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Pres Says...

The first week of term has convinced me that students are a fairly low priority as for as the university adminstration and academics are concerned. On Tuesday a student called me over to witness a combined Stage One/Stage Two Accountancy lecture in Kirk 303. There must have been at least four hundred people crammed in the aisles and spilling at the doors. Not only was this overcrowding grossly unfair to those students unlucky enough to arrive too late to find a seat, but it posed a very dangerous safety hazard.

After complaining to the registry I received this note in reply — "Professer Trow has assured me that he will point out the position to the students and ask that those whose timetable permits attendence at the afternoon class, do so. If this does not achieve a reasonable balance between the two classes, and an acceptable standard of comfort and safety in each of them, Professer Trow will take steps to assign students to each class and require that they attend the class to which they are assigned."

When I pointed this out to the lecturer he looked vaguely sympathetic, but assured me there was little he could do. He said that students have the option of atending either the 10-11 am class or a 3-4pm class and that too many students had opted for the earlier class. However, what he failed to realize was that the alternative option clashed with another commerce subject.

Once again the University has shown itself to be more concerned for tis own convenience than for the interests of students.

The reduction in library services seems to be similarly motivated. The cuts which particularly affect students are the closure of the library at 6 o'clock every Friday night and during the May and August holidays. The library is a crucial area for students and any reductions in its services would have an adverse effect on study.

Once again students are being asked to bear the brunt of a depressed economic situation.

It is obvious that the University is not concerned for students interests. It is students that must work to safeguard their own interests.

The reductions in library services has highlighted the importance of vigilant student representation. The cuts in library hours were passed because student representatives failed to attend meetings or turned up to meetings late.

It is only too easy for the University to ignore the requirements of students. We must not forget nor let the administration and academics forget that without students the University would not exist. We should also adopt this attitude in the approach to the courses we are taking. It is vital that students demand to be taken into consideration when assessment and content is being decided.

We are the customer. In theory University exists to teach us. We have a right to have a say — use it.

— Lindy Cassidy.