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30 YEARS OF WHITE KIDS TALKIN' BLACK » 15
EDINBURGH’S UNIVERSITY NEWSPAPER
WEDNESDAY 28 OCTOBER 2009
ISSUE XXVI
Three decades since the album that brought hip-hop to the mainstream, The Journal asks if the genre has lost its soul on the journey from the Bronx to the bank
>> 15 VINCE TAYLOR
UKBA forces change in resit rules over 'bogus student' fears
ANTI-BNP PROTESTORS GATHER OUTSIDE THE TUN
Universities must monitor attendance of overseas students under new rules Constantine Innemée Student News THE UK BORDER Agency (UKBA) has implemented new guidelines for universities, making it obligatory for them to monitor the attendance of overseas students. Jeremy Oppenheim, National Lead for Temporary Migration at the UKBA said: “We have made it clear that we will not tolerate either the fraudulent applicants trying to abuse Britain’s immigration rules, or the dodgy colleges that facilitate them. However, Britain will always welcome genuine students who are coming here to receive a first-class education.” The attendance monitoring procedure includes ten separate points of contact, which are meant to ensure no student gets reported to the UKBA without their absence being verified extensively. Mr Oppenheim added: “These new requirements were discussed at length with representatives of the education sector, including representatives of higher and further education institutions as part of the consultation.” Universities have to qualify as “sponsors” with the UKBA before they are allowed to receive students or staff from overseas, in order for them to do
IN NEWS
Shooting star Madcap funny man Vic Reeves on working with longtime foil Bob Mortimer, his new comedy encyclopedia, and heckling Michael Jackson
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so they have to fully comply with these new regulations. The new regulations also state that overseas students should not be allowed more than two resits on their exams, in order to “prevent students from unnecessarily prolonging their stay in the UK”. There has been criticism of the new regulations, which aim to reduce the number of immigrants posing as students entering the country. Dominic Scott, Chief Executive for the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA), expressed certain reservations on the new guidelines. He told The Journal: “No-one in the sector—nor in UKCISA—was or is entirely comfortable with the requirements to ‘report’ on attendance, although this has now been amended for higher education, to the more flexible interpretation on ‘expected contacts’ and only if ten of those in a row are missed would any report be necessary. “I think we have to accept that in the new ‘sponsor system’ there may have to be some sort of tracking required to ensure students are doing in the UK what they said they intend to [study], but we will continue to work towards Continued on Page 2
IN COMMENT
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The time traveller’s estranged wife Audrey Niffenegger refuses to watch the film adaptation of her best-selling novel – she tells The Journal why, and explains how research for her new book led her to befriend a cemetery
Griffiths pledges to fight fees at SRC meeting Local Labour MP invited as part of continuing EUSA campaign against moves to raise tuition cap in England Megan Taylor Student Politics NIGEL GRIFFITHS, LABOUR MP for Edinburgh South, has appeared at the University of Edinburgh's Student Representative Council (SRC) meeting to discuss his decision to support student in the forthcoming government review on tuition fees. Griffiths, who was present at the request of Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) President
IN ARTS
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Thomas Graham, described the implications on Scottish universities, should the cap on tuition fees in England be lifted. “The decision to increase fees will have an adverse affect on my constituents, a large proportion of which are students. “Lifting the cap in England would mean Edinburgh University being left at a massive disadvantage as the funding gap would grow. For every £1000 the tuition fees increase by, Edinburgh falls behind by £16 million.” He went on to warn the SRC that
IN FOOD & DRINK
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Charm Offensive
Can a pint be sexy?
With a second album breaking new ground and winning a new following for Bat for Lashes, her Edinburgh gig proves to be an exercise in coaxing fans exactly where they want to go
Producing beers with names like Trashy Blonde and Punk IPA, the young Scottish duo behind Brew Dogs are reinventing a night at the pub for a new generation
road ahead would be long and difficult: “You are facing some very clever people who will put together excellent reasons for the cap to be lifted and they will have impressive answers to all your counter arguments. Preparation is the key and everyone’s voice will need to be heard. “NUS Scotland must be involved in this major campaign and I suggest writing to your MPs back home and persuading as many of them to get on board as you can,” said Mr Griffiths. Continued on Page 2