Craig MacLellan

Mike Russell, Scottish Education Secretary, has ruled out the introduction of top-up tuition fees to Scottish universities in his first major speech on higher education since being appointed to the role.

Addressing delegates at the annual NUS Scotland conference in Dunfermline, Russell acknowledged that although university funding will come under increased pressure in the coming years, the Scottish Government did not see tuition fees as the solution.

He said: “We have to acknowledge that [a report on higher education funding in England and Wales due to be published shortly] will pose difficult questions for us in Scotland on how we fund our university and university students in the future. But this government does not believe that the answer to those questions is tuition fees.

“This government has re-established the principle of free education by abolishing the graduate endowment and will not introduce tuition fees.”

Since coming to power, the SNP administration has scrapped the £2,000 graduate endowment fee but have yet to implement their manifesto commitment of replacing student loans with grants.

Russell told delegates that alternative solutions to tuition fees should be fully explored in a debate involving the government, universities and students about how Scottish higher education should be paid for in the future.

He said: “I want to hear the views of the students, student leaders, university principals, unions and the entire stakeholder community about what we might do in Scotland to provide a long-term and sustainable solution — a uniquely Scottish solution — to funding universities in the future.”

The Universities and College Union (UCU) backed Russell’s tuition fee commitment, as well as singling out the business sector’s lack of investment in the higher  education sector.

A spokesperson for the UCU explained: “Increasing the financial burden on students and their hardworking families is unfair, particularly as a number of recent reports have exposed the failing of British business to pay its fair share for the numerous benefits it receives from higher education.”

SRC President Laura Laws welcomed the move, arguing that university education should be free to those who wanted it.

She said: “We fully support Mike Russell’s commitment not to introduce tuition fees to Scotland — a university education should be free.

“It is essential that Mr. Russell’s commitment will extend to ensure our universities and colleges receive proper funding by persuading the Scottish Government to make higher education a priority in years to come, ensuring that a free education is still a quality education.”

Russell’s announcement comes as Scottish universities have received an extra £42.9m for teaching and learning in the 2010-11 budget compared to their budget for 2009-10, bringing total university funding in Scotland to over £1bn.

The increase in funding for Scottish universities comes at a time when English universities are facing cuts of nearly 5% in their central government funding.

Russell said that the budget increase signifies the Scottish Government’s commitment to fund education during the recession.

He said: “This budget comes during an incredibly difficult economic climate. It follows a recession neither predicted nor in our control and a budget slashed by Westminster by more than £500m.

“This settlement is more than fair in the current climate. It is a real term increase; it’s the highest budget since devolution; and it recognises the pressures on colleges and universities as more turn to further and higher education during this time.”
“Scotland’s colleges and universities are central to our ambitions for economic growth. They are the front-line of building the skills, society and economy we need for the [economic] recovery and beyond.”
UCU also believes that universities will pay a key role in re-shaping the Scottish economy.

A spokesman said: “If Scotland is to build a new economy after this recession to replace the discredited financial economy, we must invest in higher education.
“To match the knowledge economy being developed elsewhere, Scotland needs more graduates and greater investment in research and development.”

Anton Muscatelli, Convener of Universities Scotland and Principal of Glasgow University, welcomed the budget increase.

He said: “The announcement, which protects university funding, is very welcome, as is the crystal-clear recognition made of the crucial importance Government attaches to universities.”

With a general election looming, Craig MacLellan looks to the future with Secretary of State for Scotland, Jim Murphy MP

When people asked me what kind of child I was like at school, I liked to pretend that I was a rebel. Alas though, I was a very well behaved wee boy — a teacher’s pet if you will. Now, however, at the age of 22, I find myself sitting outside a classroom in Eaglesham Primary School, on a chair that is at least three sizes too small. But this time I’m not waiting to talk to the head teacher, but to Scottish Secretary, Jim Murphy MP.

Murphy has been carrying out surgeries similar to the one I’m attending since he entered parliament in 1997 during New Labour’s landslide election victory. Whilst representing the constituency of East Renfrewshire, he has gradually worked his way up the ministerial ladder, finally taking a seat at the Cabinet table in October 2008.

Although he spent part of his childhood in South Africa, Murphy considers himself Scottish through and through. “I think I said this at the time, you don’t get to pick jobs in the government, but in this reshuffle I put in a bid for this job. It’s what I wanted to do. Anyone who loves Scotland would love to do this job.”

Murphy’s appointment to the Scottish Office also saw the role of Scottish Secretary split from that of Defence Secretary. There was a school of thought on opposition benches at the time that he had been installed as a taxpayer-funded Labour attack dog to help ease the pressure Labour was under in Scotland from the SNP.

Murphy believes though that it had been wrong to split the role in the first place and that Gordon Brown had been right to “beef up” the role. “I think the Prime Minster made a mistake by trying to split the role of Scottish and Defence Secretary. It was wrong for Scotland and it was wrong for the armed forces. Whatever it was that [the opposition parties] said I am, I hope over the past fifteen months, I’ve proven that’s not the case.”

Despite his love of the job, Murphy is more than aware that his tenure has been overshadowed by the most difficult economic conditions since Labour came to power. “It’s all been overshadowed by the recession. That’s been the big, dark cloud over the whole thing and I’m just trying my best to help Scotland and the UK through the recession.”

Although he now represents one of the most affluent constituencies in Scotland, Murphy’s upbringing on one of Glasgow’s poorest estates obviously still resonates in his politics. “You look around Scotland and the poorest families are drastically affected by the recession. That’s my personal priority — how do you stop the poorest becoming totally dislodged from society? “I’m not interested in a recovery that takes years and is so unfair that it leaves families, especially the poorest families, severely disadvantaged.”

During his tenure, Murphy has been dealing with an SNP minority administration in Scotland, which has led to a number of clashes between the governments in Holyrood and Westminster.

The release of the Libyan bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi in August 2009 caused major disagreements between the two governments. Murphy thinks, however, that conflict will always be a part of politics. “Events like this will always exist, for as long as there is politics there will always be friction between and within parties.”

Friction and politics have been part of Murphy’s life since his days at Strathclyde University, where he was elected President of the National Union of Students Scotland, whilst also being a member of the National Organisation of Labour Students.

Although he did not complete his degree once his tenure as NUS president finished, Murphy still holds Scottish higher education in high regard. He does, however, hold concerns concerns for the future.

“I have great belief in our universities and our students, but there would be a worry that some English universities would open up a funding gap. “Scotland, and the Scottish Parliament, has taken their decision but the consequence is that you’ll either have less investment at universities or you have many more foreign students paying higher fees, plus private sector investment.”

In an attempt to reduce the nation’s deficit, Murphy admits that there will be cuts in higher education spending, but he also believes that universities could be doing more to trim their own budgets.

“The decisions as to where cuts will be hasn’t been made, but our view is that universities can find more efficiencies. We don’t want to jeopardise the quality of universities, but like everywhere else, they’ll need to find efficiencies, as the public expect them to. It would be a luddite’s approach to the recession by making big cuts at universities, as universities are a core part of our recovery and a central part to our entire economic strategy.”

Where to make the cuts may not be a problem for the current Labour administration though, with many polls pointing to defeat, or at the very least a hung parliament, at the next general election.

Murphy concedes that although governing becomes more difficult each year, Labour are still a party with solutions to current issues. “It’s hard thirteen years into power — it’s naturally harder. Every year in government, politics become tougher. We haven’t run out of ideas. We’ve got a fresh set of ideas for a fresh set of challenges. But any party which gives the impression that it’s out of ideas, out of energy, out of the will to govern, should move over and let someone else do it.”

During the latest challenge to Gordon Brown’s leadership at the start of January, Murphy was named in the media as one of six potential Cabinet rebels. He dismisses the situation, believing that Gordon Brown has been strengthened as a result.

“I hope [Geoff Hoon and Patricia Hewitt] were better minsters than they were plotters. Well, you couldn’t really do any worse — they made Guy Fawkes look organised.
“I think last week has strengthened Gordon Brown. This plotting only helps the Tories, so we shouldn’t be fighting each other.”

Murphy also voices his frustrations at those in his party who appear to be willing to settle for a period in opposition. “It drives me mad. People have got to get their chin off their chest and believe in themselves, believe in the Labour Party and believe in what we stand for. If you don’t believe in it, go and do something else.”

But if Murphy was to experience a period in opposition in the near future, it may afford him more time to watch Celtic play. When asked how he thinks his team will do this season, the usually calm and collected Scottish Secretary is slightly unnerved. “Oh no,” he said. “As Secretary of State, I’m supposed to be neutral.”

After much discussion about the future of Scottish football, he returns to the question with a typically diplomatic answer. “How will Celtic do? I think they’ll finish in the top two,” he says, before adding, “but I hope they’ll finish top.”

It’s safe to assume the same could also be said of Murphy’s hopes for Labour after the next general election — top two, but hopefully top.

Craig MacLellan

A number of Glasgow University buildings have been hit by a spate of thefts this semester, resulting in the loss of equipment worth thousands of pounds.

On October 28, the Learning and Teaching Centre, located on Southpark Avenue, had a camcorder worth £20,000 stolen.

The Bower Building, located on University Avenue, which is a research and training facility for the Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, also had three laptops stolen in the same month.

It has been revealed that the thief who stole the camcorder from the Learning and Teaching Centre had earlier attempted to pose as an employee of EDF energy in the Nursing Studies Department, claiming he was there to read the electricity meter.

However, after being challenged by a member of staff, he left and made his way to the Learning and Teaching Centre, where he gained access to the building when a student was leaving.

Jim Kane, Traffic and Security Manager with the University’s Central Services, said that despite the strange behaviour of the individual, the members of staff whom he spoke with did not consider his actions suspect and no one took particular notice of his presence in various areas of the department.

He explained: “The individual who stole the camcorder was wearing an EDF badge and claimed he was there to read the meter. He had been sitting about for 15 or 20 minutes, and had spoken to people within the department, but no one took any action to ascertain his real reason for being there.

“He was well dressed, but he also had a good drink in him — not the type of person you’d expect to come round to read your meter.”

Kane went on to explain that the individual had seized the opportunity to steal the camcorder, as it had been left unattended in an open area by those who had been using it.

He said: “He was particularly lucky on this occasion, since there was nothing readily available to steal until a group of students and staff returned from a project and the camcorder was placed on the unmanned reception desk. He then managed to walk away with a camcorder worth £20,000.”

The incident was captured on CCTV and the footage has since been handed to Strathclyde Police to assist their ongoing investigation.

With regards to the incident at the Bower Building, Kane said that there was reason to suspect that the thief had waited in the building until the end of the day and committed the crime once staff had left and the building had been secured.

He explained: “There are no signs of a break-in to the building. There is no evidence on the monitoring system to indicate that people came in after the place was locked down.

“However, the area was subject to a break-out as the door of the office area which had housed the laptops was severely damaged.”

As of going to print, there is no information regarding the individual who stole the laptops from the Bower Building, although Strathclyde Police are investigating.
Kane advised both students and staff to be aware of what is going on around them and to report any suspicious activity.

He said: “I am sure that you will agree that a common sense approach to something unusual happening should be brought to the attention of others, and if necessary, security staff or the police. Many individuals tend to overlook situations, as they don’t see them as being any of their business.”

However, Kane was keen to point out that the recent series of robberies was highly unusual and that criminal statistics were lower this year compared to last year.

He explained: “There has been a good detection rate in recent years, due to the university security service observations and the student and staff population telling us about things that may have been happening. We ask people to continue to be vigilant and report anything they think is suspicious.”

Kane said that other suspected robberies this semester were still under investigation.

Craig MacLellan

November 14 saw thousands of people, including University of Glasgow students, march through the streets of Glasgow in opposition to the Scottish Defence League’s (SDL) presence in the city.

Around 2,000 people from a range of student organisations, Scottish political parties, faith organisations and trade unions gathered under the banner of “Scotland United” at Glasgow Green, before marching through the city towards George Square.

The anti-fascist rally was organised in opposition to a proposed march by the SDL — an offshoot of the English Defence League — on Glasgow’s Central Mosque. The SDL has claimed that it is not a racist or fascist organisation, but that it is against what they call the “Islamification” of Britain and acts of Islamic militancy.

Phil Neal, a third year Politics student, explained why he took part in the protests.

“I took part in the march in order to send a clear message to the SDL and other fascist organisations that racism is not welcome in Scotland and in order to show solidarity with those communities that are the targets of these thugs.”

Neal also commented that the size of the demonstration, and range of groups attending, proves that Glasgow doesn’t accept the views of the SDL.

He said: “The sheer number of people compared to the number the SDL managed to mobilise shows that Glasgow is a multicultural, multiethnic city and proud of it.”

Neal also believes that society needs to target racism and fascism head on.

“While the SDL might not return soon, if the government does not act or people do not stand up to racists and fascist organisations, the inevitability is that they will.”

The rally at Glasgow Green saw speakers from across the political spectrum, as well as representatives from both the Christian and Muslim communities.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon took part in the demonstration and expressed her delight at its success.

“Nobody can be in any doubt that Glasgow won’t tolerate this kind of attack on the city, because it’s an attack on who we are and what makes us who we are. Hopefully this tells the SDL that there’s no place for them here and they need not bother coming back.”

Annabel Goldie, Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party, explained that the united front formed by all the groups will have sent out a strong message to the SDL and other fascist organisations.

“I think this was the most impressive demonstration we could have asked for, which sent a clear message to these forces of racism that we do not want your sort here in Scotland — get out and stay away.”

Having failed to gain permission from Glasgow City Council to march through the city’s streets, around eighty SDL members held a demonstration on Cambridge Street, although the event was under the tight control of Strathclyde Police.

Once members had carried out their brief protest outside The Cambridge pub, they were sent on buses to other parts of the city by the police force in an attempt to protect the safety of the public.

The Glasgow University Left Society, which was set up earlier this year to bring together different organisations on the political left of campus, organised an earlier demonstration to ensure the SDL were not able to protest anywhere in the city.

Liam Turbett, a second year history student, was involved in the earlier demonstration and explained why this protest was separate from the one organised by Scotland United.

He said: “I was involved in organising the 10am mobilisation — we did so because it became clear that the Scotland United march taking place in the day would not be seeking to directly stop the SDL from assembling and holding their hate-filled protest.”

“Fascists have never been allowed to openly operate within Glasgow, and we didn’t see any reasons to let them start now under their thinly veiled anti-fascist front.
“I think we dealt the SDL a severe blow — even their own supporters are bemoaning the fact that their demonstration was a disaster.”

Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill, praised the marches but also warned that society must remain on its guard against far-right organisations such as the SDL.

She said: “I think today shows that Glasgow won’t stand for this kind of conflict. We know what the SDL’s agenda is — it’s about Nazism, it’s about prejudice, it’s about bigotry, and Glasgow just won’t accept that.

She added: “However, we need to be vigilant and make sure that they don’t make inroads in any of our communities.”

Aamer Anwar, Scottish human rights lawyer, said that the size of the demonstration sent out a clear message to other far-right groups.

“The turnout was fantastic — thousands of people marching through the streets of Glasgow sends out an important message. Don’t bother coming back to Glasgow again, because if you do, we’ll drive you off the streets — you’re not welcome. The police will stop you, the council will stop you, and if they don’t, then we’ll stop you.”

Xpressphoto

Craig MacLellan

The Falkirk Wheel provided the scene for this year’s annual charity abseil, which is raising money in aid of The Beatson Pebble Appeal.

The abseil event, which is now in its eighth year, saw 110 University of Glasgow students, staff and alumni descend the 115 foot structure, raising £16,000 in the process, with more money still to come in.

Claire Laidlaw, Corporate Events Co-ordinator at the Development and Alumni Office, was pleased with the event and would be more than happy to return to the Falkirk Wheel again in the future.

She said: “It was a great success and everyone seemed to enjoy it. The Falkirk Wheel was a good venue, especially for friends and family watching. We would use it again but are always considering other venues to give people some variation.”

The event is contributing towards a £10m campaign to raise funds to build the Beatson Translational Research Centre, which is the final element in the creation of the Glasgow Centre for Cancer Research.

The building, which will be based at Garscube, will cost approximately £19.2 million and will be a University of Glasgow facility. When the new centre is complete, it will convert basic cancer research into improvements in treatment for patients.

It will focus on the common tumours that cause the most deaths in Scotland, such as endocrine (breast, prostate and ovarian); smoking-related (lung, throat, oral) and gastrointestinal cancer.

Although the University has taken a large role in developing the centre, it is doing so in conjunction with Cancer Research UK, the Beatson Institute and the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board. Since the campaign was launched in the summer of 2007, over £5m has been raised.

Three members of the SRC sabbatical team — Laura Laws, Morven Boyd and Sophie Hall — took part in the event.

SRC President, Laura, explained how, despite suffering serious nerves, shee managed to take the plunge.

She said:  “I was absolutely terrified at the top — the man had to talk me over.  Once I’d reached the bottom though, I was so proud that I’d done it.”

Morven, Vice President (Learning and Development), commented on the support everyone gave each other and the atmosphere at the event.

She said:  “I took part since it was a team effort between the three of us. The atmosphere on the day was great and I didn’t have time to actually think about what I was doing.”

Sophie, Vice President (Student Support), when asked if she would do it again said: “Yes — in a heartbeat.”

The annual event usually takes place at the Glasgow University Bell Tower, but was moved to the Falkirk Wheel due to maintenance being carried out on the tower.

The rotating boat lift, which was opened in 2002 by the Queen as part of her Golden Jubilee Celebrations, connects the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal.

It has become one of Scotland’s most distinctive engineering projects and has featured on £50 notes issues by the Bank of Scotland since 2007.

Students have been warned to be extra vigilant after a series of muggings on Queen Margaret Drive.

Three attacks have occurred over the last month, two of which took place within a week of each other. In each case, the victim was either approached or followed by the suspect, before being threatened and forced to hand over their money.

The police believe the same man has carried out all three attacks and are appealing for the public’s help in identifying him.

The suspect is described as being in his early 20s, about 5ft 8in with short brown hair, dressed in a grey hooded top with detailing on it.

Detective Sergeant Mark Sutherland of Strathclyde Police said: “In all three incidents, the suspect would appear to have been in possession of some kind of pointed implement which he threatened the victims with.”

Earlier in the year, Guardian exposed the concerns many Murano Street residents had over their safety and it seems that the situation is yet to improve.

Despite the attacks taking place on one of the main routes for students walking back to Murano Street Student Village from the university, none of the students Guardian contacted have been made aware of the situation.

David Calendar, a first year Music student, believes that the management of Murano Street should be alerting students to such incidents.

He explained: “They should be informing students when things like this happen so we know to be on the look-out.”

Inga Gara, a first year Economics student, said she did her best not to walk back to Murano Street by herself at night.

She said: “I try not to walk back by myself. I either get a taxi or try and walk with other people.”

Catlin Raper, a first year Medical student, believes that the university could make the route safer with additional lighting.

She said: “They could improve the lighting on the alley and on the bridge to make the general area safer for students who are walking back by themselves late at night.”

Laura Laws, Student Representatives’ Council (SRC) President, advises students to make every effort not to walk home by them at night.

She said: “The SRC would like to advise all students living in all areas of Glasgow to avoid walking home alone at night.

“Instead they should try and walk home with friends, take a free SRC minibus or use public transport when returning home.

“However, we realise that sometimes students do have to walk home alone and we would advise them on these instances to try to walk along well-lit streets and avoid dark and badly-lit areas on the way home.”

Laws was also keen to point out that the SRC was on hand to offer help to students who felt vulnerable when walking to and from Murano Street.

She explained: “It is important that students also take every precaution to stay safe. To help students who may feel vulnerable especially when walking home alone late at night,
the SRC Advice Centre offers students free attack alarms for extra protection and security.”

Anyone with information which can help identify the suspect is asked to contact Maryhill Police Office on 0141 532 3700.

Photo: Tom Bonnick

Craig MacLellan

Over a thousand residents of Murano Street Student Village lost their right to vote in June’s European elections due to an “oversight” in the registration process.

This is despite Sanctuary Management Services, who operate the residence on behalf of the University of Glasgow, assuring all residents on arrival that they would be placed on the electoral roll.

The information pack which welcomes students to Murano Street states that: “You will automatically be registered to vote in Glasgow unless you specifically indicate otherwise in writing by mid-October of your first year of residence in the Village.”

However, when the election arrived, many found themselves unable to vote as they had not been enrolled on the electoral register.

Calum Johnston, a second year Medical student, found out that he wasn’t registered to vote by the time the deadline had passed, thereby losing his chance to vote.

He said: “By the time I found out I wasn’t registered to vote, it was too late to register with Glasgow City Council.

“I was really annoyed about losing my vote, as I’d assumed they had everything covered, and to find out it wasn’t was really irritating.”

Liam Turbett, a second year History student, explained that he only found out the day before the deadline closed that he had not been registered and that Sanctuary Management was not helpful in resolving the situation.

He said: “I only found out the day before the deadline for voter registration that I wasn’t registered. I called up the office at Murano Street, but they were quite vague about it all.

“They were barely aware in the office that there was an election, but they obviously hadn’t been given any direction on the matter.”

Mr. Turbett did manage to vote in the election, but was forced to personally register with the council. He explained: “I managed to get down to Glasgow City Council, a few hours before the deadline and registered myself.”

Lynn Wingate, Operations Manager for Sanctuary Management Services Glasgow, apologised for her company’s failure to enrol students on the electoral register.

She said: “SMS [Sanctuary Management Services] apologies for the oversight which resulted in eligible students living at the Murano Street accommodation not being registered to vote in June’s European elections at this location.”

“We can confirm that this oversight was restricted to Murano Street and the other sites we manage at the university were not affected.”

A spokesman for Glasgow University confirmed that the university had made Sanctuary Management aware of their disappointment and that safeguards would be put in place to ensure this would not re-occur.

He said: “We made our concerns about this situation clear to Sanctuary Management and we have now amended the registration procedures to ensure this does not happen again.

“Students can double check they are registered by contacting their local electoral registration office at Glasgow City Council.”

Laura Laws, President of the SRC, expressed her dismay at the situation.

She said: “It is disappointing that students in Murano Street didn’t have the opportunity to vote in the election in June.

“For many students turning eighteen, this would have been their first opportunity to vote and we hope that this won’t happen for the elections expected early next year.”

Laws also recommended that any student who does want to vote should register themselves with Glasgow City Council.

She said: “We would like to advise all students who are interested in voting in the next round of elections that they can register to vote online now on the Glasgow City Council website.”

The nominations have been announced for the Student Representatives’ Council’s (SRC) forthcoming autumn elections, though a number of the positions have once again been left vacant.

The posts of Academic Convenor for Veterinary Medicine and Postgraduate Taught have attracted no nominations, along with the positions of Part- Time Students’ Officer and General Representative (Postgraduate). The positions of Academic Convenor for Veterinary Medicine and Postgraduate are currently vacant from the SRC’s Spring elections.

Despite this, Laura Laws, SRC President, is pleased with the number of students seeking election.

She said: “The SRC was extremely satisfied with the number of students who expressed an interest in standing for the autumn elections.

“While there are still vacant seats in the elections, we are highly encouraged by the number of candidates in this year’s elections and wish each candidate every success with their campaigns.”

Despite the vacancies, elections for the International Students’ Officer and General Representatives remain highly competitive.

The former has six nominations for the position, and the latter has eleven students competing for only five positions.

After poor voter turnout in previous years, Laws explained that the SRC is doing its best to promote student participation in the elections.

She said: “This year, we have had an extremely successful campaign throughout the University of encouraging students to take part in the elections.

“Both the SRC website and Facebook page have been inundated with visitors over the past few months, while our online document display profile on Scribd.com has had nearly 10,000 hits since the start of the semester.”

The Heckling Meeting is due to take place on Tuesday, September 20 at 5.30pm in the Williams Room of the John McIntyre Building.

The elections will take place the following day on October 21. Students can vote online for every position at www.glasgowstudent.net.

Thousand of English students, including those studying at Scottish universities, have been left without their loans after the Student Loans Company (SLC) struggled with demand for loans.

The firm, which has only this year taken over the processing of maintenance grants and tuition fees from local councils, has seen applications rise 17% since 2008, with figures hitting one million for the first time.

Pressure is being put on the system by the record increase in the number of applications to university, fuelled by workers returning to education during the recession and more people being forced to take out loans and apply for grants.

Students have also found it impossible to contact the SLC. Those who are put on hold are faced with long waits, whilst others have complained about documents going missing and conflicting information from SLC staff.

However, the SLC has opened up 50% more phone lines to deal with the volume of calls. SRC President, Laura Laws, was keen to point out that students currently without their loans could apply to the University for help.

She said: “Students should have received the non-income assessed part of their loans, and should receive the remainder before the end of October. Students can apply for a university crisis loan to tide them over until their loan comes through: forms can be picked up from the SRC advice centre and level two of the Fraser Building.”

It has also emerged that ministers were made aware by the SLC as early as January that there would be insufficient staff to deal with applications for 2009/2010.

Laws was angered that the government had known about the issue, but had made no attempts to solve it.

She explained: “It is disgusting that the Westminster government knew about this problem a long time ago and haven’t done anything to fix it or speed up the process.

“The SRC Advice Centre is currently helping a number of students to get the money they are owed from the SLC, and we will be speaking to SLC bosses directly in meetings over the coming weeks to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”

Photo: Sarah-Ann Lee

Craig MacLellan

Europe’s most advanced animal hospital has opened its doors at Glasgow University’s Garscube Campus in Bearsden.

The new £15 million institute, which has taken ten years of planning, is expected to have over 11,000 visits annually.

The centre will provide a new benchmark for the care of animals with a vast range of services offered, including a diagnostic suite complete with both MRI and CT scanners, a centre for comparative oncology, a modern operating theatre equipped with cameras to allow the remote viewing of procedures, an underwater treadmill and a pain and rehabilitation centre.

Professor Stuart Reid, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine believes the new hospital will herald massive step forward in the treatment of animals.

He said: “The opening of the new hospital is a step-change in the treatment of small animals. It represents the latest in care for pets and is the most advanced such facility in Europe. The patients we treat will still receive the best care available, but this will now be in the best surroundings available.”

The centre will also play an important role as a training hospital, where approximately 120 veterinary students and 30 veterinary nursing students will shadow specialists trained in all aspects of veterinary medicine.

Professor Stuart Reid said: “The new hospital will allow the vets of tomorrow to learn in the most advanced surroundings, allying the first-class building with access to the some of the best specialist vets in their field. As a training aid, it is unsurpassed.

“With cutting edge facilities and capacity for training veterinarians at all stages of their career, the Faculty will be using the building as a flagship for its clinical provision.”

The hospital also houses a state of the art endoscopy room, containing the most up to date endoscope, allowing visualisation of early cancerous changes in the guts of both dogs and cats.

Dr Mark Jackson, the Director of the new Small Animal Hospital, explained that the hospital is seeing an increasing number of cancer referrals and that the new centre will assist in their treatment and understanding of the disease.

He said: “Our centre for comparative oncology gives a wide range of treatment for most types of cancers in small animals.

“As well as allowing us to treat these conditions, the new facilities will allow us to gain a better understanding about the development of illnesses and produce new ways to both diagnose and treat them.”