Glasgow University

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10th February 2009

Folk Maestros

GLASGOW UNIVERSITY’S PRINCIPAL,Sir Muir Russell, received a pay increasealmost four times the rate of inflation lastyear, making him the highest paid universityprincipal in Scotland.Sir Muir, who is due to step down fromhis position in October, received a pay rise of 12.1%, increasing his salary from £205,000 in2007 to £230,000 in 2008. When pensions areincluded, the figure rises to £262,000.University principals across Scotland sawtheir salaries rise by an average of 10%, while

Scottish principals receive 10% pay rise

lecturers have seen their pay rise by only 5%during the same period.Guardian recently discovered that graduateteaching assistants at the University of Glasgowhave not recieved a salary increase since 2002and, in some cases, may be earning less thanthe national minimum wage.There are meetings planned to address thissituation, but it is unlikely that any increase inpay will be as high as 12.1%.The increases will see an additional£255,000 taken from Scotland’s higher educa-tion budget, with the total paid out to principalsnow topping £3m for the first time.This comes at a time when the highereducation sector is dealing with the tightestsettlement since devolution.In the budget settlement of November 2007,Universities Scotland, the body responsible forrepresenting and promoting Scotland’s highereducation sector, had asked for an increase of £168 million over three years.However, the Scottish Government hasannounced that the figure would rise by only£30 million.Recent research has also shown that Englishuniversities, who already have the advantageof top-up fees, are increasing their share oresearch funding.Glasgow University defended the decisionto increase the principle’s salary, stating that thepay rise is related to performance and reflectsthe University’s recent success.

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Craig MacLellan

THE RESIDENTS OF MURANOStreet Student Village were shockedto learn this week that they hadnot been informed of an attackwhich took place close to one of itsmain entrances.A 29-year old woman was inde-cently assaulted whilst walking overthe canal footbridge in the earlyhours of Saturday January 31. Theassailant has not yet been caughtand the police have issued an appealfor witnesses.Despite this, the students livingat Murano Street were not contactedabout the incident, nor were theywarned about the fact that a poten-tially dangerous man was known tobe in the area.Guardian spoke to a number of students who expressed concernabout the lack of information givento them.First-year English Literaturestudent, Becky Sharp, told Guardianwhy she feels it is important for thepolice and the University to notifystudents when attacks like this occur.She said: “I think it was irrespon-sible for them to not alert the MuranoStreet residents of the attack as it isimportant that we know of the threatsthat surround the area.“I have, so far, been quite casualabout being alone and in the arealate at night, and hearing about theattack makes me feel more suscep-tible to the danger and more likely tobe cautious.“It is important to give thestudents that awareness so that theycan make a more informed choiceabout wandering around the area atall times.”Another Murano resident, RachelMitchell, explained that what wasespecially concerning was that theattack took place right next to one of Murano Street’s main entrances.

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Glasgow Unioccupied byactivists

George Binning

Police failto adviseof attack

Sarah Smith

Exclusive

A SERIES OF STUDENT-DRIVENprotests and occupations in aid oGaza have prompted drastic actionby universities across Scotland.On Wednesday February 4students of Strathclyde Universitystaged an occupation of Strathclyde’sregistry and on Sunday January 25the Stop the War Coalition (SWC)and Scottish Palestinian SolidarityCampaign (SPSC) also staged anoccupation of the BBC headquartersin Glasgow.Today 10 February around 30students of Glasgow Universitywere continuing their occupa-tion of the Computing Departmentof the University. The occupationwas a response to the events olast Thursday when students associ-ated with the SWC marched on thePrincipal’s office with their demandsattached to two petitions.The first set of demands, supportedby 560 signatures, requested thatthe University publicly condemn theBBC’s actions concerning the DECappeal, that the appeal be publicisedaround campus and the University’swebsite, also that a collection dayfor Gaza be organized. Their secondpetition, with 350 signatories,

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Protesters take to the roof of the Computing Department in solidarity with Palestine

A MEMBER OF GLASGOW UNIVERSITY’Sbasketball team made a ‘miracle’ escape afterbeing crushed by a falling wall in the KelvinHall International Sports Arena last week.On February 4, Glasgow student VytautuasAstromkas was trapped by the falling rubbleafter the entire backboard came loose bringingthe wall with it. The accident took place whilethe University’s team was warming up for amatch against Caledonian University, duringthe inter-university Glasgow Cup.Douglas MacLaren, captain of the GlasgowUniversity Men’s Basketball Club, witnessedthe accident from on-court.He told Guardian: “As he dunked thebasketball, the inner wall started to peel away,then the backboard and a lot of masonry camedown. Luckily the backboard took the bruntof it.”Paramedics swiftly arrived at the scene andwere able to free Astromkas from the wreckage.He was taken to the Western Infirmary and keptin hospital overnight. He was discharged thefollowing day with minor injuries to his armand stitches in his knee.MacLaren recalled the team’s reaction andexpressed amazement at Astromkas’ escape.He said: “The way the debris fell it wasa miracle no bones were broken. The wholeteam went up to the hospital, to give him a bitof support. He’s a good player who regularlyfeatures in our 1st team.”MacLaren also confirmed that Astromkaswas up and walking again, and anxious to getback to training.The collapse took place on the internalwall of court three and has raised seriousconcerns as to the safety of the Kelvin Hall. Aninvestigation into the incident by Health andSafety is underway.A spokesperson for the Kelvin HallInternational Sports Arena said: “Due to theaccident and ongoing investigation the use of the court has been suspended.”On Sunday the hall was opened again tohost the Scottish Rocks match.

Student survives wallcollapse at Kelvin Hall

News Staff

Landmark stem cell trial at Glasgow

RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OFGlasgow have been granted approval to begin atrial involving stem cell therapy to treat victimsof stroke.The UK Medicines and Healthcare ProductsRegulatory Agency (MHRA) have given theirpermission for Glasgow University, togetherwith the ReNeuron Group plc, to begin aclinical trial to investigate the use of stem cellsin the treatment of ishaemic stroke, the mostcommon form of the condition.The trial, which is the first of its kind in theworld, will establish the safety and feasibilityof injecting stem cells directly into the brain. If the trial is successful, further research will takeplace into how effectively this method could beused to treat victims of stroke.Dr. Keith Muir, the Principal Investigatorfor the trial, explained to Guardian how impor-tant this preliminary research is to the develop-ment of improved care for stroke patients.He said: “It will be the first time that stemcells are used as a potential treatment for strokeby delivering them directly into the brain.“If the trial establishes that the treatment issafe then there can be further trials to establishthe effectiveness of the treatment.”Although the trial has been approved by theMHRA, it must also receive ethical approvalfrom the Gene Therapy Advisory Committeebefore any work can begin. It is, however,unlikely that the trial will not be grantedpermission to go ahead.Stem cell therapy has been the source of much debate in recent years, with many reli-gious groups decrying the use of embryonicresearch in particular.Father John Keenan, Glasgow University’sCatholic chaplain, told Guardian that althoughCatholicism opposes embryonic research theywere in support of adult stem cell research.He said: “We draw a fundamental distinc-tion between embryonic stem cell researchand adult stem cell research. We are alwaysasking the media to make that distinction. Weare against is embryonic research, that is to say,you creating human embryo and the purpose of creating that embryo is to harvest stem cells,then you use the stem cells at the destruction of the human embryo.”When asked about the ethical implicationsof using foetal-derived stem cells in a medicaltrial, Dr. Muir replied that, whilst he under-stood that some opposed the use of stem cells,the therapy has the potential to become vitallyimportant in treating diseases which, at present,have very few treatment options available.He told Guardian: “I think that the otherside of the ethics debate is that there are a lot of people who understand the importance of stemcell therapy in medicine.“It is important in repairing the damage totissue that does not normally repair itself, forexample, the brain and spinal cord.“Medical treatments in that area to datehaven’t been terribly successful and futurestem cell therapy will be important inchanging that.”Dr. Muir was keen to stress that if the trialgoes ahead it will still be only the first of manysteps before any possible treatment would beavailable to the general public.He explained: “I would never have expectedto be running this sort of trial if you had told metwo years ago. It’s a good starting point but it isimportant to remember that there is still a longway to go.”HE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ENROLLINGn Scottish higher education institutions hasfallen, according to new figures.The Higher Education Statistics Agencyecently published a report showing that theumber of students enrolling in Scottish univer-ities, and some colleges, had fallen by 2 percent in 2007-08.The number of enrolments in Scotlandtood at 210,180 last year with a 2 per centdecrease in full-time enrolments and a 3 percent decrease for part-time enrolments.While the figures for Northern Ireland andales show similar declines, the number of enrolments in English higher education institu-ions has increased.The government has been quick tolame the trend on the previous Labourgovernment, which held power in Scotlandfrom 1999-2007.Speaking to Guardian, a spokesperson forhe Scottish Government said: “The bulk of tudents covered by these figures applied to goo university under the previous administration,efore the improved student support introducedy this administration and before the abolitionof the graduate endowment fee.”Claire Baker, Labour’s education spokes-erson, has been criticised for “scoring anown-goal” after referring to the new figures as“a very worrying development indeed.”A spokesperson for Claire Baker,peaking to Guardian, claimed the decrease in007-08 was the result of the first year of anSNP government.He said: “The HESA stats show that forhe first time in years the numbers of studentsat Scottish universities actually dropped. Thiss for 2007/08, the first year of the SNPovernment and the first year of the abolitionof the graduate endowment.”The Scottish Government, however, haveargued that although the figures are fromhe first year of its administration, Labour’sfunding policies still existed, putting off otential students.In addition, a spokesperson has rejectedhe claims that numbers have not decreased inecent years.He said: “It is incorrect to suggest that thiss the first time that student participation ratesave fallen.“The age participation index, which esti-ates the proportion of Scots who will haveexperienced full-time HE by their 21st birthday,fell under the last administration from 47.1% in005-06 to 46.9% in 2006-07.”Gavin Lee, president of the SRC, hasexpressed concerns as to the cause of thedecline in enrolments.He said: “The SRC would encourage thegovernment to look into the reasons behind thisrend. It's important in difficult financial timeshat no potential students are dissuaded fromattending university for financial reasons."Despite this, the number of full-time under-graduates at Glasgow University has in factncreased from 14,980 in 2006 to 15,025 in007, and with the figures for 2008 still to befinalised, numbers are expected to rise further.

Number of studentenrolments down

Ross MathersSarah Smith

Courtesy of ReNeuronJim Wilson

guardiannews@src.gla.ac.uk

2 NEWS10th February 2009

guardiannews@src.gla.ac.uk

10th February 2009NEWS 3

Future’s bright for Tommy

A GLASGOW UNIVERSITY STUDENT HASbeen awarded a £60,000 recording contract afterbeing named 2009’s Orange Unsigned Act.The 19 year old singer-song writer wasannounced winner on the Channel 4 televisionprogramme which documented the competitionon Sunday 25th January having won a landslidepublic vote.Reilly, who was described by LaurenLaverne, one of the show’s four judges, ashaving an “utterly unique voice”, fought off competition from 7,000 original applicantsto win the award which searches for the bestunsigned British music act.The other three judges on the panel wereRadio One D.J. Jo Whiley, Blur’s Alex Jamesand Simon Gavin from Universal Music.25 finalists were seen battling for the recordcontract with Universal Music on the Sundaytelevision show over the past three months.Tommy was not the only Glasgow act toreach the final: also in the competition wereelectro band Fangs, and eventual runners-up,Hip Parade.Tommy described his shock at winning thecontest and the impact it has had on his life.He said: “I can’t believe that I have won – it’s mental! Being part of the competi-tion has been awesome – the tour, all thatI have learned, chatting to the otherbands, everything!”Speaking to Guardian, Tommy explainedthat his success comes after years of fitting hismusic career around his degree.He said: “I was trying to get my electronicswith music degree from Glasgow Universityand was also working in Tesco and so I wouldbe gigging whenever I was free.”While Tommy is planning to focus on hismusic in the short-term, he told Guardian thathe was aware of the fact that his current successmay be short-lived.“I had been gigging for about a year and ahalf before the competition took off. As I haveleft university for the meantime and quit my jobat Tesco, I have all day to work on songs andthink about the album.“I am really excited about that. I cannotwait to get into it properly. I also plan to playas many shows as is physically possible. I justreally want to use up every little bit of thisopportunity while it’s there. I may well be back

Amy MacGregor

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A spokesperson explained: “Thesalary of the University’s principalis performance-related and reflectsthe responsibilities of running a largeand complex organisation.“The increase reflects theconsiderable success which theUniversity has enjoyed in thepast year.“These included a significant risein the Times Higher University WorldRanking, and the continued consoli-dation of our financial position.”Universities Scotland alsodefended the rises, claiming that theyare comparable to salaries received inthe private sector.A spokesperson for the organisa-tion said: “The governing bodies of all universities have remunerationcommittees that decide the appro-priate level of increase.“The level of remunera-tion is modest in comparison toa company of similar size in theprivate sector.”However, Terry Brotherstone,President of the University andCollege Union Scotland, whichrepresents lecturers and other univer-sity employees, has called for a wide-ranging review of higher educationand the way in which principals’salaries are awarded.He told Guardian: “Shoulduniversities be looked on as busi-ness or rather as collegial institu-tions devoted to critical thoughtand research serving the educa-tional and public policy needs of theScottish people?“If the latter – and this is thequestion I believe should be subjectto a well-researched inquiry andevidence-led debate in Scotland –then principals’ pay should be meas-ured in relation to that of their juniorcolleagues, not that of bosses in theprivate sector whose reward system

Principal pay rise four times rate of ination

at work next year so I’m going to have funwhile it lasts!”It seems that, for the moment, Tommy’ssuccess is assured - his debut single, ‘GimmeCall’ entered the UK singles chart at number 14and his upcoming tour has already sold out ona number of dates.

Courtesy of iris London

is part of a culture that is now widelydiscredited.”He also argued that othermembers of academic staff have seentheir pay decline when compared tothe salaries of those working in theprivate sector.He said: “It needs to be stressedthat the bulk of professionalswho actually do the teaching andresearch have seen their pay relativeto other professional workers dropsince the early 1980s by a third oreven more.”Professor Anton Muscatelli, whois due to take over from Sir Muiras principal and vice-chancellor oGlasgow University on October 12009, has also received a similarpay rise.In his current role as principalof Herriot-Watt University, ProfessorMuscatelli saw his salary increaseby 12.6%, from £142,000 in 2007 to£160,000 in 2008.