News in Brief
Labour candidate Mandy Telford became the new NUS President this Tuesday, in what former President Andrew Pakes, calls "one of the dirtiest campaigns I've seen in NUS".
Following a split vote in the first round, Telford beat the mainstream independent candidate and former education Vice President, Brookes Duke.
Taking the post back to Labour, the election has met widespread scepticism. Former President Owain James commented, "the NUS needs to be run by someone who isn't representing one group first before they represent students".
Jeff Williams HAS this term been co-opted for the position of VP (Graduates) for OUSU, subject to confirmation by a by-election in OUSU Council of 1st Week.
Replacing Catherine Sangster, who dramatically resigned last term, Williams commented that "coming as an outsider, I'm very excited about the role". He added that he was "very pleased at the level of support from other sabs".
Graduate student Nadeem Ahmed is waiting for the verdict in his lawsuit against the University.
Ahmed, an ex-student of Indian origin, is suing the University on grounds of racial discrimination after failing a "flawed" exam. The failure meant he was asked to leave his Master's course in medieval Arabic philosophy. A ruling is expected in the next few weeks.
IT HAS BEEN reported that Tony Blair and Gordon Brown had a shouting match last month over calls to reform student finance.
Mr Brown is said to have told the Prime Minister that the Treasury is not prepared to bankroll an expensive solution which would benefit the middle classes. No. 10 is keen to reintroduce grants but also to introduce a graduate tax, whilst the Treasury only favours bursaries for the poorest students.
25th Apr 2002