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gair rhydd
17 chwefror 2020 17 feburary 2020
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Cardiff University’s student paper | Established 1972
Xpress Radio’s LGBT+ Day - February 19
SU President responds to leaked email
Tomos Evans Charlotte King
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ardiff University Students’ Union President Jackie Yip has responded to a leaked email, sent to Gair Rhydd via an anonymous source, in which it was revealed that some students will “not be able to graduate this year”. In an email chain with the Presidents of approximately 70 other Students’ Unions across the country, Yip stated: “Confidentially, further strike action will now mean some of my students will have missed so much content that they will not be able to graduate this year, even if there are mitigating actions put in place. We have not told students this as we do not want to cause panic and behind closed doors, I am doing everything I can to protect my students. I am sure this may be the case in some of your Unions.” The leaked email does not reveal how many students will be affected or which courses in particular. In response to the comments made in the leaked email, SU President Jackie Yip, said, “In November we were mandated to support the strike action by our students, we have been working closely with UCU since to promote their cause. “We want to highlight all potential real impacts this second round of strikes could have on our students. There’s no clear definitive answer on what these impacts will be, that’s why we haven’t spoken publicly about this yet. “We are of course, working to mitigate any impacts and continue to lobby the University and national stakeholders in bringing this strike action to a close with a good result for all parties involved. “Students wanting to find out more information from the University should attend a Town Hall meeting with the Vice-Chancellor on Wednesday at 12pm in The Great Hall.” In a statement, Cardiff Students Support the Strike said: “The assertion that students will not graduate as a result of strike action – without any evidence to support this – is dangerously irresponsible, and it has understandably caused panic among the student population”. A Cardiff University spokesperson said: “We want to be absolutely clear: our intention is to ensure that all students will be able to meet their learning outcomes and graduate as expected, while ensuring the standards
of our awards. That is and will remain our priority.” Speaking to Gair Rhydd, Students Against Strikes, a group campaigning against the UCU Strike action, said: “We know that these strikes don’t work, there’s no financial penalty for the Universities - indeed, they gain money not having to pay lecturers having taken our tuition fees - and we’re being used as collateral damage in our higher education, they shouldn’t play politics with our degrees. “Indeed, these emails show that mitigation will only go so far, and for some students these strikes will mean that years and money spent at university will go to waste.” A spokesperson for the University and College Union said: “The support from students on the picket lines, through social media and on campus between strikes has been phenomenal, and a little overwhelming. We are so pleased to have received this support and appreciate that students understand how our working conditions are their learning conditions. We are on the same side in this dispute and want to reassure students we are doing all we can to get it sorted out. We would ask students to continue to put pressure on their vice-chancellors to work with us to try and resolve the disputes.” According to article d of subsection 1.2 of Cardiff University’s Academic Regulations Handbook 2019-20: “The University reserves the right for the Vice-Chancellor to vary arrangements in exceptional circumstances, which are beyond the University’s reasonable control. Examples of such circumstances may include: (…) d) labour disputes, including strikes and industrial and other action”. In response to this, a spokesperson for Cardiff University said: ““Over the forthcoming period of industrial action, we will continue to work alongside our academic Schools to manage the impact. Schools are being supported to identify where they may need to vary teaching and assessment activities in order to ensure that students have an opportunity to achieve the learning outcomes of their modules and programmes. The ViceChancellor has exercised the authority he has under Senate Regulations that allow him to permit changes to assessment arrangements where exceptional circumstances disrupt the activities of the University.”
Transforming Cardiff: Cardiff University’s Main Building lies at the heart of the Cathays campus. Source: Tomos Evans.
Update on Transforming Cardiff, one year since its announcement
Tomos Evans Editor-in-Chief
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ransofrming Cardiff, Cardiff University’s project to transform its services as part of an effort to overturn its deficit, is a year old. A Question & Answer session was
held in the Students’ Union last year which saw Vice-Chancellor Colin Riordan answer questions from students. One year on from the project’s initial announcement, Gair Rhydd contacted Cardiff University to see how it’s progressing, with some of the ‘five pillars’ of change already
seeing developments. The consultation process is ongoing with opportunities for both students and staff to give their opinions on proposals, as well as suggest their own. To read more about the progress made on the Transforming Cardiff project so far, turn to page 3.
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Perfformiad Chancellor Cymru yn y Chwe resigns amidst Gwlad hyd yma Cabinet reshuffle
VP Sport talks LGBT+ History Month
Owain Ap Myrddin Cyfrannydd
Ella Fenwick
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edi dechreuad cyferbyniol i ymgyrch Chwe Gwlad Cymru, Owain Ap Myrddin, sy’n asesu a dadansoddi perfformiadau’r tîm cenedlaethol hyd yma. Roedd y fuddugoliaeth agoriadol yn erbyn yr Eidal yn ddechreuad perffaith i’r tîm ac i’r hyfforddwr, Wayne Pivac, a oedd yn arwain Cymru mewn gêm gystadleuol am y tro cyntaf. Ond roedd Cymru bell o fod cystal yn erbyn Iwerddon. Tybed a fydd adfywiad yn erbyn Ffrainc? Ewch i dudalen 8 am ragor. 8
Tom-Henry Jones Politics Editor
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he Chancellor Sajid Javid, one of the most figures in Government has resigned. Javid was told by Number 10 that he would have to sack all of his own special advisors if he’d like to stay in his job, an ultimatum Javid did not accept. Rishi Sunak, 39, has taken on Javid’s job at the Treasury. Sunak who only seven months ago was a Junior Minister in Government, has risen fast up the Conservative ranks. To read more on the reshuffle and the Chancellor’s resignation, turn to page 13. 13
Sport Editor
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or LGBT+ History Month, Sport Editor Ella Fenwick talked to the Vice President Sport Jude Pickett. Pickett discussed how the University encourages inclusive environments in all sports clubs, and the services that the AU offer sports clubs. The AU will be launching the Rainbow Laces campaign by Stonewall in celebration of LGBT+ History Month. She is hoping all sports competitors will be displaying the rainbow laces and armbands by Varsity, and you can read more on page 30. 30