Volume 10 - 1982/83 - NEWSCHEET

Preamble

A quiet start to the year suddenly exploded when accommodation issues were raised.  One or two tetchy contributions probably demonstrated the underlying concern about the future of the college.  Academic Board reports were few suggesting that not many heads were being raised above the parapets. 

(1)  Principal John Hanson’s  speech was reported.  He began by saying that things were uncertain.  A new committee structure had been agreed signaling the end of the post of Dean.  Acting Vice-Principal, Cliff  Rogers, would concentrate on staff development leaving John Hanson to work on resources.  Government  money for HE  would be cut over the next few years.  A CNAA examination would take place in June.  An association of three colleges – SCHE, Winchester and Warsash was being considered.   Of the 27 staff who had applied for early retirement, 11 had been invited to discuss terms.  Recruitment of students had to improve on the 5% from last year.

(2)   Tom Thomas advertised Maths Workshops three times a week for students who may have problems.  Sandra Pumphry gave details of the elections for members of  Departmental Boards.

(3)  The new Student Counsellor was announced as Steve Vincent.  Terry Murphy asked NATFHE members to sign a petition about the affiliation to the CND agreed recently at  national conference.  The College Safety Officer listed eight new safety publications.

(4)  Mike Halle announced the start of the Computer Centre service.  Robert Stokes reported on the recent meeting of the Academic Board listing some of the more important points:   Association of Three Colleges,  Promotions Panel, Organisation of Executive Function, Future ‘Cuts’.  A number of thefts had been reported.  Alistair Monger was congratulated on winning the Hampshire Open Squash Championship (B)  B. A. Kirby gave details of the 20^th SCR  AGM.

(5)  Clive Welsteed wrote of the problems in the Reprographics area and the steps being taken to alleviate the situation.

(6)   Steve Vincent appealed for cassettes for a tape-recorder to help a blind student who has to record lectures and is finding it expensive.   The SCR AGM had been postponed because of lack of members.

(7)  Maureen Emery offered details of the recent Governors’ meeting to members of the non-teaching staff.  The College Safety Officer berated the practice of carrying hot coffee/tea downstairs during a fire drill.  People are ignoring the ‘No drinks past this point’ notices.  The forthcoming visit of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, D.E.S. to the college was noted.  Mr William Waldegrave would be in the college from 2.15pm to 4.45pm

(8)  Newscheet had been late in arrival the previous week prompting Dennis Rutley to complain that perhaps money needed to upgrade printing machines was being spent on things like posh notice boards to show Parliamentary Under Secretaries of State that we have enough money and to spare.  Ann Tupper mooted the notion of a Christmas Disc-Dance (sic).   Neil Toye gave a report of exemplary Visual Aids service for one of his lectures, before finally revealing that the lecture had taken place at the School of Nursing.

(9)  Jim Rumsey wrote that more  participants are urgently required by the present aging incumbents of the staff 3-a-side soccer hour in the Sports Hall.  Bob Hailes reported that the current series of fire drills was completed.   Dennis Rutley found safety faults with the photos in the foyer on the occasion of the Under Secretary of State’s visit.  The SCR reported the following Officers after election:  Alan Atkinson (Chairman) Barbara Bishop (Secretary)  Bill Morton (Treasurer) Dave Hewitt (Auditor).

(10)  Don Pallister gave details of the application process for staff development activities.  Terry Baker wrote: ‘Since the decision to set up the Mountbatten Institute, for the greater aggrandizement of the Senior Administration and the detriment of just about everybody else, has already been taken, can anyone kindly explain just what is the point of further discussion meetings?’  Sister  Phil appealed for further volunteers to help increase the First Aid coverage.

(11)  Bob Hailes wrote that Safety Goes Online.  Terry Murphy listed the agenda items for the next NATFHE meeting including the 1983 Salary Claim.

(12)  Angela Holmes thanked staff for her presents on her departure.  The Academic Registrar reminded staff of the necessity to submit examination entries and fees by the end of January.  The Senior Common Room Committee Meeting was reported including the opportunity to visit Paris over the Christmas break.  The Departmental representatives for the year were:  Gladys Bradwell, Maggie Ross, Barbara Kirby, Geoffrey Callow, John Puntis, Howard Metcalfe, Joyce Head, Colin Dempster, Frank Mahon.

(13)  David Lawrence gave details of the Carol Service, Ann Tupper of the Disc Dance to be held at Townhill Park House.  Brian Cotton invited staff to a presentation to Bert Medus.  Steve Vincent thanked the two members of staff who had donated cassettes for the blind student.  He also expressed profound disappointment that negative staff comments had led to the removal of the Student Hardship collection box from behind the staff bar.   Richard Complin gave details of the Refectory service for the Christmas vacation.

(14)   Alan Lawrence gave advice for people using the college lifts.  The General Office gave details of a Christmas Party asking attendees to ‘Please Bring a Bottle’.  Don Pallister noted that Don Isherwood was retiring at the end of term.  A presentation was to be made in the Senior Common Rom.

(15)   Eric Roe thanked staff for their good wishes and stated he hoped to be back very soon.  Bob Hailes wrote about the wearing of seat belts in cars now being mandatory.

(16)  NATPHE was to consider the latest proposals for the changes affecting Higher Education in certain Hampshire colleges at the next Branch meeting.   Bob Hailes reported on the latest fire drill and once again berated the carrying of cups of hot liquid on the stairwells.

(17)  Sister Phil wrote ‘with regret’ about the cancellation of the proposed First Aid  course because of Release/Coverage difficulties.  Brian Bowen, Bob Hailes and Steve Vincent renewed the appeal for cassettes for the blind student.

(18)  Colin Dempster gave details of the Open Days for the Faculty of Art and Design.   Sheila Love berated the difficulty of becoming a First Aider at the college.   Bob Hailes reported on a time of four and a half minutes to clear EPT in the latest fire drill.

(19)  Some  members of the Law Faculty moved into accommodation in the Faculty of Art and Design  (F. Wright, M. Biles, B. Watts, M. Bennett, G. Thomas, J. Hindmoor, A. Nasser).   Terry Baker, coming out of hibernation, reminded teaching staff of how a few years ago – on the creation of Deans – 14 members of the teaching staff were moved out of two rooms to make room for 7 administrative staff.  The rooms were also redecorated.  Currently a room once occupied by 4 PLs is now being redecorated and carpeted for 1 member of the administrative staff.  Ann Davis produced a chart of expenditure on education by member states of the EEC per inhabitant.  The UK was seventh of the nine countries.

(20)  Ann Davis pointed out that administrative staff also had poor work conditions by stating that ‘the ladies lavatories in the admin. suite have not been cleaned properly in living memory.’   Malcolm Mattick pointed out that the number of rooms available for teaching has declined in the four sessions he had worked at the college.  Frank Wright wrote in praise of the Law staff’s new (carpeted) surroundings.

(21)  Faults in the college switchboard were reported by Margaret Goyne.  The ‘Girls in Admin.’ defended the cleaning policy of the ladies’ toilets.  R. N. Toye asked that specific complaints about toilets etc should be passed to the relevant Health and Safety Committee representative.  Comments from Admin. Suite staff and Technology Office staff pointed out the importance of good work surroundings.

(22)   Terry Baker bemoaned the situation where six teaching staff are moved into an area previously occupied by two administrative staff and feel that they have been well served.  Jo Diaper, Janet Chaundy and Rosemary Stenner wanted to enter the ‘Most Squalid Surroundings’ competition by nominating the one and only ladies’ toilet in the Building block.  There is just one cubicle at the top of five flights of stairs.  Dennis Rutley attended an exhibition at the College of Art partly attracted by the promise of wine. This never arrived.

(23)  Clive Welsteed made two points ‘Don’t Moan – Report It’ and more specifically ‘Don’t Copy It – Print It’, this because reprographics work in the Print Room is back to normal.  Donald Currie in a very long article hit out at those who would write articles that can cause rifts between academic and administrative staff members.

(24)  Comments from the Admin. Suite staff (Issue 21) had really rattled Terry Baker’s cage as he systematically took apart each of the arguments put forward concluding that there is ‘total and absolute ignorance of what is involved in the teaching process,’ by the administrators.   Some 1,000 words later, Terry Baker said staff could take comfort from the fact that this was the last letter he intended to write to Newscheet.

(25)  Mike Wall asked for a reminder to be printed that the staff canteen is for staff only.   Staff wishing financial support for research projects should apply to John Ghey.  John Sneezum asked Departmental collectors to collect 70p per head for the Insurance scheme to support Mr Callaghan who recently went on half pay.

(26)   Terry Murphy used this edition to make staff aware of the latest moves in the association of SCHE with CNS.   Warsash Governing body issued a paper with 17 requirements for the formation of the institution.  In these 17 requirements the word ’must’ appeared 15 times.  This action resulted in the SCHE Academic Board passing a resolution by 16 – 3 not to transfer any courses to Warsash until it was satisfied on its stated recommendations on the matter of Association Government.   Geoff Orme about to run the Southampton Marathon for a second time noted the finishing point had been altered from near the Cowherds pub to Southampton Old Cemetery.  Alan ‘Fuming’ Barham commented on  the sudden appearance ‘without official backing’ of No Smoking signs.

(27)  The College Sergeants admitted to posting the No Smoking signs under orders from above.  Bob Watmough saw the incident as evidence of the stealthy tread of  Big Brother.

(28)  Sister Phil advertised the last showing of a First Aid film.

(29) Mike Patten announced that part of the Main Library’s new staff workroom had been designated as a Learning Resources Display area.

(30) Brian Cotton advertised a seminar on Open Tech.  Alan Barham continued his tirade against the unofficial No Smoking signs  suggesting the money spent on the signs could have been spent on large ashtrays instead.  Barbara Bishop gave details of the Senior Common Room Garden Party at Townhill Park House.

(31)  The Annual Fashion Show was advertised.  Jim Rumsey reported on a win for the staff soccer team over the College of Nautical Studies.  J. Edgar Shaw, as goalkeeper,  had conceded two goals but drew the line at letting the opponents seem equal or better.  Support from the administrative staff was as welcome as it was surprising.   David Clark was congratulated on his Ph. D. award from the University of Southampton.

(32)  Malcolm Mattick reported that 2 memos he had sent to others through the internal post had been delivered to his own in-tray.  Bob Hailes commented on the good times achieved in the latest fire drills.

(33)  John Gregory and Ann Davis expressed disappointment at the poor attendance of college staff at a seminar of Richard Hoggart which had attracted key figures from other educational establishments.  Norman Davies reported on the first two Sunday cricket matches of the season.  Both were wins and names mentioned were Charles Crutchley (5 wickets), Ian Tromans (50 runs), John Hellier and Bruce Penman.  A midweek game against Embley Park had been lost but was noted for the playing appearance of Mike Halle – who had only come to watch his first ever game of cricket.

(34)  Stuart Roy and Kim Klaka advertised a small display of design work by students of the College Diploma in Yacht and Boat Design

(35)  Sister Phil reminded everyone to take care in safety issues.  Dennis Rutley thanked the Newscheet team – Margaret and Gill for arranging and typing, Bob and his team for printing and Frank for his help in distribution.  His final thought – ‘If Newscheet exists this time next year, I wonder what it will be called?  It all depends on what the College will be called, always assuming there is a College.’


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