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InQuire The University of Kent’s Student Newspaper
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16 February 2018
Meetings Mondays at 6.15pm, Student Media Centre
Issue 13.8
Lecturers Set to Strike February 22 A Refugee’s Journey From Syria to Kent Page 16
We’ve Had #Enough News Page 4
Peaky Blinders Series Four: Review Photo by Roger Blackwell|Flickr
By Grace Pocock Newspaper News Editor & Bill Bowkett Website News Editor
W
alkouts at 61 universities, including the University of Kent, are set to go ahead in the coming weeks because of changes to lecturers’ pension plans. On January 22, the University and College Union (UCU) announced 14 days of strikes in February over employers’ plans to downgrade lecturers and staff’s future pensions. The University of Kent is one of many universities participating in the strike, with many students’ lectures and seminars likely to
be affected by the decision. The strike dates have been confirmed at the University of Kent. The number of strike days will increase in increments over the course of four weeks beginning with two days on the first week, and five on the fourth. Other action may include other UCU members refusing to undertake voluntary duties, to cover for absent colleagues, or to reschedule lectures or classes cancelled due to strike action. A spokesperson for the University of Kent has said: “We very much regret the decision taken by UCU. It is unclear how many of our colleagues will join this action. We will keep under review the potential impact of this action on student progress
and the ways any such impact may be mitigated”. Student response to the strike has been mixed. There is widespread support among students for their lecturers’ industrial action, with the National Union of Students (NUS) and UCU issuing a joint statement condemning the “marketisation of education” and warning that cuts to lecturers’ pensions would lead to a recruitment crisis. Other students, however, are concerned that this strike will impact their studies. A UCU spokesperson said: “Students are understandably worried
Entertainment Page 23
Interview with Kent RAG Societies Page 27
Extinction. Creative Writing Culture Page 15
Continued on page three...
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