Universities remain 'committed' to campus bar Coopers

Kent and Greenwich universities have both confirmed they are “committed” to keeping the Medway campus bar Coopers open.

Mystery behind Medway campus stones revealed

Some have likened the structure to Stonehenge, while others have called it an eyesore. But the Medwire can exclusively reveal the facts behind the mysterious new stone structure outside the Gillingham building.

Students see rent at Liberty Quays rise by 27%

Medway students have seen accommodation costs rise by a staggering 27% between 2009 and 2012, a new report by Kent Union has revealed.

Students party at Kent's annual Summer Ball

Thousands of students partied to the likes of Labrinth and Chase & Status last night, as the Kent Summer Ball was hailed a “big success”.

Gender balancing will not tackle issues of inequality

During the NUS National Conference 2013 earlier this week, a controversial topic was brought up and deliberated by delegates from universities across the UK. The issue was on ‘Gender Balancing’, and whether the NUS should adopt a policy where at least 50% of its executive and 50% of its student delegates are made up by women.

Motion 701 was being whispered around conference like a dirty word, one which was not spoken aloud for fear of debate and outcry. The debate itself lasted nearly an hour, with the delegates voting on the controversial motion to be decided by a secret ballot. In a narrow victory, delegates decided to vote against the motion.

There was no applause by the audience, in fact the situation in Sheffield City Hall was so hostile you felt like you were sitting in the middle of a Coalition cabinet meeting. People moaned about the result, others complained that the result was bad for women and female students.

If anything, I think the result was a good thing. The problem with gender balancing is that it does not solve anything. It just coats over the problem of gender inequality with a whitewash.

For those that don’t understand what gender balancing means, it’s the idea that we should set a quota for the number of women in an executive panel like the NUS, to make it more equal and fair for women. The subject has cropped up in the world of business, where efforts have been made to increase the number of women in company boardrooms.

Although I do believe that in this society, the hegemonic views of men in society have oppressed women for far too long, gender balancing in my view just isn’t the answer. We seem to be content on using women as a number, objectifying females to boost a figure on a spreadsheet in the name of equality.

The idea that selecting female candidates for roles such as the NUS on the basis that they’re a woman and not for their ideas is degrading. It doesn’t represent anything, it just proves that people are naïve about the benefits of gender balancing.

The arguments for motion 701 were that “discrimination and oppression in society often means women students are underrepresented”. This argument seems slightly ambiguous. If the argument is that society is oppressing women, surely we should be attacking society and the government to do more, rather than focus on putting more women in the boardroom. You need to get to the core of the problem to resolve it; voting for at least 50% of candidates to be women will only exacerbate the issue.

20^th century society has often put the man at the top of the food chain. But that is changing, the 21^st century is becoming more equal. Think about education results; more girls are consistently achieving higher marks then boys at school and college. During the Olympics, it was thefor their sporting triumphs and presenting styles. Over the last decade, women in politics have had a much bigger voice – Harriet Harman, Theresa May etc; all showing how women can achieve through their hard work and determination alone.

Even the NUS proved that their concerns about gender inequality are unfounded, a union where more than 50% of students are women. 3 out of the 6 executive members from the NUS elected by students this week were women, including our new NUS president Toni Pearce. They were picked for their policies and pledges, not to meet a quota. They were elected on merit, not sex.

Inequality is still apparent in our society, I certainly don’t deny that, but voting to elect people on their gender and not their policies is unequal. Voting for gender balancing by the NUS would have been a case of ‘ten steps back’ for women.

Lets look at raising the profile of women in society by working with businesses, in government and in education together, but also focusing on minority groups; ethnic minorities, disabled groups and the LGBT community. Positive change and campaigning will always prove more pivotal than a token woman sitting at the boardroom table.

President of NUS Liam Burns to talk to Kent students

Outgoing NUS President Liam Burns will address University of Kent students about student funding in May. 

The talk will see Liam, who has been president of the National Union of Students for two years, explain the findings behind the NUS’ ‘The Pound in Your Pocket’ report and discuss potential policy responces to tackling the financial problems facing students.

The report, which took two years to complete and involved surveying thousands of students from across the UK reveals the true financial concerns facing students at university.

Issues the report addresses include where and how students get their financial support, and the problems with hidden course costs.

In a joint statement with NUS Welfare VP Pete Mercer, Liam said: “Through our research, we have come to the conclusion that many students are struggling to meet ends meet, concentrate on their studies and stay the course.”

“This is because financial support is systematically inadequate across both further and higher education.”

The free talk and presentation by Liam Burns starts at 6pm on Friday, May 10 at the Rutherford Lecture Theatre 1 on the Canterbury Campus.

The talk is part of the Spring 2013: Open Lecture Series run by the University of Kent. To find out more about the talk, click here.

(Written by Kieran Watkins for The Medwire)

More election results from NUS Conference 2013

The National Union of Students has announced the final set of results from last weeks elections.

Results for the Block of 15, DPC (Democratic procedures committee) and  NUS Student Trustee Board, which were voted on last week at the NUS National Conference, are as follows:

Block of 15
The five reserved FE places go to: Rosie Huzzard, Jeni-Marie Pittuck, Rhiannon Durrans, Harry Fox and Matt Stanley

The remaining ten places go to: Ben Dilks, James McAsh, Peter Smallwood, Paul Abernethy, Charles Barry, Chris Clements, Jessica Goldstone, Edmund Schluessel, Mark McCorkell and Kirat Raj Singh

DPC
The five places go to: Sam Gaus, Fatima Junaid, Mike Ross, Jo Johnson and Guy Drury

NUS Student Trustee Board
The three trustees elected are: Nick Pringle, Kayode Damali and Abi Jenkins

The results from Conference follow the elections for NUS President and VPs which were also voted on last week. More information on these results can be found here.

(Article written by Kieran Watkins for The Medwire)

Volunteers needed for Medway Samaritans bucket collection

Medway Samaritans are holding a bucket collection next week and are looking for volunteers.

The two-day bucket collection, at Tesco Extra on Bowater Roundabout, Gillingham needs volunteers to help out for a couple of hours between 10am and 6pm.

The collection will be raising money for the Samaritans, a charity which has offered emotional support to people in the UK since 1952.

Each year the charity deals with over 2.5million contacts from people who may be distressed or despaired.

The Medway branch of Samaritans is run entirely by volunteers, who help run a 24 hour support service.

David Coldwell, Volunteering and Skills Development Coordinator for the University of Kent said: “The impact that Samaritans has on people they support is immense and this opportunity helps raise valuable funds and its presence will help raise awareness.”

“Any hours that you can do can be added to your volunteering hours for this year.”

The collections are taking place on Wednesday, April 24 and Thursday 25th. If you have a couple of hours spare and fancy helping raise money for a good raise, contact D.Coldwell@kent.ac.uk for more details.

(Article written by Kieran Watkins for The Medwire)

Allergic reaction at club leads to investigation

Management at Canterbury’s Venue nightclub have launched an investigation after alleged delays in getting an ambulance when a student suffered a “severe” allergic reaction.

Liam Hewitt, who made the claims on Facebook, raised concerns when his friend, Jack, fell ill at the club’s SOAP St. Patrick’s Day event on Saturday, March 16.

He claimed his friend experienced “facial swelling and an increasing inability to breathe” after drinking part of a friend’s drink who had eaten nuts earlier that day.

Though Liam praised the door staff as “compassionate” and “understanding of the situation”, he claimed staff at Venue “failed to understand the severity of the incident”.

Although Liam admits him and his friend were “inebriated” at the time, he says that staff should have been quicker to react.

Liam said: “I feel it could have had much more serious consequences had Jack consumed higher amounts of nuts.”

Liam did however praise the help of security staff at the nightclub, who assisted the boys with skipping the queue at Essentials, the campus shop, and giving the boys money to pay for antihistamine tablets.

“The bouncer staff handled the situation impeccably”, Liam said. “They were faultless.”

Colum McGuire, vice president for welfare at Kent Union, said: “We take all complaints seriously and following an incident in the Venue on Saturday night, our Licensed Trade senior management are currently investigating the complaint.

“It is therefore inappropriate to comment until these investigations have concluded.”

Article written by Kieran Watkins for The Medwire

Medway universities make National Kissing League

(written by Kieran Watkins, taken from The Medwire)

The first University Kissing League results have been released, with all three universities from the Medway campus making the league.

The University of Kent appeared above the University of Greenwich and Canterbury Christchurch University, placing 31st on the league.

The league gives an average for the number of people students are likely to have kissed in the last term.

According to the survey, conducted by studentbeans.com, each student from the University of Kent locked lips with an average of 3.03 people since September 2012.

The University of Greenwich placed 66 with an average of 2.1, with Canterbury Christ Church significantly lower with an average of just 1.37, placing 84th on the list.

Topping the league, which surveyed 4,039 students from 89 universities, was Northumbria University, where each student has kissed an average of 6.13 people. To read the results, follow visit Student Beans

Medway Book Club launches for students

Written by Kieran Watkins for The Medwire:

A new book club for students and staff is being launched on the Medway Campus.

The Medway Book Club at the Drill Hall Library will be open for all students and staff who have a passion for reading.

Aimed to “encourage reading for pleasure”, the group will hold informal discussions on favorite reads on the last Thursday of every month.

Titles planned to be read at the book club, which have been recommended by library staff, include Jennet Winterson’s ‘Why be happy when you could be normal?’ and John Grisham’s ‘A Time to Kill’.

The club is open to students from across the three universities at the Medway Campus. Members can come to every session, or to as many as they like.

Members are also encouraged to bring their lunch with them. The first meeting starts at 12:10pm on Thursday, November 29 in room DB034 at the Drill Hall Library.

For more details, email Louise Frith at ljf@kent.ac.uk

Club schedule:
Thursday, November 29 – Jennet Winterson ‘Why be happy when you could be normal?’
Thursday, December 13 – Levitt & Dubner ‘Freakonomics’
Thursday, January 31 – John Grisham ‘A Time to Kill’
Thursday, February 18 – Sarah Waters ‘Fingersmith’
Thursday, March 28 – Mitch Albom ‘The five people you meet in Heaven’
Thursday, May 9 – Margret Attwood ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’

Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia

Fresh allegations of bogus fines made against Liberty Quays

Further allegations of false charges have been brought to the student halls from a current resisdent (written by Kieran Watkins, for the Medwire)

A Liberty Quays resident today told how he was threatened with additional fines for unpaid rent, despite having previously agreed to delay the payments.
In an exclusive interview with the Medwire, student Alex Zarach, 18, told us Liberty Living had sent him “threatening” letters.
The halls provider at Liberty Quays in Gillingham sent him letters claiming for unpaid rent – despite having previously agreed to delaying payments to coincide with his student loan payment.
Alex, a first-year business IT student, moved into Liberty Quays during September, having agreed with former manager Stephanie Triggs and current Duty Manager Alison Lidster that he would pay his instalments later than scheduled.
In a letter sent from Ms Lidster to Alex, which The Medwire has obtained, both parties agreed and signed in writing that the rent would be delayed until Alex’s student loan came in on September 24, 2012.
The letter from Ms Lidster states “we hereby agree to you paying said rent instalments”, following evidence provided by Alex to Liberty Quays from the student loan company.
Believing the payments had been processed, Alex said: “I moved in to Liberty Quays and all was fine.”
“Nothing was mentioned of the payment,” he added.
However, arriving back from lectures to his room one day, Alex noticed a letter that had been pushed through his door.
The letter was sent by General Manager Mark Moulding, dated September 28, four days after Alex paid his first instalment.
The letter claimed that the “rent instalment due on 15th September 2012 in the sum of £1981.20 is now overdue,” despite having already previously agreed with Liberty that the rent would be paid a week later.
The letter also confirmed that Liberty Living would charge him £30.00 for sending the letter, which would cover their administration fees.
“I was shocked! I had never been informed about the £30 charge, and was angry and upset that they had decided to charge me despite the fact I had paid everything on time.”
Despite demands from Liberty Quays for more money to pay for more letters, Alex is standing by his refusal to pay up.
“These letters were sent for no reason at all”, he explained. “I had already paid the fees, it was a mistake on their part to send me a letter telling me I was overdue on the rent.”
Alex has also mentioned that his family lawyer branded the claims as “harassment”, and would be looking into the case.
Having spoken to a receptionist at Liberty Quays himself, who he described as “rude” and “disinterested”, Alex said they confirmed that his rent payment had indeed been processed, but that they would still be charging for him for the letters.
Liberty Living declined to comment on the issues raised.

Liberty Living bosses intervened in departure of halls boss

Former Liberty Quays manager Stephanie Triggs left after a series of failings at the student halls, it has emerged today.
In an exclusive story for the Medwire, a source at the university confirmed that management from Liberty Living, which owns the University of Kent halls in Gillingham, “could not risk” having Ms Triggs as a manager during the Welcome Weekend.
As new students settle in to the halls this week, we revealed last week that Liberty Quays was without a manager following Ms Triggs’ departure from site after just six months in the position, the second manager to leave in just a year.
The source confirmed that management had been to see Ms Triggs just weeks before the start of term, after a series of failings and mistakes made by the former manager.
“They couldn’t risk having her as a manager during welcome weekend,” the source, who does not wish to be named, confirmed.
The source went on to confirm that Ms Triggs had sent emails to various Liberty Living representatives, staff and even students, asking for advice and help.
This comes after a campaign by over 150 disgruntled students, parents and members of the public criticised the halls, complaining about the checking-out procedure, steep fines and rude, unfriendly staff.
The source said: “She used to ask people what to do in silly situations.”
“They needed a manager who could make decisions on their own”, the source added. “Not someone who kept hassling other people for help.”
“Liberty Living have officially said it was a joint decision she left,” the source said.
In exclusive emails obtained by the Medwire, Ms Triggs had asked one student to provide an appraisal for the company as a gesture of goodwill.
In an email sent to student trustee Maya Esslemont, who had previously launched a successful petition against Liberty Quays following bogus fines sent to students regarding fire extinguishers, Ms Triggs asked Maya to give her “an honest appraisal of the general check out experience at Liberty.”
Ms Triggs went on to reveal that the appraisal was needed after several students and parents had complained about the service provided by Liberty Quays.
“We have had a few unpleasant accusations”, Ms Triggs said in the email.
“I really would like to see if you have a perspective that would help me put things into context”, she added.
Commenting on the request, Maya said: “I couldn’t help but wonder if my involvement in the last Liberty Quays controversy crossed her mind when my heavily stained room was given the seal of approval.”
“Even if my intentions weren’t cynical, I could never support a company that continually rips off students, through high rent and scams in equal measure”, she added.
Liberty Living were unavailable for comment. Written by Kieran Watkins for the Medwire

Just six months in to the job, Liberty Quays manager departs

 

Stefanie Triggs, manager of the Medway halls, is "no longer with the company" after a tumultuous term (written by Kieran Watkins for the Medwire)

Liberty Quays is on the lookout for a new manager, after losing yet another manager in the space of six months.
In an exclusive for the Medwire, a representative from Liberty Quays, run by Liberty Living, confirmed that Stephanie Triggs has now left the company after just six months as general manager of the halls in Gillingham.
Speaking to reporter Kieran Watkins this evening, receptionist Laura Forrest confirmed that Stephanie Triggs was no longer manager of Liberty Quays.
“She is no longer with the company”, Laura confirmed.
She went on to admit that there was no replacement as of yet, despite 600 University of Kent students moving in this weekend for the start of term, which commences on Monday, September 24.
The departure of Ms Triggs is the second manager to leave Liberty Quays in just a year. In February, former manager Doug Jarvis left Liberty after a series of allegations were made by students following bogus fines sent from management to students.
The fines, sent to a number of students at Liberty Quays, stated that fire extinguishers had been tampered with by students. Extinguishers were then taken from kitchens by management, with students facing charges of £60.00 to replace them.
However, following complaints and a successful petition created by Student Trustee Maya Esslemont, the fines were dropped. All extinguishers, which turned out to be un-tampered, were then placed back into kitchens.
Talking about the incident in July, Ms Triggs said Liberty Quays were “deeply sorry” for the incident, and that it put a “stain on our otherwise fantastic reputation.”
Although Liberty Quays declined to comment on the reason for Ms Triggs departure, the exit comes after 150 signatures were signed by disgruntled students, parents and members of the public, all angry with conditions and service provided by Liberty.
Extortionate check-out charges, mice infestations and rude, negligent staff were all mentioned in the comments, which can be seen on the online petiton.

Halls provider Liberty Quays fails to sell out

 

The University of Kent's privately owned accommodation halls in Medways is left with several vacancies (written by Kieran Watkins for the Medwire)

Student halls provider Liberty Living, which runs the University of Kent halls on the Medway campus, has announced a drop in student applications for rooms this year.
In an email sent by the University of Kent accommodation team to current students, Liberty Quays stated that “a number of rooms were still available”.
Liberty Quays, situated at Victory Pier in Gillingham, offers en-suite rooms for new and current students, with communal areas shared by up to nine people.
The drop in room occupancy comes after a series of revelations by The Medwire revealed staff negligence and questionable living conditions at Liberty Quays.
In a previous article, it was revealed that several communal areas had been infested with mice, with faeces being found in other areas.
The revelations came after a petition by former Liberty resident, Jem Collins, saw over 150 disgruntled students, parents and members of the public complain about the service and facilities on offer by Liberty Quays.
Complaints ranged from expensive maintenance costs to delays in deposits being handed back to students. A number of comments were also made about the management team at Liberty, with students branding staff “rude” and “unhelpful” on numerous occasions.
Students have also claimed the room prices have led them to seek accommodation away from the halls. Prices have increased by an extra £10 a week from last year to £127.
One student said that he could “barely afford to live” on the prices, which total just under £5,000 for one year.
“If I paid £5,000 to live at Liberty, I’d starve!” he said. “It’s ridiculously expensive, Liberty Quays is more expensive then London student accommodation.”
In a move to entice students, Liberty Quays has offered a 2% discount on accommodation prices if fees are paid in full by September 15.
Students who choose not to live in halls usually opt for a private landlord, where a fully-furnished bedroom in a house shared with four other people can start from as little as £90, bills included.
However, the down turn in student numbers could come at a cost for Liberty Living, who are currently extending their halls at Victory Pier. The new extension is scheduled to open next summer.

Petition calling halls “extortionate” reaches 100 signatures overnight

A petition calling for an end to apparent "unfair" and "unjustifiable" charges at Liberty Quays has attracted mass support

A petition branding Liberty Quays as “extortionate” and “opportunistic” has received over 100 signatures overnight.
The campaign, calling for the Medway student halls to address a number of issues from high check out charges to rodent problems, currently has over 140 signatures.
Set up by disgruntled student Jem Collins, the online page has attracted dozens of comments from students, families and members of the public.
She said: “I set up the page after having problems with my own experience when management insisted that I was the only one complaining and I thought this just can not be true.
“They’ve told me I’ve accrued over £200 worth of damage, but the only evidence I’ve received is a couple of photos showing pictures of a pen on a shelf and some paper on the floor”.
She added: “Management have been extremely rude and patronising throughout the whole procedure and aren’t taking anything seriously”.
Other complaints about the accommodation, which is owned by Liberty Living and is the only halls provider in Gillingham for University of Kent students, range from fictitious faults to rude and unhelpful staff.
One student said he was charged for a chair that was broken upon arrival, whilst another said that they had been refused access to pictures showing the alleged damage.
One student commented: “I was charged £10 for a key that was never given to me in the first place and then treated very rudely and disrespectful (sic), accused of lying and given absolutely ridiculous excuses by S.Triggs : ‘must have fallen off before you even realised you had it.’”
Deposit charges range from £15 to replace standard shower curtains, up to £30 for dust and £65 for replacement chairs.
When quizzed over the high prices, Mrs Triggs, manager at Liberty Quays, said: “Many of our items like the shower curtains are not of standard size and the cost reflects this”, though admitted they could be sourced as cheaply as £1.

She added: “These charges are necessary to ensure the standard of accommodation at Liberty Quays is maintained at a high level in an exceptionally short space of time to ensure the accommodation is ready for our summer students.”
She also said that she had encouraged students in the past to seek to buy the items from other places to avoid paying the charges set by Liberty Living.
Other comments from students included reports of a mice infestation, leaving students unable to use their kitchen for over a month.
In another incident, a number of flats were charged for faulty fire extinguishers that the halls provider claimed the students had tampered with.
However, following a similar petition and campaign, the faulty fire extinguishers were found to be untouched.
Ms Triggs said: “The fire extinguisher incident did not result in any charges to any students. ”
Other complaints have included faeces being left in a communal area for over three days and lack of proper security patrols, allowing members of the public to walk into flats freely.
In a statement from Mrs Triggs, who in a bizarre move has signed the petition herself, she said: “We take all complaints seriously and investigate each on its own merits.”

Have you had problems with Liberty Quays or did your stay go just fine? Let us know in the comments below!

Article taken from the Medwire student magazine, written by Kieran Watkins

Beer at the ready: how the British Public House is fighting back

The great British pub, once a favourite pastime for the men and women of our country, is now a dying breed clinging on for survival.

A British Beer & Pub Association report claims that up to 52 pubs are closing every week every week, nearly seven a day. Since 2008, 4,500 pubs have closed in Britain. In 2009 alone, there were over 24,000 job losses in the beer industry alone, with the figure rising each year since.

It is worrying news for the industry, which has seen fierce competition from cheap deals at supermarkets, and rising alcohol levies introduced by the government.

However, the pubs are fighting back. A new campaign by CAMRA – Campaign for Real Ale – has seen 5,500 pubs across the UK unite to defy the gloom and entice new customers through a new national event.

The first ever ‘Community Pubs Month’, being held this April, aims to attract the nation to go to pubs and bars, by putting on special events, activities and celebrations, helping to reinstate the former golden years of the pub in Britain.

The public house in Britain has been around for many generations. The tavern can be linked back to the early Roman times, whereas the 14th century saw the formation of the ‘pub’ as we now know it today. According to pubs.com, “for centuries it has been a place where friends meet, colleagues 'talk shop' and business people negotiate deals; a place where people gather to celebrate, play games, or to seek quiet relaxation.”

But times have changed. Dogged by dwindling punter numbers and a government keen to crack down on binge drinking, the industry has suffered more in the last decade then it has at any other point in its long, colourful history. Although, according to pubs.org.uk, “15 million people still drink in their local each week.”

However, recent statistics released by CAMRA show that 9 in 10 young pub going adults (89%) visit their local pub to meet friends and socialise, whilst 1 in 4 currently married couples (25%) first met their partner down the pub.

Keen to tempt new customers to pubs across the country, CAMRA have launched their new campaign at a time of increased interest in the British public house. With an unusually hot spring and events such as the Olympics and Diamond Jubilee, the public need somewhere to go to enjoy the weather and celebrate with their communities.

In a sense, this is what the new ‘Community Pubs Month’ is all about. Over April, 5,500 pubs across the country will be taking part in the new initiative, hosting various events, from Ann Summers Parties to Pig Racing.

Mike Benner, CAMRA Chief Executive said: “CAMRA’s new campaign is all about reaffirming the vital importance of local pubs, and the essential role they play in many people’s lives.”

“Pubs are the beating hearts of countless communities across the land”, he added. “Without their existence, society would be a lot worse off.”

Campaigners backing the event hope that it will reignite the community view of the pub being the heart of a village or community. Already, pubs have drawn up several ideas across April.

The Leopard in Burton-On-Trent plans to hold an ‘Ann Summers’ party for punters to try on the latest lingerie, whereas The Market in Alton plan to host a charity auction and curry night this month.

The plans are being rolled out quickly in order to attract new customers before the planned increase in alcohol duty in the summer, which is likely to increase the price of the average pint by 15 pence. However, the recent announcement for a minimum alcohol price to be set at 40p a unit may provide some good news for the pub industry, where cheap supermarket prices have dented profits.

The plans by CAMRA are ambitious, and may turn regular punters off from going to their local drinking hole. But they offer a chance for the public house to rekindle its former glory days. Despite recent statistics from the Office of National Statistics ‘National Wellbeing programme’ reported that in 2010, there were 6 million fewer trips across Britain after the high of the ‘staycation’ shown in 2009.

Whether the pub industry will survive another decade or so remains to be seen. It all depends on the mood of the public. With families feeling the pinch across Britain, pubs may be viewed as a cheaper alternative for a good day out. Hopefully the plans will provide some good news for the economy.

CAMRA’s ‘Community Pubs Month’ runs throughout April nationwide. Visit www.camra.org.uk for more details.

Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia

This piece is a version taken from my 1st year portfolio, which I produced on my journalism course at the University of Kent

Friend for Friday: Nigel Farage

This weeks Friend for Friday is UKIP leader Nigel Farage. Forever in the limelight, usually for the wrong reasons, Farage causes controversy and occasionally has some good points to make.
I joined him in late 2010, where we discussed the EU, politics and students (interesting to note that he made me conduct the interview outside, because he wanted to smoke!)

Recently elected UKIP leader, his second time at the job, as well as the South-East MEP for England since 1999, Nigel has been in and out of the media regularly. Whether it is his party's failure in the general election, appearances on Have I got News for You? on the other hand, his near-death in his recent plane crash, we have all the information on his political career.

Have you any advice for students who wish for a career in politics?
Well the main thing is to enjoy it, and that is what I do. I enjoy being a politician. If you enjoy it, you believe in what you do and the rest will follow! That is my best advice anyway.

You suffered severe injuries in a plane crash on May 6th 2010. Has this changed your view on life at all?
Well I had a miraculous escape, I was very lucky indeed. I mean my political agenda has not changed, however I have adopted the ‘live life to the full’ approach. You only live once, and I realise that now!

You are the MEP for our local area; the South East of England. What would you say your most important role has been as MEP, which you were elected as in 1999?
When I went into the EU, most of the people of this country had no idea what the EU was. My job, my philosophy has been to unravel the secrecy which is tied around Brussels, and give information back to the people of this country. I honestly believe I have shaped public opinion since my appointment.

You were once fined by the European Parliament for describing the President as having ‘the charisma of a damp rag and the appearance of a low paid bank clerk’. This links to many other public blasts you have made in the past (Prince Charles was a famous one.) This has led some commentators to dub you ‘anti - Europe’ - is this true?
It is certainly not true. I believe in what I believe in, and reflect my party’s views and ideology. If the public do not like my opinion and those of UKIP then they would not vote for us, however our recent success shows that we did do well (they came second behind the Conservative party at the most recent EU Elections.)

What about the party's failure in the 2010 General Election (the party secured no MPs). Would this suggest people are changing their views on your party?
No, I do not think so. At different elections, people vote differently. It is that simple. Yes, it was not what we hoped for, however I hope my appointment as UKIP leader will change this view. My aim is to not sit there and argue about changing our country for the better, it is doing something about it, which I feel strongly for!

Finally, you are no beginner to the media world. Whether it's public speaking, criticism in national papers and a memory that sticks with me personally is you being a guest on Have I got News for you - would you say you are a fan of being in the limelight?
(Laughs) You take the rough with the smooth. I love being part of these shows, and I enjoy the criticism! It is as simple as that.

Interviewed by Kieran Watkins

Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

BBC to charge viewers to use On-Demand service

A major overhaul of the TV License fee would see viewers watching their favourite programmes online be charged by the government.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport will consider plans for anyone using the BBC iplayer website, to watch or listen to recorded radio and TV content, to legally have to pay the current £145.50 TV License.

Currently, anyone watching TV or Radio programmes after they have been broadcast is exempt from paying the fee. However, with the increasing use of on-demand services available through new technology, and the arrival of the BBC-backed Youview next year – the new plug-in-and-watch service that will provide Freeview, news and video on-demand – the government is keen to get rid of the grey area which encompasses the current legislature.

Talking to the Guardian, a spokesperson for the department said: “Government is aware of developing technologies and the changing viewing habits of those who watch television programmes. How the BBC is funded as these issues evolve is a matter the department will need to address in the near future."

Earlier this month, the BBC issued iplayer viewing figures for September, which showed that the service had received 153 million requests for TV and radio programmes; with TV shows such as Outnumbered and Doctor Who, along with The Chris Moyles Breakfast Show and 5 Live Sport Premier League Football coverage on radio, being the top shows for the period.

But the public and users of on-demand services today expressed their anger at the plans. Students in particular have criticised the governments, after it was revealed through recent statistics by Sixthsense, Yougov’s market intelligence platform, that show 75% of students watch 2 to 3 hours of TV Online each day (Source:thedrum.co.uk).

Lana Burgess, a History student at Royal Holloway, argued against the statistics, claiming that; “As a student I watch very little TV, so to have to pay [a TV License] to watch a few shows now and then is ridiculous.”

“Iplayer is there for us to watch after the live viewing if we want to watch it,” agreed Caroline Allen-Rogers, who studies Applied Psychology at Durham University. “We shouldn’t be charged.”

However the BBC, despite the current £200 Million loophole the current legislature entails, have insisted the current TV License is working. Talking to The Mirror, a spokesperson said: “We believe the current system works very efficiently and do not see a need to change its scope.”

The mounting pressure on the BBC comes under months of cost-cutting, and the announcement by the government that the TV License Fee will be frozen till 2017, resulting in impending redundancies and a reduction in department spending across all channels.
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In further criticism for the BBC, it was recently revealed that former footballer and Match of the Day pundit Alan Hansen is paid £40,000per programme for his pundit role with the BBC, one of nine BBC stars thought to be earning over £1 Million a year.

Could Coopers be coming back....?

Here is an article I have written for the Medwire magazine, a student-run company based on the Medway campus at the university.

Coopers has changed. Like an ugly duckling turning into something altogether more attractive, it seems Coopers might be the new beacon of hope for our Medway nightlife.

It is safe to say that Coopers has had a fair amount of stick in the last few months. Since I arrived at the University of Kent last September, I have been a somewhat irregular punter to the on-campus bar. The ongoing staff troubles, lack of entertainment and bleak atmosphere had turned me off the idea of spending my precious student loan in the SU bar, preferring to gallivant off in the town centre instead.
But that is all about to change. Because recently, Coopers has had something of a revival. Like a phoenix emerging from the ashes in Harry Potter, the bar has changed its appeal, its menu and more importantly, its prices, in an attempt to attract those who walked away at the beginning.
A new management team are now in place, and the staff seem to be a lot happier with the new situation. The atmosphere has brightened, and it has become a much more social place to have a drink, relax and unwind from hard-core studying.
Coopers has begun to offer things we students value the most – cheap drinks and good entertainment. The new management has introduced a range of great deals and offerings to tease are taste buds with, but without denting our bank balances! A comprehensive list is printed at the end of this article, but some of the best deals include £1.50 for a pint of Snakebite, Carlsberg and Strongbow, Monday to Friday from 7 till 11pm. For a non-alcoholic beverage, J20 is only £1.25 for any flavour. If you fancy a shot, Jagerbombs are now £2 all day, everyday.
If you are feeling cold, Curry Tuesdays are a great way to warm yourself up, with a Curry, Rice, Naan Bread and Pint for only £4.95.
Besides food and drink, Coopers are now offering an exciting range of entertainment. A mix of live music, including the legendary Open Mic night on Tuesdays, is still on every week, along with all the seasonal sport matches, currently including the Six Nations and selected football matches. The quiz machine and pool table remains popular with students, and if that is not enough, the bar team are well known to show off a dance move or sing you a song. And with rumours of the Events Society teaming up again with Coopers to help publicise and organise new events in the coming months, it looks set that there will be plenty of events to go to in the not-to-distant future.
On a recent night out at Coopers, I was pleasantly surprised. It was busy, with a friendly and inviting atmosphere that made me want to stay and spend my money. I enjoyed it, so if you fancy a cheaper, more relaxed but still as fun night out, then head down to Coopers on the Medway campus, and support out student bar. You will not be disappointed.
Current Deals list:
Mon – Fri: 7pm – 11pm:
£1.50 – Snakebites, Carlsberg and Strongbow.
£1.25 – All J2O Flavours.
Curry Tuesdays!
Come Down and add a some flavour into your Tuesday.
Curry, Rice, Naan Bread and a Pint for only £4.95
Sat-Sun: 1pm-7pm
Come down and watch the sport on our TVs and see your team win!
Follow the Six Nations throughout February and March.
£1.75 – Snakebite, Carlsberg, Strongbow
£2.00 – Kronenberg and Guinness
Coopers Platter – £4.95 (Chicken Nuggests, Scampi, Garlicc Bread, Onion Rings, Curly Fries)
Coopers Brunch – £3.95 (2 Bacon, 2 Sausages, Egg, Chips, Beans, Tomato)
… Jagerbombs are now £2 ALL DAY EVERYDAY!

You can read more from students on the Medwire website: http://www.themedwire.co.uk/