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the internet turns 20
Issue 9.1
city sound project review
too much sex on tv?
poetry by emma greenacre
20th May 2013
t20 varsity match reports
nus president visits ukc comment - page 7
iq entertainment - page 16
iq culture - page 20
iq features - page 13
sport - 22
Photograph by Alec Cockram Matthew Gilley Newspaper Editor LAST Friday, outgoing NUS President Liam Burns visited UKC as part of his ‘The Pound in Your Pocket’ lecture tour, presenting the findings of NUS research of the same name. The study considers “how students themselves are funded, to get in to education, to stay the course, and to succeed”. Burns started his lecture by saying that instead of simply researching how much money students have got, NUS wanted to ask: “How does that impact on their welfare?” The
report shows that over 30% of undergraduates have seriously considered dropping out and, for nearly half of all those, the reason was financial difficulties. Around 50% of undergraduates either agreed or strongly agreed with the statement “I regularly worry about not having enough money to meet my basic living expenses such as rent and utility bills.” He said that “it is absurd that full time undergraduates can borrow up to £27,000 to pay for their degree but the vast majority can only borrow £1015,000 to meet their living costs”.
COMPETITION!
He did admit, however, that there is a hard debate to be had between whether the NUS just “ask the government for lots more money”, or whether they accept that “there’s a fiscal envelope that isn’t going to get any bigger following the next general election” and consider redistributing financial support “in envelope” to help students who are hit harder. Some issues particularly pertinent to Kent students came up in the lecture and the following Q&A. Of access agreements, Burns said that fee waivers are “a massive con” because only “higher earning
graduates” see the benefit. The University of Kent’s access agreement gives students £1,000 pounds cash bursary, £1,000 credit on their University account and a £7,000 fee waiver in the first year. Outgoing Kent Union Vice President Welfare Colum McGuire, recently elected NUS Vice President Welfare, said that although he had been “really unhappy” with the access agreement, discussions about future agreements was looking “a lot more positive”. Burns also criticised rising University accommodation
prices in his lecture. McGuire added: “We know that universities put their rents up every year above inflation and ultimately students are paying to subsidise costs at the university that they should only be paying through their fees.” The full ‘Pound in Your Pocket’ report can be accessed at http:// www.poundinyourpocket.org. uk. Read an interview with Liam Burns on page four or go to KTV’s YouTube channel at www. youtube.com/kenttelevision to watch a video of that interview and of an extended interview with Colum McGuire.
haven’t got your PARTY IN THE CAR PARK tickets yet? well look no further! all you need to do is tell InQuire which act you’re most excited about. email answers to newspaper.editor@inquiremedia.co.uk before 24th may. the winner will be contacted by 26th may.