IMPLEMENTING LEVESON’S REPORT | MODERN DAY SLAVERY | WALKING ON THE WILD SIDE
TheBeaver
04.12.2012
Newspaper of the LSE Students’ Union FREE
RUFFLING FEATHERS Arisa Manawapat, 6WDŕź 5HSRUWHU
$V WKH /RQGRQ 6FKRRO RI (FRQRP ics’ largest venue with a capacity of over one thousand seats, the Peacock 7KHDWUH KDV KRVWHG VXFK KLJK SURன OH VSHDNHUV DV .Rன $QQDQ $XQJ 6DQ 6XX Kyi and Paul Krugman and continues to seat 7,000 students per week for courses such as Economics B (EC102), (OHPHQWV RI $FFRXQWLQJ DQG )LQDQFH $& DQG /6( Built in 1911 as the London Opera House, the theatre was built for the purpose of housing theatre performances. Students, however, have questioned whether a theatre originally built for operas is conducive to university lecturing. Questions have been raised as to why the Peacock Theatre has not been properly converted into D PRUH ன WWLQJ YHQXH IRU VWXGHQWV In the past week, more than 250 students participated in the Beaver’s online survey on the Peacock’s suitability as a lecture venue. $PRQJ WKH FRPSODLQWV UDLVHG LQ WKH Beaver’s online survey, it was revealed that 75.5 per cent of respondents felt there was a lack of writing space, while 72.4 per cent found the lighting to be too dim. Other issues included the lack of WiFi (46.9 per cent) and the large, impersonal size of lectures at the Theatre (25.5 per cent). On the topic on writing space, one respondent proposed “introducing tables that fold away neatly into chairsâ€?, while another agreed with adding desks similar to those of the Old Theatre, so that theater-goers will not be disturbed. “It looks somewhat XQFRPIRUWDEOH ‍ ڕ‏DGPLWWHG 0$ 3UR
fessor Jan van den Heuvel, lecturer of 0$ ‍ڔ‏HVSHFLDOO\ LI VWXGHQWV KDYH WR do a lot of writing.â€? Respondents also suggested that “better lighting will help students stay awake,â€? and that currently the lighting was not ideal for “a learning environment.â€? One second year Economics student claimed to have completely given up on attending lectures held in the Peacock after failing to stay awake in the dimly lit theatre. Some suggested that the LSE should make the lighting more “adjustableâ€? to accommodate both purposes as a lecture hall and a theatre, saying that theatre managers should “put more OLJKWV WKDW /6( FDQ VZLWFK RŕŽ‰ GXULQJ [theatre] performances.â€? In addition, lighting can be improved “towards the back of the theatreâ€?, where “there are too many dark ‘patches.’â€? Students, however, did agree that the Peacock Theatre is a “comfortable YHQXH ‍ ڕ‏$FFRUGLQJ WR SHU FHQW of respondents, the Theatre’s comfortable chairs induced sleepiness, which makes it hard for students to concentrate during lectures. However, 8.2 per cent viewed this as a positive thing, and were fond of sleeping in lectures in general. Professor 0LFKHOH +DUYH\ RI 0$ DJUHHG WKDW VRPH VWXGHQWV â€ŤÚ”â€ŹŕŽŠ QG LW KDUG WR FRQFHQ trate in that warm comfortable atmosphere.â€? Other respondents suggested that students should be able to receive WiFi and phone signals in the theatre, as many would like to access their lecture notes online or “check where friends are sitting. â€?Should the LSE Continued on page 3, col 1.
Library expansion raises concerns over study space The expansion into the Lionel Robbins Building and the Earlier this month, the LSE other upgrades taking place Library announced that the will result in a new group study building will be under con- space with PCs for LSE stustruction over the rest of the GHQWV RQ WKH ன UVW ŕŽ‹ RRU D QHZ academic year as it expands seminar room for information XSZDUGV LQWR WKH IRXUWK ŕŽ‹ RRU skills training and outreach of the Lionel Robbins Build- work using archival materials, ing. While the expansion is and improved public toilet faexpected to increase and im- cilities in the Library. Furthermore, the Women’s prove library space for its users, many students have Library, which is currently voiced their concern over how held by London Metropolitan the construction would re- University, will open in the listrict the already scarce study brary as the Women’s Library @ LSE. It will have its own space in the library. Ira Lorandou, 6WDŕź 5HSRUWHU
dedicated reading room, an exhibition space, a new collection store on the lower ground ŕŽ‹ RRU DQG /6( $UFKLYHV RQ WKH IRXUWK ŕŽ‹ RRU $W WKH PRPHQW the Women’s Library is the oldest and most extensive collection of women’s history in Europe and in combining it with LSE’s existing holdings, “they will undoubtedly make one of the best international collections for the support of research on women’s lives and gender issuesâ€?, as publicly declared by LSE Director Craig Calhoun.
However, in order for these upgrades to take place, works have already begun and will continue to take place during term time. Construction has resulted in constraints on the already limited study areas and group spaces. The study desk area around the Help Desk has been closed as well as the PhD study area. Moreover, from December 7th to the 10th, one of the group study rooms, R127, will be also be closed. In the New Year the storage space on the lower JURXQG ŕŽ‹ RRU ZLOO EHJLQ EHLQJ
extended, which will result in further closure of group study areas (spaces 001-065) and restrictions to the last resort of group study areas: the bean bag area. In addition to this there will also be noise disruption on the 8th and 9th of December. It remains, however, that the issue of restrictions on space has got many students riled up. The Beaver has received comContinued on page 6, col 1.
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