'THE EVENT'
WHO? WHERE? WHY? it's the Sabb Elections! We've 11ot all the essentia/1nfo inside...
ACADEMIC bosses have acted to avoid an Admissions Day protest... by offering a concession to those affected by the EUR grade fixing exercise.
Cartoon by Tony Lansdowne
They revealed on Monday that their committee of inquiry into the affair which has affected more than 200 students will report on March 20- weeks earlier than anticipated. The announcement of this interim measure came after negotiations with the Union, who had organised a day of action to coincide with Wednesday's Admissions Day. The protest was designed to embarrass the University on a day when it attempts to impress potential new students. But now, a special Union meeting in the Hive at 12pm will call for the protest to be abandoned during the afternoon. Said Academic Registrar, Dr Tony Rich, "The steps we've taken prove we're serious in our intention to let all students have a statement from the Committee of Enquiry. "There's no simple solution [to the reassessment affair] - we just want to maintain the high standards of UEA's degrees." Daniel Owen, Union Academic Officer, stated that the University's move marks some progress in addressing the issue. "UEA have offered a significant step forward and are giving the matter great consideration and have shown a willingness to listen - this should be acknowledged", he said. "lt's the first indication from UEA that they recognise this is an urgent matter. lt's an acknowledgement of the level of feeling that students have expressed." Daniel also voiced his concern that EUR 's grade fixing - which saw coursework marks fall by up to nine per
8 y ------. N. II H 18 ampton cent - would not be repeated in other
schools, something that Dr Rich refused to confirm or deny. "I wouldn't like to comment on thar, he said, adding, "I hope we can move forward constructively in our discussions with the Union." •Those wishing to join the Union's protest should gather in the Square at 8.30 am to meet for a sit-in and leafleting campaign. An EGM has been arranged for 12pm in The Square, or if raining, in The Hive. And Daniel Owen hopes that as many students as possible will get involved not just those from EUR, but across the whole University. "We're trying to put pressure on the University to meet students' demands to have their grades restored: marks hard work." that they've earned