Tea on the lawn
The first examinations to be held in the rigid-structured-temporary-marquee took place on Monday, amidst confusion, anger and despair. One candidate described the affair as "an exam tea-party," and "a complete joke."
Since the change of venue for the examinations was announced, a number of students have expressed dismay at the decision, (Felix 1084). Although the location of examinations cannot be influenced by the University of London, Sarah White, President of ULU, emphasised that Imperial College had been pressured by Senate House to provide a reasonable examination environment. This would include keeping Southside bar closed in the daytime, ensuring there were no deliveries made during exams and the hiring of extra security to ‘keep the peace’. College have also been pressed to provide closer toilet facilities - at the moment, students have to go to Southside bar. Ms White also advised students to make a note of any major disturbances that took place while they were in the exam, for example, roadworks, high pollen count, or particularly hot or rainy weather. If a protest was to be made, she suggested that "The more people that keep a record of any , the better, as organisation will count in favour."
Susan Johnson, Academic Registrar of the University of London, assured Felix that students can appeal against their results only on grounds of ‘maladministration’ -administrative error or the exam not being conducted in accordance with University of London regulations. She also made it clear that if any student feels they have a genuine cause for making an appeal to the University of London, they should write to the Academic Registrar at Imperial College. If they decide that the complaint is worth upholding, they will consult with the Board of Examiners who will then consider whether to adjust final marks or offer the student a chance to re-sit the exam.
Ms Johnson emphasised that "the examinations board will bend over backwards to assist you. However, an en masse appeal won’t help anybody, least of all those with a genuine problem."
This emphasis on individuals who may be affected more than most was echoed at the Imperial College Union’s Council meeting on Tuesday evening. A motion was passed, instructing "the Union officers concerned with academic affairs to make it clear to the appropriate College authorities that the Union regards the whole farcical exercise is unacceptable, and ensure that special provision is made for those that would otherwise be disproportionately disadvantaged by the relocation of the exams."
It appears that the drilling in the library was not originally planned to coincide with the examination period. The subsequent relocation of the exams at short notice was due to the discovery that building work on the library was behind schedule. Rumours abound that the reason for this is that one of the lift shafts is "the wrong shape." Sarah White suggested that Imperial College Estates Department must have known the project was behind schedule. At the moment, it is unclear who is paying for the marquee, the air conditioning, and the extra security. Sarah White explained that if College was footing the bill, that would hit students doubly hard, as they would be paying indirectly. "I hope the project contractors are paying in cash, resources and facilities," she stated.
Local Authority planning officers have declared that the marquee falls within planning constraints provided that the building has no other use and remains for the duration of the exams only.
Piers Williams, Deputy President for Finance & Services, said that he was "surprised that the College authorities had not considered relocating the exams to the Senior Common Room or the JCR", the next two biggest rooms on campus after the Great Hall. The College was unable to comment on this suggestion although they did say that splitting the examinees into several different rooms had been considered but discarded as being too cumbersome.
The University of London is said to be "concerned" with the current state of affairs
