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issue 50 5 March 2009 ***************************************************** 'Truth: lies open to all' ***************************************************** Every fortnight during term-time. All editorial correspondence to: subtext-editors [at] lancaster.ac.uk. Please delete as soon as possible after receipt. Back issues and subscription details can be found at http://www.lancs.ac.uk/subtext. The editors welcome letters, comments, suggestions, and opinions from readers. subtext reserves the right to edit submissions. subtext does not publish material that is submitted anonymously, but is willing to consider without obligation requests for publication with the name withheld. For tips to prevent subtext from getting swept up into your 'junk email folder', see http://www.lancs.ac.uk/subtext/dejunk/. ***************************************************** CONTENTS: editorial; news in brief; Central Services; new nukes; aquamancy in the underpass; senate report. ***************************************************** EDITORIAL: HOW WE WERE Fairy lights already festoon the warehouse, the subtext coat of arms is out on display, and additional names of contributors and former members of the collective are being added in gold leaf to the boards within the Hall of Merit. As this 50th issue slips away into the ether, the subtext drones will halt their inky labours long enough to enjoy the best champagne and oysters, and to chant the subtext motto (see the masthead). Some curmudgeonly souls might say that a 50th anniversary (or is it an editioversary?) is a modest achievement, especially when compared with the mighty Inkytext oeuvre. We hear, however, that the university began planning for its 50th anniversary even before the 40th anniversary celebrations were complete, so there is a fine precedent for subtext to emulate - and, in any case, we like to party! When subtext first broke onto the waiting world, the George Fox Six were dominating many people's attention, and it seemed timely for a fresh and independent voice to be heard. Furthermore, subtext fielded a complete bench of reporters for the retrial of the students in March 2006, and we believe our report of that week is the most definitive on record - as well as a fine example of collaboration between collective and readers that we have never since quite equalled. Equally pressing concerns, however, were about pay awards and the building programme, themes to which we constantly return. Indeed, if the dates and numbers were removed from subtext issues, there could be some difficulty in placing them in order, so cyclical are the recurring items: the setting of budgets; the provision and control of space; conditions of service, pay and promotions (into the latter of which even professors are drawn these days); restructurings and reorganisations of fabric, people and faculties; staff surveys and the staff charter; bullying, stress and harassment; the colleges and their future; the Science Park (on, off, on so often we can scarcely keep up); and what the late Tom Lawrenson (he of French, Italian and Theatre Studies) once referred to as 'that gastronomic basso continuo against which all our affairs seem to be conducted: food'. He might have added drink, since the college bars and catering are a constant thread in our tapestry. We have received a fine set of Urban Myths from readers, and particularly relished those related to subterranean and aerial exploits around the campus. We were naturally delighted when Nigel Wallups, Vice-Chancellor of our symbiotic neighbour, Lune Valley Enterprise University (or LUVE-U) suggested he would like to share with our readers some of his key correspondence. We know you have all benefitted enormously from his far-reaching and sagacious observations on weaponry sales, knighthoods and restructuring, education as a market imperative, the banishment of learners, and the enhancement of internal university markets for income generation. Nevertheless, there have been some embarrassments, such as the time when he wrote to Insects R Us about governance by insect control, only to be advised that the firm was actually the manufacturer of plastic toy insects. And we were sorry not to be copied into the reply from Dirk le Swanthrums at Estates on the subject of their keenly shared interest in micromanagement. A major preoccupation has been the governance of the University - and there is more, much more, to come. We make no apology for this emphasis, however eye-glazing some of the language may seem, for on the content and interpretation of Charter, Statutes and latterly Ordinances, rest the foundations of Lancaster's internal relationships and its freedoms. If we have aided even a few of you to become more aware of the significance of these governing instruments, we shall know we are making some difference. Their importance is demonstrated in the reports on meetings of the Senate, the Council and the Court, where our indefatigable special correspondents pick their way through the maze of legalistic wording to reveal the basic issues lurking in apparently bland accompanying documents. And the structure also includes the informal but intensely powerful UMAG and Budget Review Group, whose lack of transparency and accountability will continue to be an area of vigilance for subtext, as will the functioning of the mega-faculties and the mechanisms for major restructuring, of which Independent Studies and Continuing Education are just two examples. subtext began tentatively in December 2005, with warm support from readers: after a quick sprint to 500 on the mailing list, we had reached 700 by the end of our first year, during which the THES also gave a nod to its new young relation (http://bit.ly/thes-subtext). The current level is 900-plus and rising, while we continue to ponder our role. As we reflected in the editorial for issue 45, subtext seems to have settled on performing several functions for its readers, especially within the university. Here's a further version of that list: keeping readers informed about the operations of the university's formal governance structures - as well as of the more informal networks of power and exercise of discretion that are often even more consequential (see above); defending a broadly liberal vision of the university against creeping commercialisation and managerialism; offering a forum for the exchange of views; and sometimes just having fun (sometimes at the expense of our betters and elders, and why not?). We welcome your views of whether this is the correct list, and whether we are fulfilling our aims. From the collective's point of view, perhaps the hardest of these objectives
to achieve consistently has been to serve as a space for diverse points
of view from the university community. In this we are largely dependent
on you, dear readers, to send in letters, news and jokes - but also comment,
dissent and analytical investigative reports (remember, we have even less
time than you for such things because we're also on the production line).
But some of you might also enjoy volunteering (probably in twos or threes)
to serve as guest editors for an issue. It might not be as much fun as
guest-editing the Guardian or the Today programme (though we do keep a
better class of biscuit in the subtext warehouse), but it would be a great
way to broaden the discourse (and to enable us to spend more time with
our families). Give it some thought, and let us know! ***************************************************** NEWS IN BRIEF Lament for Lancaster No, not a report on the machinations of UMAG or the fate of Statute 20, but the title of a document by SAVE Britain's Heritage on the proposed development by Centros Miller of Lancaster's canal corridor site (the triangle of land bounded by St Leonard's Gate, Moor Lane and the Lancaster Canal). subtext first carried an item on these proposals in issue 7, which shows what a protracted and divisive debate it has been. Now, at the request of English Heritage, the proposal has been called in by the Planning Inspectorate. Submissions on the proposal will be accepted up to 9 March, and the public enquiry should take place later in the year (see http://www.itsourcity.org.uk/pi/pi-index.html). ****** Science Park Yes, as we hinted in the editorial, it looks like the University, Lancaster City Council and the Northwest Regional Development Agency are going to try one more time to get their controversial plans for a science park at Bailrigg past the objections of the Highways Agency (see our earlier reports at http://bit.ly/29bsp and http://bit.ly/36uj). 'Consultation events' were held in the Market Square and at Scotforth Primary School (yesterday), and another is planned for Galgate this afternoon (see http://bit.ly/lsppc). The plans and exhibition materials will also be available at Lancaster Library until 20 March, and have also been posted at http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/sciencepark. There will be further opportunity to comment on the proposals for the development this summer after they have been submitted for outline planning permission. ****** Long Hours Problem? Some readers may be aware that last Friday, 27 February, was designated by the TUC as 'Work Your Proper Hours Day 2009'. Of course, we suspect that many of you were far too busy working to notice but, worry not, help may be at hand in the form of advice from our own Professor Cary Cooper. Go to the TUC Work Smart site at http://www.workyourproperhoursday.com and there you will find a Long Hours Clinic. Check out the test. The diagnostic tool offers suggestions as to what you need to focus upon to improve the problem. Funnily enough, there doesn't seem to be any mention of this event or the advice available from our own internationally acknowledged expert on the University home page. Perhaps this problem doesn't exist at Lancaster! ****** Continuing Education, continuing The minutes of the Committee of Lifelong Learning, Widening Participation and Outreach for the meeting held on 25 February 2009 reveal that the number of staff in DCE had been reduced from 39 (29.5 ftes) to 23 (15.18 ftes), proving that one does not necessarily need a redundancy committee to cut staff. The University seems content that those staff who remain should simply shoulder the burden of extra work. ****** Funding for 2009-10 From the summary of recurrent grant information in the THE of 5 March, Lancaster's expectations of holding its own amongst its peers seem to have been met. Winners for research funding include Nottingham, Bristol, Liverpool, Kent and Exeter; among the losers are Imperial College, Reading, Surrey, and Sussex. Lancaster's overall increase of 3.4% sits alongside 2.0% for Manchester, 0.2% for King's College, London, 1.4% for Birmingham and 3.9% for Warwick. Given that the relative funding position of universities is almost as critical as absolute numbers, the outcome appears to be a positive start for our post-RAE position. It is to be hoped that a fuller and more refined analysis of the outcome will quickly be made available to all members of the University. ****** PhD studentships The establishment of 29 new PhD studentships will doubtless be welcomed both by faculties and the students themselves. This move represents a welcome investment in doctoral research within the University, thus redressing a weakness in successive RAE exercises and building up an area that has been identified as crucial to the research-led mission of the university. When asked in Senate last week whether or not a requirement to undertake teaching would be attached to these studentships the Deputy Vice-Chancellor said that such details were to be decided by the faculty. At present it is unclear as to whether or not the University wishes to extend employment rights to these students by giving them a contract for the teaching that they are required to undertake as part of the studentship. ****** National Student Survey Lancaster's current response rate to the National Student Survey (NSS) stands at 26%. This compares well with the average response rate across institutions that began the survey at the same time as us - 25%. However, at least one other institution has achieved a response rate as high as 75%, whilst Lancaster's own response rate is down by 4% on what it was at this stage last time round. Disparities also exist. Management Science has returned a mere 6.67%, whereas Educational Research has returned 67.74%. Given the importance placed on the NSS, pressure will doubtless be brought to bear on departments to get students to fill in the survey. ****** Cheap Drinks In a move reminiscent of a village 'local' on the verge of closing down, this month's drinks offers in the college bars (brought to you courtesy of the Hospitality Division) include a triple Archers or Bacardi and mixer for £3.50. Even if this is not a sign of desperation, it certainly flies in the face of the message 'drink responsibly, folks'. ****** Patriot's Cup On Saturday 7 March the first 'Patriot's Cup' competition will be played between Furness and Cartmel colleges. The day's itinerary is designed to encourage people who do not normally play sport in a college context to do so and to just have fun. Events include football matches (divided into games for those on college teams and games for others), dodgeball, pool and darts games, and a Nintendo Wii competition. A B-B-Q and joint social to be held across the two college's bars will allow for more social interaction. **************************************************** CENTRAL SERVICES The beginning of March saw the launch of Central Services. It was marked by an upbeat and supportive message to his staff from Andrew Neal, the new Chief Operating Officer (Asda has a similar position). In it he outlines his priorities and gives some indication of the size and complexity of the role he has assumed, while sensibly and honestly commenting that over the next few months he intends to broaden his knowledge and deepen his understanding of those parts of Central Services with which he is less familiar (for which read most of what was previously the Academic Division). To say he faces a steep learning curve is a huge understatement, in what has been characterised as a highly politicised and high risk reorganisation. subtext wishes him well. One assumed that the restructuring had been agreed on the basis of it being cost neutral, which meant that eyebrows were raised last week as two new posts were externally advertised: the Director of Marketing and External Linkages at a salary of £90k and the Director of Student-Based Services at £75k. Both are very important posts, of course, all the more so given Andrew Neal's acknowledged lack of experience of such areas, but one wonders what labour market research has been done. Moreover, it now seems we are using an external agency for recruitment. Such agencies do not come cheap but, expense aside, the move would also seem to indicate a lack of self-confidence within the institution. **************************************************** BREEDING REACTORS You know those two big blocky things you can see on the horizon if you look to the west from the university? No, not there - that's the DDH shipbuilding shed in Barrow-in-Furness (blimey, you've got good eyes). Look down a bit - no, not THEM, that's the Carleton and the Battery in Morecambe (god, you're useless) - look to the LEFT, where I'm pointing, in the middle of all those nice twinkly lights. Yes, there - that's Heysham 1 and 2, each containing two advanced gas-cooled nuclear reactors and operated by British Energy. Heysham 1 is on the right, and due for decommissioning around 2014; Heysham 2 is on the left, with the jaunty white stripe round the top, and could run until about 2023. You really ought to know about them. They're major employers in the area, and as we all like to leave our appliances on standby, we probably need them. But on the other hand they're only about 5 or 6 miles away (as the westerly wind flies) and they've both had their little foibles. In 2002 Greenpeace revealed that Heysham 2 had been plagued with the same technical problems with its gas circulator impellers as had its sister plant at Torness. Then in late 2007 Heysham 1 and its sister plant at Hartelepool (hmm, odd that machines have sisters but no brothers) were both shut down, when corroded wire windings were discovered in the boilers that form part of their reactor pressure boundaries. More general worries have been expressed about having nuclear reactors on such a built-up peninsula with congested exit routes. However, once a location has received one nuclear installation, let alone two, there are great pressures to site new such facilities close by. Thus it was no surprise that plans for a third nuclear power station alongside the other two were mooted many years ago, prompting widespread public opposition. Now, with the government in favour of a new generation of nuclear power stations, the idea has been revived. British Energy want to earmark land at Heysham for a third nuclear power station (though because of the rules under which British Energy was recently acquired by Électricité de France it will have to be owned and operated by another company). If you're not totally 'participationed-out' by the Science Park proceedings this week (see above), there will be an exhibition and public meeting about BE's plans at The Platform in Morecambe, on Tuesday 10 March. The exhibition opens at 3.30pm and the public meeting at 7.00 pm - but be warned that if you want to attend the meeting you have to send your name and contact details in advance (surely nothing sinister there?). See http://bit.ly/virtual-lancaster-newnukes for more information and links. **************************************************** THE SPRING IS SPRUNG Eyebrows were raised in the subtext warehouse last Thursday when we read the circular email blaming the floods in the underpass on a water leak in the cold water main. 'Cold water main' indeed! (Does that mean we have a hot water main too? Someone please remind us how that works.) As we revealed in subtext 48, these regular subterranean floods are in fact caused by the seasonal spring that still flowed freely from the summit of Bail Rigg when the University was founded in the late medieval period. Tradition has it that the spirit of Bail Rigg was angered by the capping of the well during the creation of Alexandra Square, and that a major flood in the underpass is a sign of difficult times ahead for the University. Rumours that the Director of Finance was seen sampling the flood waters with the University Augur, their oddly contrasting togas carefully hoiked above the swirling waters, have not been confirmed. **************************************************** SENATE - 25 FEBRUARY 2009 Setting the scene RAE and REF Continuing the top table's focus on league tables, we were treated to
a set of (re)compilations of data which demonstrated that Lancaster actually
did better in the RAE than some tables might indicate (with one table
demonstrating our position as 8th in the country). Perhaps more interestingly,
when those units of assessment that were in the bottom 25% nationally
were set out alongside those in the top 50% nationally, the Faculty of
Arts and Social Sciences looked particularly exposed, providing all but
two of the low-lying departments/units. Even though the broad details
of RAE2008 funding are already public knowledge, Professor Macmillan made
the uncomfortable point that, although we returned 30% more staff than
in 2001, because the pot of money on the most optimistic estimate is unlikely
to rise by more than 10%, and if (as expected) the exercise is relatively
neutral as regards our share of the cash, we shall still see a reduction
of RAE-related money (QR income for the acronym-initiated) per full-time
member of staff. Collaborative links: Jordan Next up was a brief report on the Deputy VC's discussions with the Princess Sumaya University of Technology (owned and run by the Jordanian Royal Scientific Society), another potential spoke in the network of linked universities that Professor McKinlay increasingly seems to see as his legacy at Lancaster. This potential link will undoubtedly reappear in future Senate reports once more visits have been undertaken. Senators were also brought up to date with the progress of the QAA Institutional Audit - the initial phase is complete and in the next couple of weeks the full inquisitorial visit will take place. Then, like a small squall before the main storm, the University Secretary reported on HR matters (Human Resources: keep up!). Here there was some disagreement between some Senators and top table about the tempo and progress of the current negotiations on policy, with our Council indicating that at some time it may be necessary or desirable to conduct negotiations outside national frameworks (although this is not suggested as being necessarily imminent nor a foregone decision). Making its debut in this month's Senate, the dark cloud of Statute 20 (which sets out elements of academic staff's conditions of employment, perhaps most importantly defining who is an academic and how and when they may be made redundant) came over the horizon. Here, the first interesting revelation of the meeting was exposed. In light of an employment tribunal case at Aberdeen University, that particular university's gentleman's agreement with the academic union(s) - UCU and its predecessors - to treat staff on fixed-term contracts differently from established staff has become untenable. That the unions in some pre-92 institutions may have been complicit in the very issue that was about to vex Senators, possibly made some of those preparing their questions a little less comfortable. However, this squall passed and Senate moved on. Support for research Standing Redundancy Committee, Part I This promised to be a detailed and possibly fraught debate, but in the
end it was all rather anti-climactic: there was no standing and shouting;
all was conducted in reasoned and balanced tones. subtext is not Hansard,
so let's focus on the key issues. Despite the publicised plan of action,
and although at this point the detailed plans for and structures of the
SRC remain undrafted or unsettled, this was likely to be the only time
the item would come to Senate. As Senators pointed out, this meant Senate
was being asked to comment on something that as yet did not actually formally
exist; hardly a model for open and deliberative governance. It was also
clarified that the committee is only intended as an interim measure to
bring the University more (although not fully) in line with current employment
legislation, and that redundancy procedures were already established and
used on a regular basis by the University in the regular management of
some staffing issues. Indeed, as the University Secretary was prompted
to admit, the proposed action still did not make Statute 20 entirely compliant
with the law. Senators were also advised that Lancaster was not alone
in its post-Aberdeen judgement predicament, with Bristol, Durham, Newcastle
and Warwick all taking, or planning, similar steps to regularise the manner
in which fixed-term contracts are brought to an end. Standing Redundancy Committee, Part II Conclusions ***************************************************** The editorial collective of subtext currently consists (in alphabetical order) of: George Green, Gavin Hyman, Bronislaw Szerszynski and Alan Whitaker. |