Greg James
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Radio l DJ and UEA alumnus, Greg james, chats to Concrete ahead of his Freshers' Bash performance.
Turn to Competitions for your chance to win a pair of tickets to see Sum 4 l at the LCR .
Tuesday 1 2th O cto ber 20 10 • Issue 245 • UEA's Independent Student N ewspaper
INTEREST GROWS IN STUDENT FEES Pressure mounts on the coalition government to reach an acceptable compromise on higher education funding.
·The coalition government is moving to finalise a deal that will restructure the way graduates repay their student loans. A new 'variable interest rate' could be introduced whereby those who secure higher-paid postgraduate employment will be required to pay back loans at a higher interest rate. In practice, this could see loan repayments mirroring the national interest rate (currently at 0.5%), rather than following the base rate as they do presently. The base rate currently stands at 1.5%. In 2008, the national interest rate reached as high as 5%. Discussions are also focussing on the question of whether or not to remove the cap on tuition fees, a move which could see payments rise to more than double the current figure, capped at £3,290 per annum. The Browne Report into the financing of higher education, due to be published on Tuesday, is expected to advocate an increase in tuition fees up to around £7,000 per year. The report will also recommend a rise in the threshold for starting repayments, which is currently set at an annual salary of £15,000. The search for a new method
of recouping loans has frustrated now be forced out of studying for a Conservative and Liberal Democrat degree. politicians for months, with the Rachel Handforth, Academic two sides seemingly diametrically Officer for the Union of UEA opposed over the issue of Students, said: 'The Union believes restructuring student fees. The Lib that variable interest rates are a Dems campaigned against any rise poor attempt to disguise the rise in fees, with Deputy Prime Minister, in fees that will almost certainly Nick Clegg, saying during the be recommended by the Browne general election campaign that any Review. In the end, it will make very increase in student debt would be "a little difference to the final amount disaster". It seems that such a move that students will have to pay is now inevitable. back. The most worrying thing fgr Former Lib Dem Universities students is the potential removal of spokesman, Stephen Williams, the cap on tuition fees". said his party was not necessarily Aaron Porter, president of NUS, abandoning their pledges from the told Concrete: "There is nothing spring, but that he was concerned by fair about hiking fees and doubling the idea of a market-rate repayment student debt, whilst also increasing structure. interest payments for those who He also expressed concerns at the have to borrow the most in order to possibility of different universities fund their way through university. It being able to charge different fees. would be an insult to the intelligence ''I'm really worried and I know a lot of those who voted for the Liberal of my colleagues are worried that Democrats to attempt to rebrand we may end up with a regime that the regressive and deeply unpopular makes people take choices they're . top-up fee system". not necessarily academically suited He went on to say: "Liberal for," he told the BBC. Democrat MPs have long opposed Although a raise in fees had tuition fees and at the general been widely expected in the higher election each of them signed a education community, the deal pledge to vote against higher fees in ·has stalled over finding a suitably Parliament. It would be a complete forward-thinking policy to placate betrayal of the electorate to abandon disgruntled Lib Dems. This apparent this flagship promise". compromise, however, will not be Turn to page 3 for Concrete's greeted with jubilation by students coverage of the NUS battle against from poorer backgrounds who may the Browne report.
NEWS: NUS vs . the
NEWS: Freshers left alarmed
Rob Schatten Davina Kesby News Correspondents
Browne Report As the Browne Report is released, the NUS have been leading the fight against higher fees. Page3
Freshers are being disrupted by older students setting off fire alarms in halls. Page4
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NEWS: Sportspark brand
FEATURES: Do you ba ck the
SPORT: Meet UEA's Boat
Norwich streets
coalition?
Club.
The Sportspark have used innovative marketing techniques to spread their new logo around the city. Page6
Students give their views on the ' Concrete Sport catch up with one of coalition and what it has achieved UEA's most popular and successful so far. sports clubs, the UEA Boat Club. . Page 12-13
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