Welcome to live coverage of the UCLan Students’ Union student council meeting, starting at 4:30pm today.

Below are the abbreviations that will be used throughout:

JS – Jason Smith, Chair of student council

Student Affairs Committee:

REL – Reni Eddo-Lodge, President

BV – Becca Vafeas, Education Officer

DS – David Stubbings, Media Officer

SP – Stefan Popovic, Campaigns Officer

JB – Jack Banks, Activities and Participation Officer

Council Reps:

LB – Lee Bradshaw, council rep

MR – Megan Reynolds, council rep

CW – Claire Wilkinson, council rep

CA – Courage Aiguobasinnwin, council rep

SDt – Sarah Desiree-Tieman, post-grad rep

DS – Daniel Scott, BME rep

SW – Sam Whalley, LGBT rep

KQ – Kim Quayle, Women’s rep

CF – Christina Frey, International rep

Staff:

PSG – Pete Shilton-Godwin, Chief Exec

GP – Gareth Pye, Membership Services Manager

SN – Sam Nichols, Representation Co-ordinator

MD – Martin Dodd, Course Rep Co-0rdinator

Frankie has been a divisive figure during his time on X-Factor. Photo: Beacon Radio (Flickr)

Students voice their anger over infamous Cocozza’s appearance at 53 Degrees event.

UCLan students, and members of the Students’ Union council have expressed their anger and concern on Facebook at the news of the former X Factor contestant appearing at Vodka Nationwide next week.

The infamous singer was kicked off the show this week, following allegations of cocaine use. The official reason for his depature was for “breaking competition rules,” but rumours have been rife as to his ‘rock and roll’ lifestyle.

Student councillor, Lee Bradshaw posted on Facebook: “Surely the union should not be inviting someone who was kicked of a talent show for taking cocaine :-/…surely the promoters should know better.”[sic]

Jason Smith posted: “frankie cokenozza @53degrees next week! not sure what this says about tefkap, lets just hope he doesn’t sing.” [sic]*

Reports today allege that Cocozza charges £3,000 for nightclub appearances.

Reni Eddo-Lodge, Students’ Union President said that the Union’s reputation is the most important. She said: ”Vodka Nationwide is put on by an external company called Taking Liberties.

“The Students’ Union has not invited him, nor have the events team…I urge Vodka Nationwide to rethink this booking.”

The full interview with Reni can be heard below.

Students on the 53 Degrees Facebook page were quick to express their anger.

“Personally, I think it is immoral and disgusting that Vodka Nationwide should be allowed to use SU premises for their events if they are paying a known drug user to appear and perform. Shame on UCLan SU and 53 Degrees,” said one.

Louisa Jane: “ Haha, is this a joke?”

Andi Berry said: “Is that what UCLan think that we really want??”

Jonathan Duncan added: “Why is that c*nt in Preston?”

The full Facebook thread can be seen here.

On the other hand, some students on the Facebook page were not angry at the prospect of his appearance.

Katie Walker said: “If you don’t like him, don’t go, stop b*tching about it jeeeez .”

Natallie Green added: “im major exception here but i absolutely love him hahaha :/” [sic].

On the Facebook event page, 53 Degrees replied: “love him or loath him, it’s got people talking!”[sic] it’s an external company, so it’s their ticket sales, let the battle commence!!”

What do you think? Here is a snapshot of what you were saying around campus this afternoon.

* All posts from social networking sites are assumed to be from a personal capacity.

Statement from 53 Degrees

The legal relationship between UCLan SU & Taking Liberties is one of venue operator and promoter. Taking Liberties as promoter pay Uclan SU for the hire of facilities (53DEGREES) for their weekly Vodka Nationwide event and work within a contractual agreement.

The promoter is contracted to work within all civil and criminal laws relating to the provision of entertainment and within relevant all legal guidelines with regards to Health & Safety.

What do you think? Do you agree with Frankie Cocozza coming to 53 Degrees? Let us know below, or vote in our Facebook poll: http://on.fb.me/uFJKXr

The agenda and motions for today’s Annual Members’ Meeting (AMM)  at UCLan Students’ Union have been made available.

Motions including the provision of gender-neutral toilet facilities around the Union and supporting public sector strike action are amongst some of the proposals for the meeting.

You can view the full agenda and available motions here.

The AMM will be opened with an address from Christina Yan Zhang, who  is the International Students’ Officer for the National Union of Students.

You can follow Pluto’s live coverage of the event from 3pm, today (Thursday 10th November) here.

Join us for live coverage of the Students’ Union’s (SU) Annual Members’ Meeting which will feature a speech from Christina Yan Zhang, International Students Officer at the National Union of Students.

Key

Reni Eddo-Lodge, SU President – REL
David Stubbings, SU Media Officer – DS
Jack Banks, SU Activities and Participation Officer – JB
Becca Vafeas, SU Education Officer – BV
Stefan Popovic, SU Campaigns Officer – SP

Peter Shilton-Godwin, Chief Executive of SU – PSG
Gareth Pye, Membership Services Manager – GP
Lynda Stott, Head of Central Services – LS
Jason Smith, Chair of Student Council – JS
Sam Nichols, Representative Co-ordinator – SN

Alex Bone, External Trustee – AB
Anthony Weller, External Trustee – AW
Jane Riley , External Trustee – JR
Chris Cullen, Student Trustee – CC
Christine Yan Zhang, NUS International Students’ Rep – CYZ

The new online timetable system has caused a few ‘teething problems’ within UCLan campus.

Students have been trying to understand the new timetable system. Photo by Megan Knight.

The initial intention of this online timetable was to enable students to use either their mobile phone, laptop or even an iPad to view your own personal timetable for the year.

For some the new system was launched successfully, yet over 100,000 timetable enquires have been made.

Michael Ahern, Project Executive of the UCLan Online Timetable project said he and his staff in the Learning and Information Services (LIS).

“We are aware of a number of issues that have been reported regarding the timetable and with the way that the timetable is presented,” he said.

“This can result in confusion about the timetable or even rare occasions overlapping events. We are resolving these as a matter of urgency.”

Forensic Science Student, Jenny Hill said: “My subjects keep overlapping. Where do you want me to be?”

Hayley Kendal, Illustration student remarked: “I just can’t find it, the link doesn’t work for me” when referring to the practicality of the Online Timetable.

Nevertheless Mr Ahern is confident that they will be able to fix the system and have it working again soon.

“We are confident that in the next few weeks these issues will be resolved and the full benefits of the online timetable will be enjoyed,” he added.

“If you have been affected by any of the teething problems, or are affected in the next few weeks, then please accept my apologies for any inconvenience caused.”

LIS, based in the library, has had hundreds of calls from students about the recent changes. Photo by Amy Ferguson (Flickr)

Meanwhile if any UCLan students have any other issues with their timetables help is on hand. Staff members in your School Office, Staff in the ‘I’ and even in the Library will be willing to assist any students with problems.

By Adam Legg

A controversial review of university spending means recommends that English universities should be able to charge unlimited fees.

Could Lord Browne's recommondations spell the end for scenes like this?

The radical reform of universities could see students paying up to £36,000 for a three-year degree course.

Proposals suggest that student fees should be funded upfront by the government up to £6,000 through a system of loans and graduate repayments. Fees over £6,000 should not be formally capped, but subject to a levy, according to the report.

The report insists that universities that charge more than £6,000 a year would lose a proportion of the fee to help cover the cost of student borrowing.

Only “priority” subjects will be safe from a full withdrawal of government funding. Funding for arts and humanities are likely to be scrapped.

Public investment will only be targeted at clinical medicine, nursing, science, technology and modern languages.

The report suggests that new university academics should be subject to teacher-training qualification accredited by the Higher Education Academy.

Lord Browne defended his proposals and insisted that students wouldn’t be left with mortgage sized debts. He said: “They would be paying the same interest rate as the government uses to borrow. They will only pay it back when their earnings go above £21,000.

“If you choose to go into a job which doesn’t pay very much or if you choose to go out of the workforce to build a family, you won’t have to pay it back.”

Government ministers now have to respond to the university fee proposal.

There is the threat of a Liberal Democrat backbench rebellion after all Liberal Democrat MPs promised not to vote for an increase in university fees on their election campaign however 42 Lib Dem MPs are needed to block the proposals.

Currently only 30 have pledged to vote against the coalition.

By Hannah Breeze

Deputy News Editor

Image courtesy of Andrew Scott

A student who was eight months pregnant found herself out of pocket after her accommodation charged her heavily for general repairs.

Warehouse apartments on Victoria Street

The 21-year-old was angry to find her landlord at Warehouse Apartments had taken £156 of her £250 damage deposit for repairs such as repainting walls and re-grouting the shower.

“When I moved in they weren’t painted and the room looked like it hadn’t been cleaned. I was also charged for the shower to be grouted even though it was spotless and I’d taken pictures to prove it,” she said.

“They charged me £22 for each wall to be repainted, £30 for the shower and £5 for a light bulb. There was also a stain on the mattress and they charged £20 for the mattress and £17 labour costs for removing it.

“I tried to avoid getting stressed, the fact they wouldn’t drop the charges for repainting really angered me.

“During my room inspection I wasn’t told I’d be charged for the walls as it was on the inventory. It took them a week to reply to my e-mail and after two weeks I got the Students’ Union Advice Centre involved.

“They looked at my charges and said I shouldn’t have been charged for most of the items on the list. When the Advice Centre rung up they were suddenly willing to drop all the charges. They seemed to think as I was a student I wouldn’t take it further and they could charge whatever they thought they could get away with.”

A spokesman from the Students’ Union said that this was one of many complaints made by students about overcharging by landlords.

“We successfully retrieved a large proportion of the proposed defects deeming them ‘unfair’ deductions.

“Although the landlord had in this case entered the deposit into a TDS they had failed to comply with the regulations as they did not release the undisputed amount of money to the student, therefore leaving the student with none of their deposit, not even the amount they were entitled to in the first instance.”

Many more students have complained about the charges brought against them by the accommodation, situated on Victoria Street.

One of the charge sheets issued to students

Former Events Management student, Joanne Slater, was also charged for wall repaints and re-grouting work in her bathroom due to a sink leak. She said: “There was nothing wrong with the walls or the curtains which they dry-cleaned.

“They replaced our microwave despite the fact it wasn’t broken and charged us and charged my flatmate £10 for a new shower curtain even though it was it fine.

“To top it all off they charged us £3 for miscellaneous. God knows what that was for.”

“I think it’s disgraceful that they can charge students as much as they want and get away with it, I mean we can’t exactly protest when they take the money out of the deposit.

“We should pay be if we’ve totally ruined the walls, damaged the furniture or stained the floors, not for merely eating, sleeping & breathing in the place, it’s called living!”

Third year Fashion Promotion student Amy Pomeroy was charged £189 including a painting charge of £55, £2.50 for a mop and bucket and £10 miscellaneous.

Amy and her flatmates were also charged £11.25 each for a replacement microwave when the previous one was getting old.

“The microwave replacement charge was a joke. It was old and coming apart, not because anything we had done to it. They just needed a new microwave and instead of forking out themselves for a new one, they blamed it on us to pay for a new one,” she said.

“I was really annoyed that they inspected the flat while I was still living there, as I stayed a few extra weeks. I had no warning that they were inspecting so did not do a full clean. They took pictures of a dirty fridge while all my stuff was still in the fridge.

“When I vacated the flat I did a full clean of the kitchen, oven, fridge and freezer without realising that they had already charged us to clean the kitchen. I spent the whole day cleaning before I left to keep charges to a minimum so I was very annoyed to find that I need not have bothered as they had already been to inspect and charged us.”

Amy’s flatmate, Hannah Brearley-Jones, a third year Fashion Design student,  was charged a similar amount and said the microwave was cleaned every other week after Warehouse claimed it had become a health and safety risk.

Like others, she tried to contact Warehouse Apartments about the charges.

“I emailed The Warehouse several times but got nowhere. They just replied with explanations that made no sense or avoiding giving me answers.
“I am very annoyed at how they treat students and something needs to be done about it as it isn’t fair at all.”

Another student affected was 20-year-old Film Production student Sean Lyons.

“I had to argue with them because they wanted charge us for stuff we never had originally such as a free view box,” he said.

“They supposedly spread the charges of communal areas between all flat members but one of my flatmates was charged for a microwave plate when none of us were, when there was nothing wrong with the microwave plate at all.

“We’ve all been charged for a new three-seat sofa, when the one we had had a small hole no bigger than a five pence piece. But I e-mailed them offering to buy a new sofa as they could not longer use the broken one but we wanted it but they dismissed it and continued to charge us all for it.”

Other students have expressed their disgust at the charges describing the situation as a scandal and feeling ripped-off as well as saying they no longer trusted the company.

Following the large numbers of complaints by students, the Advice Centre has warned students to make sure they thoroughly read their contracts when living in private accommodation.

“Knowing your rights is pertinent in these circumstances and we can help. The Tenancy Deposit Laws are there to help protect tenants and in the above scenario were actually utilised. However, in many circumstances they are not,” said the centre’s spokesperson.

“All private landlords and letting agents who take a deposit for an assured short hold tenancy within England and Wales must enter it into a Government  authorised tenancy deposit protection scheme.

“There is further guidance on this displayed on our website, in the Advice Centre and in leaflet form. Please remember, the Advisors are here to help you, if in doubt ask.”

Despite several attempts to contact them, Warehouse Apartments failed to respond.

By David Stubbings

News Editor

UCLan’s Students’ Union are encouraging students to get involved with this year’s national student demonstration.

The event, organised by the NUS and the University and College Union (UCU), takes place in London on Wednesday November 10 under the slogan of ‘Fund Our Future: Stop Education Cuts’, in protest of expected cuts in university funding.

NUS president Aaron Porter is calling for as many students as possible to take part and dissuade the government from raising tuition fees.

“These are tough times and they require tough choices. Ministers and university leaders will not shirk from that task,” he said.

“We need to be there to make their decisions tougher, we need to prevent them from making the wrong choices, to defend and protect our priorities and those of our membership.

“We need to be out on the streets of London, we need to be in our local communities making this a key issue for constituencies and their MPs and we need to be inside the rooms where the deals will be made. To have an impact, we need to do all of these things and do them well.”

Overall Porter hopes 15,000 students attend the London protest which he describes as “the largest education demonstration in a decade”.

He added: “We need to build for a year of action on a scale that we have not undertaken since the higher education bill six years ago.”

Last week saw the first regional meeting took place at UCLan’s SU with Lancaster and Cumbria student unions to discuss individual campaigns and ways of mobilising students for the demonstration.

“We are planning to take 100 students but we would love more to go,” said student president Michael Palmer.

“We want students to not just take part in the demonstration but actively engage with the campaign. The demonstration is just part of it.

“Mobilising students to London shows they [the NUS] are very passionate about it. It is important.”

UCLan has said students wishing to take part in the demonstration will be given authorised absences from classes, providing they contact lecturers beforehand.

The individual theme at UCLan is ‘Pay More, Get Less’ with a number of events planned by campaigns officer Laura Hicks.

To get involved contact campaigns officer Laura Hicks at sucampaigns@uclan.ac.uk to join the UCLan’s events mailing list. Alternatively, visit the Student Affairs Committee office on the first floor of the Students’ Union next to the Atrium.

For information on the national demonstration register at www.demo2010.org.

The gap between rich and poor teenagers attending university has significantly narrowed for the first time, research from the Higher Education Funding Council for England shows.

The report, published in January, says that one in five people from underprivileged backgrounds are entering higher education, a figure up 27 percent since 2005 and 38 percent since 1995.

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Hundreds of thousands of prospective students face missing out on university because of budget cut backs.

Universities UK revealed that for 2010-11 cuts of £135m have been added to “efficiency savings” of £180m, with a further £600m to follow.

Universities’ funding body Hefce is yet to reveal how spending on teaching, research and capital will be allocated in England for the next academic year.

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