No. 733
www.palatinate.org.uk
First fashion photoshoot of the year: Fittest Fresher
Marcus Brigstocke interview: comedian/atheist talks about his new book ‘God Collar’
Indigo Cover Story, pages 3-6
Palatinate Profile, page 15
Palatinate Durham’s student newspaper since 1948
Tuesday 8th November 2011 | FREE
David Miliband addresses the DUS on his university tour, page 5
Photograph: Delaney Chambers
JCR’s to unite in protest . . 38-week lets provokes protest motion at DSU Council
Daniel Johnson Hugh Anderson-Elliott College JCR’s are set to stage a protest against 38-week lets after growing exasperation at the University’s handling of the issue. JCR Presidents’ Committee was damning of the proposals, speaking in a statement of the “real student anger that surrounds the issue”. They were also heavily critical of the impact 38-week lets could have on post-application open days and college services. A motion for the protest outside Old Shire Hall will be put to DSU Council on Thursday, with insiders saying it is certain to pass, most likely unanimously. The protest will take the form of a walk out of all lectures at 12, at which point everyone will
gather outside Old Shire Hall and sign a petition. DSU President Mike King lamented the lack of consultation on the issue: “It is not good enough that college presidents have only been consulted once over a lunch. “What is required is a working group set up of all 12 colleges involving the JCR president, principle and bursar.” A Durham University spokesperson said: “The Deputy Warden is leading on consultation with Colleges, the JCR Presidents and the DSU to determine the right value for money packages for future years, which meet the individual needs of Colleges. “A further meeting is scheduled with the JCR Presidents and DSU on November 12 when this issue will be discussed. It is not clear what purpose any protest would serve and at this stage it would be premature.”
University says protest is “premature”
Surveys have shown that the overwhelming majority of students are opposed to 38-week lets. A survey last year of over 1000 students found that only 6% supported the proposal of compulsory 38 week let, a tiny proportion considering the wide ranging implications of the policy.
“Real student anger surrounds the issue” JCR Presidents’ Committee
In addition the survey found that 98% of students did not want college open days to cease, and 76% had found their college open day an important factor in deciding whether to
come to Durham University. Colleges say it is extremely doubtful whether post application open days will be able to continue in their current form were the university to implement mandatory 38-week let. A more recent survey of around 700 students has found that when questioned on the same issue, over 80 percent said that open days were “important or very important” in causing them to chose Durham. Similarly, this year only 22 of 327 Hild Bede students signed up for 38week let, a mere 6.7%. One JCR President said, after the motion had been proposed: “the University have been diabolical in their communications with us on this issue”. DSU President Mike King pinpointed the lack of liaison with the University on the issue as a key reason for the protest. He said: “The motion has gone to council because col-
lege presidents and students do not feel that they have been consulted on how 38-week lets will be implemented. “The University executive has made the decision on 38-week lets but they do not know how they will implement the policy. Policy should be forward thinking and 38-week lets should be retracted until they have a plan on how to implement 38week lets.” There have been question marks over the process by which the University has come to this decision, as conflicting messages have been given out by different high profile figures. The DSU have been told in no uncertain terms that the policy will go ahead, but meanwhile several University offices are still refusing to participate in the debate, hiding behind the fact that it is still not “official” policy. continued on page 5