Cuts to USSU’s block grant sets dangerous precedent

The reduction in USSU’s block grant from the university is a bitter pill to swallow. It should not be taken lightly and it matters to anyone who uses the bars and shops, all that rely on the advice and representation it provides and anyone who make use of the many clubs and societies on offer.

Of course also at risk are the Union staff, who ensure the smooth running of the Union as successive cohorts come and go and the many casual staff who gain employment during their studies.

We are informed by the university press office that since USSU last year failed to make any money (or as much as it should) pretty drastic budget cuts are in order.

Still this is not the ‘cause’ of our ‘very precarious financial position’ but instead apparently the effect of our own supposed financial ineptitude. Read more

University of Sussex accused of “discriminating against disabled students” after breaching equality law

The University of Sussex has allegedly breached legal requirements after failing to consult disabled students before their “proposal for change” to student support services, sparking new conflict between the university and the University of Sussex Students’ Union (USSU).

The new policies include the closure of Unisex, which according to their spokesman, has “nearly 600 students coming through our doors each year”. The USSU claims this “breaching” of requirements is likely to impact negatively on the reported 20 percent of Sussex students who seek student support for disabilities.

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Final year students: how you can help stop the cuts? Students should hold off taking part in the National Student Survey until management listens to our concerns

The National Student Survey (NSS) is an annual survey of final year undergraduate students. USSU is asking final year undergraduates not to take part in the NSS in protest at university management cutting 115 staff across the campus.

University management have so far been unwilling to enter into meaningful negotiations with either the Students’ Union or staff unions over proposals to axe 115 teaching and support staff. The lecturers’ union is set to take strike action this Thursday. As students one way we can register our dissatisfaction is by refusing to participate in the NSS. Read more

Apply to work on The Pulse, The Badger and The Badger Online 2010-11

You can now apply online to be part of The Pulse (termly online magazine), The Badger (weekly newspaper) and The Badger Online (newspaper website) teams for next year (2010-2011).

Working on student media at Sussex provides an excellent and exciting opportunity to bolster your CV for a wide range of future careers and to meet lots of other students, whilst also providing an important information service for both students and staff at Sussex.

No previous experience is necessary – just commitment and enthusiasm! You can fill in an application form HERE

The following positions are available:

The Badger (click here to see details and descriptions of each role):

- Editor-In-Chief, Arts Editor-In-Chief, News Editors, Letters Editors, Comment & Opinion Editors, What’s On Editors, Art Editors, Performance Editors, Film Editors, Music Editors, Science Editors, Sports Editors, Union & Societies Page Editors, Photo Editor, Photographers, Sub-Editors, Researchers.

The Pulse:

- Editor-In-Chief, Designers, Arts & Culture Editors, Beats-Per-Minite Editors, Politics Editors, Features Editors,  Fashion & Lifestyle Editors, Photographers.

The Badger Online:

- Web Editor-In-Chief, Web Editors.

All positions are unpaid, voluntary roles, and you will be working in a close team with other editors and designers, and also the USSU Communications Officer.

Duties vary depending on the position and media outlet, but can include:
- Attending weekly editorial meetings and writers’ meetings.
- Sourcing information on campus, in the local area and on a national level that is of student interest.
- Both commissioning and writing weekly articles to fill a page with a total word count of around 1400-1800 words.
- editing and sub-editing articles.
- putting the work into the page and sourcing accompanying graphics and images.
- Submitting the content of the news pages online for review by The Badger online editors (Badger Editors only).

The successful applicants will gain excellent experience working to deadlines in print and/or online media.

To apply for The Pulse, The Badger and The Badger Online, fill in the online application form here.

Please send accompanying examples of design or writing work to communications@ussu.sussex.ac.uk. The deadline for applications is Friday 7th May 2010 at 6pm.

Best of luck!

The Badger

The Badger is the weekly newspaper of the University of Sussex Students’ Union. It covers campus, local, national and international news, comment and opinion, features, film, music, performance, listings and sport. It is written by students for students and is open to everyone.

University of Sussex Deputy VC Paul Layzell announces resignation

On Friday 19 March it was announced that Deputy Vice-Chancellor Paul Layzell is to leave his position at the University of Sussex after accepting his new role of principal at Royal Holloway, which he will begin mid-August. 

According to Vice-Chancellor Michael Farthing, Layzell was the “driving force” behind the creation of the strategic plan ‘Making the Future’. This led to the highly-contentious proposed cuts to spending, and staff redundancies, which angered many Sussex students and staff alike. Reaction to Layzell’s plans included the student occupation of Bramber House and Sussex House, both of which attracted attention from across the country. 

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Record-breaking number of students attend EGM to vote no confidence in Vice-Chancellor Michael Farthing

On Wednesday 18 March students at the University of Sussex passed with an overwhelming majority a motion of no confidence in the Vice Chancellor, Michael Farthing, and his executive group (VCEG).

The vote was passed at a University of Sussex Students’ Union (USSU) emergency general meeting (EGM), with a record breaking 850 attendees, the largest in the union’s history. Around 200 further students queued on the stairs leading to Mandela Hall, unable to enter, hoping for the opportunity to vote in what has been described as the largest mobilisation of students in the university’s history.

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Sussex UCU votes for strike action

Last Wednesday 3 March, the University and College Union (UCU) at Sussex voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action in their fight to save jobs and services at the university.

Turnout totalled a record 80.9 per cent, the highest the union has ever received in a ballot.

The union said the unprecedented turnout was indicative of the strength of feeling among UCU members over the savage funding cuts and damaging job losses proposed.

Over three-quarters of staff who voted supported strike action, and more than 82 per cent agreed to action short of a strike.

Sussex UCU said it still hoped the dispute could be “resolved without any disruption.”

Paul Cecil, president of Sussex UCU, said: “UCU members have today delivered a clear mandate for industrial action at the University of Sussex. We thank our members for participating in such large numbers and reiterate our belief that a negotiated settlement is still possible if the university steps back from implementing its job-cut plans, votes to delay the decision, and considers our alternatives.”

University of Sussex Students’ Union (USSU) president, Tom Wills, offered a statement of support, declaring, “We are right behind Sussex staff and the principled stand they are taking in defence of their jobs and our education.”

“We will hold the university management responsible for the devastation that will be wrought on our education if they succeed in pushing through with their cuts proposals.

“Strike action by staff is the key to winning this battle and we will do everything we can to support it.”

A Sussex spokesman said the proposals were being consulted on and that no decisions would be made until the university’s council meets on 12 March.

He added: “We have been notified of the result of the ballot by UCU members. We have already made clear and repeat our position that ballots for industrial action are not the way in which the process will be influenced.”

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, conceded that industrial action is always a last resort but insisted that the proposed job losses will “impact massively across the University of Sussex and result in a far worse experience for students.”

Union blows cash on coach for seven students

The University of Sussex Students’ Union (USSU) recently lost an estimated £465 hiring a coach to transport students to the National Convention Against Fees and Cuts, the Badger has learned.

The USSU hired a 50-person coach to transport students to the event at University College London (UCL) on the 6 February. However, only seven people booked and paid for a place.

The cost of the coach is currently unknown as the USSU finance office has no record of the invoice. A Brighton coach hire company estimated the cost of the journey at £500.

The seven students on the coach were charged £5 for the return journey, meaning that the USSU lost around £465 overall.

The funding for the trip was granted by the Operations Committee, which approves all funding for campaigns and conferences. Of the six people sitting on the committee, four voted in favour and one abstained.

The minutes from the operations committee, 14 December 2009, record: “Tom Wills [USSU President] also asked that Ops [Operations Committee] approve him to book a coach to take students to the Convention, on the basis students would be charged for the transport in order to make the booking cost neutral for the Union. This proposal was approved with 4 votes in favour, and one abstention.”

Tom Wills also asked the committee for £100 towards the project, “to go towards the cost of publicity and organisation for the event.” This was also passed.

Patrick Rolfe, who is part of the Stop the Cuts campaign at the University of Sussex, reported to the Badger that he had a ‘verbal agreement’ with Tom Wills that he would pay for the remaining cost of the coach not covered by students’ tickets.

Rolfe added: “I took over organising it. It became my responsibility, so I’ll take the financial bullet. I’m sure that I’ll be able to recoup the costs.” Patrick is organising a fundraising event with bands and artists in order to raise the money. Rolfe was not asked to do this by anyone, and no formal agreement has been made.

On this subject the USSU has commented: “The student who organised the coach has agreed that the shortfall resulting from the poor turnout will be met by his campaign group which is independent of the Students’ Union. There will therefore be no cost to the Students’ Union.”

If the funds cannot be repaid then the financial loss to the union budget would be significant. The money to pay for the coach came from the Campaigns and Conferences budget, which is around £2000 for the entire year. Exact budgets are not available because the university has still not confirmed the USSU’s block grant for this year, which is likely to receive a 5 percent cut.

The students who did attend the UCL event appear to have found it to be a positive and useful experience.

One student commented: “It was a really great opportunity to link up with people from other university campaigns and coordinate national action, since these issues affect us all.”

USSU push for National Student Survey boycott

The University of Sussex Students’ Union (USSU) has urged all final year undergraduates to boycott the National Student Survey (NSS) in protest of the proposed cuts to jobs, courses and services at the university.
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Boycott referendum rerun is rescheduled

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