Letters to Felix

Dear Felix,

The loss of the bookshop is a significant loss of funding for the Union. Therefore, the Union should make the best of its current assets. ICU Cinema has a 33mm projector, a new 30ft screen and technically it is one of the best student cinemas in the country. However, the Concert Hall is primarily for the use of DramSoc, OpSoc and other staged events. This means that the cinema can’t get regular bookings.

If there were a separate venue, the cinema could not only cater for FilmSoc, but also SciFiSoc, the Indian Film Group, and other societies, as well as serving Conference in the holidays. Moreover, this would create substantial revenue for the Union. At present FilmSoc has made at least Ł5,000 this year and so far has 1413 members about 100 of whom are ULU staff and students not frcm IC. With the redevelopment of Beit Quad under consideration, I feel a more permanent venue for the cinema would prove as popular as it would profitable. At present I believe the cinema is clearly a wasted asset.

John Wilson,

...and while we’re at it, LeoSoc need a room, STOIC’s studio is far too small, the Outdoor Club could do with a seperate store, etc... It would be lovely if they could, but even if there is extra space, flexibility by all will be the key...

Tough on students, tough on the causes of students

Dear Felix,

At last the wait is over. For eighteen long years students have suffered under the imperialist, capitalist Tories. Now, at long last, we the future of this country can smell power. No more student loans! No more crumbling universities! No more libraries starved of books! All those demonstrations against Tory misrule, the marches to Trafalgar Square - the comradeship of a minority group oppressed like no other - all of that was wonth it. In just one week, the Labour Le.ader, our leader. Tony ‘Man of the People’ Blair will walk into Downing Street and begin the renaissance of the masses.

Hands trembling with anticipation I buy a copy of the manifesto. I almost can’t open it, I am shaking - I am shaking! Oh what bliss to be alive! Education - where is it - there page 6. ‘Education our number one priority’. Page nine, ‘Higher Education’. What will the grant be? Ł4000, Ł5000 - perhaps even Ł6000? No, remember Tony’s determined to keep public spending down - he probably settle for just five grand.

Here it is, ‘The improvement and expansion needed..’ Too right! At ‘em Tony! We will overcome those Tory bastards! ‘...cannot be funded out of general taxation..’ God! He’s proposing a special tax - a university money-raising tax! This is good shit! ‘...Our proposals for funding...’ Here comes, here comes money! ‘...have been made to the Dearing Committee, in line with successjul policies abroad..’. Successful policies abroad?

What does Tone mean? In line with foreign practice? Sounds good though! And now.for maintenance grants!. ‘...The costs of student maintenance should be repaid by graduates on an income-related basis, from the career success to which higher education has contributed.’

Oh.

Well.

It could be worse.

It’s just not quite what I was expecting.

Hello. Yes that’s me. You want an ex-NUS President to stand as a Labour candidate? You want me? Will I do it? You bet I will! So that’s - meet Peter at 3:30. I’ll be there.

That’s that then. New Labour. Tough on students, tough on the causes of students. Never forget how privileged they are. Short hours, cheap beer, lots of sex. And in today’s increasingly globalised world one has to keep taxes low to remain competitive. We do support students, and do want them to succeed with the best possible funding. But only when resources allow. We cannot promise what we cannot deliver. Investment and training are the key. Invest in people. Invest in students. Graduate loans. Tough on students, tough on crime. Tough on the causes of crime. Harriet Harman. Peter Mandelson. Fiscal propriety. When resource allow. Investment and training. No tax increases. Privatise, realise, socialise, no not that last one. Investment and training. When resources allow...

Name and address retained

Dear Felix,

I have just discovered that my end of year finals this year are to be held in a marquee in Prince’s Gardens instead of the Great Hall. I discovered this via a notice posted up in halls of residence which explains that a marquee will be erected as a venue for college examinations as the Great Hall is affected by building work. On reading this, I initially thought that it was some kind of joke. However, I decided to check with my department. On the urgent noticeboard in the department of chemistry, there was a notice. A4 sized, not particularly eyecatching, unsigned and undated. It was apparently to confirm letters sent to us all by registry, informing us of the location change. However, as yet, no such notification has been received from the registry. I wonder how many other people out there will be surprised by the change of venue ?

As if this complete breakdown of communication were not bad enough, I am appalled that the students of one of the top four institutions in the country are forced to sit their end of year examinations in what is effectively a tent in the garden between two of their halls of residence. No matter what efforts are made to control noise levels, it will be impossible to silence the noise from Exhibition Road, which is clearly audiable from the garden. And if it rains, the sound of raindrops on the canvas would create a distracting background noise. Are we, perhaps, to depend on the oh-so-reliable British weather for examination-level silence ? And if so, is this not a little optimistic ?

Personally, I would like to see a little more regard for the needs of the college’s undergraduate students, and I am sure that many out there will agree with me. Maybe if a few more people are prepared to voice their dissatisfaction things may get a little better for us.

If you are also affected by this, or think you might be, or are just appalled by this disgraceful attitude, please say so. Please make noise about it. Email people, ring them, pester them until they are sick of hearing your voice. If nobody complains, nothing will get done and abomintaions like this will continue. (Oh, and please feel free to email me: j.walmsley@ic).

regards,