INSIDE: SECRET SHEFFIELD/ GEORGE EZRA/ NEKNOMINATION/ SERENA/ THAT FACE/ INDIE ARCADE/
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The independent student newspaper of the University of Sheffield. Est. 1946.
Issue 67 Friday February 21 2013 @ForgePress /ForgePress
Lifestyle celebrate: The most inspirational women of the 20th century, p. 20
Screen predict:
The comeback of the Disney fairytale, Fuse, p. 5
Features reveal:
The hidden talent behind your favourite wildlife shows p. 14-15
SU workers ruled out from using women’s minibus Photo: Aidan Phillips
The ‘unlawful’ policy that could stop you graduating
Read the full story on p. 3
4 University of Sheffield denies students the chance to graduate if library fines are unpaid Nicola Moors University rules that enforce academic sanctions on students could breach consumer protection law, according to research by a government department. The Office for Fair Trading (OFT) has revealed that 75 per cent of UK universities have terms and conditions that prevent students from graduating or enrolling onto the next academic year if they owe nontuition fee debts, such as university accommodation or library fines. In their research they said the “terms and practices considered in the investigation may be open to challenge as potentially unfair and/or otherwise unlawful.” The Office for Fair Trading said they consider “the blanket use of academic sanctions in such instances, regardless of the circumstances, could breach consumer protection law.” The University of Sheffield deny students the chance to graduate if they owe library fines, according to their website. Andrew West, director of Student Services at the
University of Sheffield said: “As of yet we are not aware of any direct contact to the University from the OFT. Our staff have taken note of the issue and will take action as appropriate.” Nisha Arora, senior director in the OFT’s Services, Infrastructure and Public Markets Group, said: ‘Preventing progression or graduation not only affects students’ educational experience but could also significantly harm their future employment prospects and ability to pay off their debts.” The OFT believes that university rules and regulations that govern the relationship between the university and students are “likely to form part of a contract for the provision of educational services. “The terms set out in the rules and regulations are likely to be subject to the test of fairness under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 (UTCCRs).” Regulation 5(1) of the UTCCRs says that a term is unfair “if, contrary to the requirement of good faith, it causes a significant imbalance in the parties’ rights and obligations arising under the contract, to the detriment of the consumer.” Continued on p. 3
Munya with Conor Maynard at the Brits
Munya goes to the Brits Read the full story on p. 3