means that members of the senior management group can do whatever they think is best without proper scrutiny by anybody who is not a member of the academic or managerial elite. There has to be an approach to university governance that ensures accountability
and empowers those who are most in need of a say in how the University is run. Redefining the role of the rector is certainly not the best way to do that. It is certainly true that an absentee rector is not the best way to ensure accountability either, but that does not mean that the Scottish government should intervene to limit the democratic choice of students in future rectorial elections. Nor does it mean that the Scottish government should enfranchise those whose interests might be directly at odds with students of the university in question. An elected chair of the governing body is a good idea in principle, but the Scottish government has to recognise that students of the ancient Scottish universities already elect the chair of Court, in the form of the rector. All the bill has done is create confusion over what the role of the rector will be in the future. Although the Scottish government has denied any attempt to abolish the position of rector, it is yet to clarify whether or not the rector will continue to be the chair of the University Court. If not, does that mean that the rector and the chair of Court will coexist as two different elected positions? The uncertainty this bill has created is a testament to its lack of regard for the status quo at the universities of which Scotland should be most proud.
The problem with political empathy
H
ave we finally seen that long-hidden heart from the Tory government? After a summer of keeping the Calais migrants firmly out of Cruel Britannia, David Cameron and George Osborne have drawn up plans to welcome in thousands of refugees. The Prime Minister described himself as being ‘deeply moved’ by the photo of the Syrian child lying dead on the Turkish shore. The Chancellor also recently spoke of how that picture “brought home… the sheer horror of what was going on, even though, of course, there have been many reports over summer of boats sinking.” This U-Turn from the government brings with it an interesting insight into the morality of our leaders. Osborne admits that many reports came to him over summer of hundreds dying in the Mediterranean and still the government stood by and did nothing. As our politicians were told by their advisers of the crisis unfolding at this country’s doorstep, they apparently did not understand the gravity of the words being said to them. Then we have the reason for this sudden change of heart: the image of
the dead child. It is understandable that the British public’s opinion of the crisis would change after seeing such an image. They have, after all, been exposed to a summer of media scaremongering with warnings of migrant swarms and Calais invasions. But surely we expect better from our politicians. We expect them to see beyond the deluge of hyperbole and find the human scale to any situation. What we expect, however, and what the reality of politics is will always be two different things. For a politician, why show compassion if it is not politically expedient? Notice the Tories did not lead public opinion on this; they reacted once everyone else started opening their eyes to the refugee situation. If that photo had never been taken, it is very likely this government would never have reached out to the refugees. Maybe Cameron and Osborne were really affected by that photo. Maybe we are just too cynical. If so, it does beg the question: can we change any callous Tory policy with just a single photo?
Glasgow City Council has agreed to house a further 60 refugees from Syria. The deputy leader of Glasgow City Council, Archie Graham, said: “Glasgow has a proud history of welcoming refugees and we have already provided a home to 55 Syrians who have fled the war in their home country. However, this is not enough and we have agreed to take in more people who require our assistance. Helping vulnerable people who are fleeing war and persecution is simply the right thing to do.”
Essential restoration works are underway to Glasgow University’s historic bell tower. Repairs are being made to the tower, the spiral staircase, and the bell cradle to help preserve the landmark structure. A University spokesman said: “The conservation works... will enhance investments carried out in recent years to the conservation of the Gilbert Scott Building. The project is being managed by University Estates and Buildings along with an experienced design team of architectural conservation consultants to oversee the project.”
Glasgow University has been nominated for four awards, including University of the Year, in the Times Higher Education Awards. Nominations also include Research Project of the Year, for which Professor David Clark’s End of Life Studies has been shortlisted; Outstanding Contribution to Innovation and Technology; and Outstanding Support for Early Career Researchers, alongside the Universities of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Strathclyde.
In Other News
More than 40 drawings by the actor and comedian Billy Connolly have gone on display at the People’s Palace in Glasgow, alongside objects from a collection charting his early career as a comedian and musician. Connolly has described the drawings as “wee pals”, saying: “I don’t want them to be judged. I didn’t want to put them in a position where people would like or dislike them.” Five years ago, Connolly was made a Freeman of the City of Glasgow. The exhibition runs until February 2016.
Glasgow City Council has approved a spoliation claim relating to a fragment of a tapestry, which formed part of a forced sale under the Nazis. The claim concerns a 16th century Swiss tapestry fragment entitled ‘The Visitation’ which is part of the Burrell Collection. The Department of Culture, Media and Sport examined the claim through its Spoliation Advisory Panel, which considers claims from anyone, or their heirs, who lost possession of a cultural object during the Nazi era and that is now in a UK national collection or another UK museum or gallery.
Virgin Rail fares are set to rise for railcard users, with changes that could result in train fares quadrupling in price. Virgin West Coast will no longer allow railcard holders, including those with a 16-25 railcard, to purchase off-peak tickets for peak-time travel, on which many people currently rely for affordable transportation. A petition against the change has been set up online; it currently has over 4,000 signatures. Virgin Rail says that the changes have been made to bring Virgin West Coast in line with the rest of the rail industry. Richard Branson is yet to comment.
Contributors Editors
Fraser McGowan and Alastair Thomas
Deputy Editor Josh Atkins
News
Nathan Stilwell, Lauren Holt, Andrew McIntyre, Fraser McGowan and Alastair Thomas
Features
Lauren Holt, Alastair Thomas
Views
Photography and Illustrations
Alastair Thomas, Eoin Carey, Aiden Morrissey, Kirsty Conway, Creative Commons, Flickr
Proofing, layout and copyediting
Fraser McGowan, Alastair Thomas, Josh Atkins, Florianne Watt, Nathan Stilwell, Lauren Holt, Floraidh Clement, Claire Thomson, Kirsty Conway, Rhoda Morrison, and Isobel Keating
Got thoughts?
Floraidh Clement, Claire Thomson, Keir Watt, Anna Carter, Alistair Craig, Harry Vizor. Cameron Harris
If you would like to provide an anonymous tipoff or request a retraction, you can contact the editors with the information below.
Culture
Contact
Kirsty Conway, Rhoda Morrison, Cameron Harris, Louisa Kuehme
Sports
Isobel Keating, Euan McTear, Jack Haugh, John Gorrod
advertising@glasgowguardian.co.uk news@glasgowguardian.co.uk views@glasgowguardian.co.uk sport@glasgowguardian.co.uk editors@glasgowguardian.co.uk