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CONCRETE REFERENCE ARCHIVE
Issue 169 ·Wednesday, November 17th 2004
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FINANCE OFFICER, JAMES DRAKEFORD, REFUTES RUMOURS ABOUT CPS CASH· Helen Pike Deputy Editor
Union finance officer Jarnes Drakeford has dispelled any rumours concerning the shortage of funding towards societies and sports clubs being due to the money spent on the Hive refurbishment. Since the beginning of term rumours have been circulating that, due to the redevelopment of the Hive, there is less money to spend on clubs and societies.
The construction of the Hive took place between April and September and cost £2.5 million . Mr. Drakeford has stated that whilst debating the redevelopment of the Hive, the Union Council made sure that various budgets would not be cut as a consequence. This, he added, included all Sporting Clubs, Peer Support Groups and Societies (CPS's). However, many clubs and societies have faced a shortage in their budgets this academic year. The football club has complained of
poor floodlights, a lack of equipment and the training ground they use at Colney Lane Is In need of improving. The rugby club's transport Is no longer funded by the Union and Nightline's fund ing request Is reported to have been halved from £1500 to £750. In a statement sent to all CPS's, Mr. Drakeford points out that the reasons for smaller budgets is due to a reduced Income in this year. Factors contributing towards the fall last year
Re-investment needed See Page Eight
, WHEN IS A FIRST.NOT A FIRS • UEA IS THE HARDEST FOR A FIRST SAYS STUDY PROMPTING FRESH CALLS FOR STANDARDISED GRADING Jessica Fielder Education Editor
A new study has revealed that UEA students may have even more value attached to their degrees as it is the hardest University in the country to gain a first from. The controversial
research , produced by London Metropolitan University and reported in the Times Higher Education Supplement. compares the requirements for receiving a first at 58 UK Universities. Whilst they are all expected to adhere to the 700Al benchmark for a first, each can choose which modules are used to assess this. For
example, some Universities will include only final year marks, whilst others take an average (often weighted) of the grades achieved throughout years two and three. At UEA the absolute minimum grade average with which a student could get a first would be 68.75%. At Sunderland, by contrast,
a student could theoretically achieve an average of only 50.8% and sti11 receive a first. LSE, ranked as the 11th University In the world, comes a close second• to Sunderland's lowest grade average with only 52.2% required to gain a first, although LSE say the circumstances under which a first would be awarded for
this grade would be "highly unlikely". The study has raised many questions about the continuity between grades awarded for work. There is the potential for criticism about grade classifications being entirely arbitrary, to the extent that a 50% grade awarded at UEA may get a much lower mark at another
university, like the LSE. The lack of continuity Is not just an issue between Universities. Different schools at UEA have different criteria for awarding a first. It is harder to gain a first for a Science degree, requiring a 70% grade in all units, as opposed to
Consistency required See Page Eight