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JK Rowling gives landmark £10m donation » 8 edinBURGH's UniVeRsiTY neWsPAPeR
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In her largest charitable donation to date, J.K. Rowling gives £10 million to Edinburgh University to set up a multiple sclerosis research clinic
WednesdAY 15 sePTeMBeR 2010
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Flickr: catholic church (England and WalEs)
ecA and edinburgh University set to merge Merger plans are brought forward, leading to speculation that ecA's financial position leaves them with no alternatives Megan Taylor News Editor A finAl decision on proposed plans to merge the edinburgh college of Art with the University of edinburgh is likely to be made by the end of the month, three years earlier than expected. The academic institutions and separate students’ associations are currently in ongoing negotiations trying to finalise a deal which they say will best suit the students and staff involved. The Journal first reported back in february that there were plans for the University and the ecA to merge, the earliest date possible being set in 2013. The speed at which the discussions are now progressing has led to speculation that ecA’s troubling financial position has forced the plans forward. A spokesperson from the University of edinburgh told The Journal: “ecA has provided the University with information about its financial position in order that the University could conduct a due diligence process regarding the proposal to merge.”
These details were received under a confidentiality agreement and therefore could not be disclosed. At the time of going to press, ecA was yet tp respond to an foi request. last week, senior figures linked to ecA sent a strongly worded letter to scottish education secretary Mike Russell urging him to block proposed plans. The letter, which was leaked to The Scotsman, claims the merger plans are “rushed” and “secretive”, leading them to believe these are the signs of a “hostile takeover.” The 16 signatories include a senior board member at ecA and the current head of ecA’s alumni association, Barbara Rae. The main fear is that the college, with its small student population of 1600, will lose its traditions and ethos to the much larger university, home to some 25,000 students. According to The Times, ecA has a deficit of £2 million and debts of up to £13 million. However, with the proposed merger expecting to cost around £40 million, ecA’s student president francesca Miller was keen to stress Continued on Page 2
Papal visit provokes protests
HWUsU to close down union building Megan Taylor News Editor HeRioT-WATT UniVeRsiTY sTUdenTs’ Union (formerly Heriot-Watt University students’ Association) has been forced to make major changes to its premises after falling into financial difficulty.
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Oil and Water
Out of their league
in the wake of the BP crisis, a senior climate campaigner for Greenpeace warns that edinburgh-based oil firm cairn energy could cause a similar environmental disaster
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As British universities slip down the league tables and the spending cuts start to bite, the UK’s reputation for providing world class education is in danger
The Journal first reported back in January that HWUsU approached the university authorities and asked that issues concerning association funding and resource allocation be referred to an external consultant. The university therefore conducted an independent review and announced its findings in April. it was decided that the main
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Opposition attracts Acclaimed left-wing blogger sunny Hundal offers a not entirely optimistic read on the current state of the labour leadership race
association building, first built in 1991, was no longer financially viable to keep operational and therefore was to be closed down. Plans for a new smaller venue are underway. As a result of the restructure, six people have chosen to leave the organisation. Post-holders whose jobs were Continued on Page 2
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From Baghdad to backstage director of the acclaimed iraq War drama Black Watch describes the challenge of fictionalising recent history