UPDATE:  A disgruntled student has set up the Facebook Group stating, “This was so inappropriate! Please Join the facebook group in protest!!!:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=140819372623298&ref=ts”

Here’s a link to the actual e-mail that was sent out: CLICK HERE

———————————————————————————————

ORIGINAL STORY:

In the last few hours, Student Rights has been inundated with e-mails complaining about a recent e-mail sent from UCAS.

As many students wait heart in mouth to receive notification of acceptance into universities, UCAS sent out the following commercial e-mail, the subject line of which has caused much distress to candidates awaiting to hear about the university placements for the coming year.

From: UCAS Media
Subject: You have been accepted to receive big discounts on HP laptops!

Dear [my name],

As you have applied to university or college you may be starting to prepare for student life. Please find below discounts on HP laptops which I hope you will find of interest.

[adverts]

UCAS Media undertakes emailings for companies who have information that we feel may be relevant to prospective students. The income received from distributing this information is gift-aided back to UCAS (which is a registered charity) and used to minimise the costs of the UCAS application system both to applicants and higher education institutions.

Whilst I hope that the information is useful, both UCAS Media and UCAS itself do not endorse promotional information from any organisation. Please be assured that your personal details have not been passed on to any third parties.

I wish you every success in your studies.

Yours sincerely

Emerson Osmond
Commercial Manager

Harmless prank, or completely inappropriate from the university placement non-profit?  Of course commercial sponsorship is a great way to drive costs down for the organisation, but what of decency in this time of great stress for potential students?

Student Rights’ view is that this was probably one that should have been avoided.  Spokesman Raheem Kassam has stated, “We can see what they’re trying to do here, but it smacks of inappropriate behaviour when so many young men and women are waiting heart in mouth for their acceptances into university.  Perhaps next time they’ll think twice.”

[developing]

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As former president of the UCL Islamic Society (ISOC) Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab is pondering the possibility of a life in prison after his attempted mass murder in the name of ‘jihad’, his successors are continuing in his radical footsteps without contrition.

The ISOC is hosting the Dunya Deception as part of its UK Ramadan Conference on the 28^th August. Ramadan is traditionally a period of reflection for Muslims, however the material that ISOC seem to wish the event attendees to reflect on looks as though it will be true to form if anything.

The guest speakers include Zahir Mahmood, Uthman Lateef and Jalaal Ibn Sa’eed. Overtones of anti-Semitism and social isolation for Muslims seem to be a theme in past appearances.

Zahir Mahmood has said:

“Hamas are not terrorists. They’re freedom fighters, they’re defending their country.”

It appears he does not disapprove of the preamble of the Hamas Charter which states:

“Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it”

Uthman Lateef has shared a platform with Anwar Awlaki, who has now been on the run since 2007 for his implicated collusion in the September 11^th attacks as well as the Fort Hood Shootings in 2009. Lateef has said:

“The dajjal [the devil] will come from the Jews of Isfahan [in Iran] and he will have with him 70,000 Jews.”

Jalaal Ibn Sa’eed has similar views to Uthman Lateef on people of the Jewish faith:

“Most of us are guilty… We selfishly live like the Jews who only care about themselves and call the rest the goyim, those who are damned, those who are enslaved to them.”

Jews are not the only victims of these speakers verbal attacks, Christians are also subject to this rather bellicose criticism:

“Christendom don’t [sic] hold anything sacred. When Isa [Jesus] was depicted in “The Last Temptation” having a sexual relationship with a woman, where was Christendom? Where were they? They were non-existent. Why? Because they don’t hold anything sacred.”

Universities in Britain have gained a reputation for being hotbeds for hatred and extremism. There seems to be considerable apathy thus far from university authorities. They must ask themselves what sort of campus do they want their young students frequenting and learning from? Students, especially Muslim students wish to make friends with people from all faiths and origins, and university is the best time in one’s life to meet and befriend the broadest range of people and personalities.

Religious insularity such as is being encouraged at UCL, at university of all places should not be tolerated.

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Against a graduate tax

Written by Daniel Solomon

On Sunday, David Willetts, the universities minister, claimed that a graduate tax is “by far the best option to go for in tough times” when looking to ensure university teaching and research funding is maintained. Presently, non-medical undergraduate students from middle-income backgrounds pay between 15 and 30% of the costs of their degrees. Taxpayers and university endowments pay the rest and subsidise interest on student loans. This means that undergraduates pay far less than the full cost of their university education. When people can buy something for much less than it actually costs, they tend to buy too much of it. Since 1980 the proportion of people going to university has more than doubled. Many students have gone to university but gained degrees which will not increase their future income; at the same time they have spent three years out of the job market losing a small fortune in forgone wages. A ‘double-cost’ for the students and taxpayers. Replacing student fees and loans with a graduate tax goes too far in the opposite direction. If the tax is implemented as simply as possible, an individual will pay an additional flat rate (say 3 to 5%) on top of their income tax if they go to university. A tax like this would distort the higher education market by encouraging people not to go to university and so avoid the tax altogether. This could impact especially badly on school leavers from poorer backgrounds. When university-leavers go into graduate jobs the tax would encourage them to work less hard so they pay less in tax. UCU estimates that a graduate tax of 5% would leave the average secondary school teacher about £46,000 worse-off over 25 years. People could end up paying much more than the value of their university education in graduate taxes over their lifetime, discouraging them from going to university. This would mean too few people go to university, decreasing their future earnings and holding back economic growth. Additionally, people may go to university, enter high-paying jobs and then emigrate to avoid paying the tax. The Student Loans Company has had a tough time getting loan-repayments from emigres so enforcing a graduate tax internationally will be difficult at best. The result would be a state which pays for most of the university education of high-earning emigres, but which cannot recoup the money and whose policies (by causing the emigration of high-earners) decrease future economic growth. A more complex graduate tax could be implemented, one where different percentages of income are paid according to university attended, degree taken and income earned. This might lead to a better- targeted tax but it would have much higher administrative costs and would cause even more distortion in the higher-education and job markets. In fact, the idea of a graduate tax needs to be scrapped and instead Willetts should enact James Stanfield’s proposals set out in The Broken University.

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The title of this piece is similar to what a lot of potential students will be hearing shortly, as universities get set to reject the highest number of applicants ever.

This unfortunate circumstance is certainly a product of the highly inclusive and open system the United Kingdom currently has – but with limited resources, can we really keep blaming ourselves for the inability to offer universal higher education?

There were about 660,000 applications this year for university courses, nearly 200,000 more than just four years ago.  At this rate of expansion, it’s clear to see how universities struggle to keep up in terms of providing quality education within the current fees limitations, all the while providing residences, bars, extra-curricular activities and investing in capital projects to keep up with the times.

Lecturers union, the UCU, fears up to 170,000 people could be disappointed, as a cap on places is enforced.

It’s often remarked upon that a university degree is an absolutely ‘must’ when entering the job market, and even that won’t guarantee you a position – but that being said, what price are we now paying in our attempts to have a more educated workforce – and isn’t competition for places a good thing to force up standards?

No doubt our sincerest condolences go out to those who have been unable to make it through this year – perseverance is no doubt crucial in an ever more competitive environment.  The question we ask of our readers on this, is how would you change the system, if you would at all?  Think about it – comments are welcome.

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Today, Business Secretary Vince Cable announced a rethink on university funding, seemingly favouring a ‘graduate tax’ – an idea long championed by the National Union of Students.

But it’s not popular with everyone and could lead to students ‘paying back’ far more over their careers.  The University and College Union called the scheme ‘unfair’ with repayments tied to earnings.

The UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: “If the government thinks it can get the public to swallow higher fees as some sort of graduate tax it is living in a dream world. We need a proper debate on how to fund our universities, not an exercise in rebranding.”

A crucial stumbling block of such a policy is of course the time lags associated.  There would be a transition period between how universities currently receive funding and the income generated from a graduate tax.

Further to this, Mr. Cable has spoken of two-year degrees, which would involve classes during the traditional long summer vacation, and would also see extra hours of tuition in term time.  Dr Terence Kealey, vice-chancellor of the private Buckingham University, which offers a standard two-year academic degree, said: “Many more people are suited to two-year courses than realise it.

However again, Sally Hunt at the UCU has commented, “Two-year degrees may sound great on paper but are in effect education on the cheap. They would be incredibly teacher-intensive and would stop staff from carrying out vital research and pastoral duties. Our universities are places of learning, not academic sweatshops, and we need to get away from the idea that more can be delivered for less.”

Whichever side of the fence you sit on, it’s certain that the new government is determined to implement a radical shake up in the education sector – whether or not these measures will be as unpopular as Tony Blair’s top-up fees remains to be seen.

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In the past few months, we’ve witnessed a dramatic change in global rhetoric vis a vis public spending.  Even the stalwart socialist types across the globe are lately arguing for deficit reduction in lieu of the out of favour ’stimulus’ packages that seem consigned to Brown-era government.  It’s interesting to note that meanwhile, there are still those calling for huge and untenable public investment in universities.

Certainly, investment in higher education can yield economic results for years to come- but this is not an absolute principle and we must not allow for this idea to force our hands in distressing economic conditions.

There are plenty of factors to consider.  What kind of degrees are students obtaining?  How will they benefit the UK economy in decades to come?  What is the current public outlay per student, per degree, per lecturer, per module?  It’s not purely as simple as offering a one-liner about ‘the right to higher education’.

While lowering barriers to entry is a desirable and achievable goal – it’s no use if we’re producing 50,000+ more photography graduates per year.  There simply aren’t the jobs for them post-graduation.  More so, there are diminishing returns involved in terms of how much public money can be employed juxtaposed with potential future gains.

Pam Tatlow, of ‘Universities Think Tank – Million+’ has recently stated why she believes the coalition government should be promoting universities as ‘a source of long-term returns to the national exchequer’.  This is a false dichotomy founded on the ’stimulus’ principle which even the most socially driven politicans are steering away from.

Trying to explain to repossesed families or struggling businesses that they should be taxed more, or that they should benefit less from any tax cuts due to an investment in higher education is surely a kick in the teeth for those who have worked hard and paid taxes all their lives.  The argument falls short when you consider the opportunity cost of creating greater public debt for speculative future gains.

And that’s not all.  Recently, the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) has shown research that displays how 78 per cent of top employers are now filtering out any job applicants with less than a first or a 2:1 – thereby cementing the idea that a degree should not be viewed as a prerequiste to a right of employment.  In fact, they go as far to offer employment advice along the lines of ’shelf-stacking’ and ‘burger-flipping’ for those on 2:2s.

The point in this article, therefore?

Prospective students, current students and indeed graduates must not allow themselves to fall into the trap of assuming the right to higher education at a cost to the general public, nor assume the right to employment post-degree.  Education is an endeavour for knowledge, understanding and crucially in these times – a salary.  But let’s not fool ourselves into believing it is owed to us.  Your ‘rights’ stop where your ingenuity and tenacity does.

For all those on this path – best of luck, and keep on at it.

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Sunday, while meeting a friend for lunch near Whitehall I had the privilege of witnessing the hundreds of protesters who took the streets of London in protest for and against Sharia Law.  Group one, Muslims Against The Crusades purportedly by Al-Muhajiroun chanted their views against democracy and their favour for Sharia law by holding signs such as “Democracy is the cancer, Sharia is the Answer”.   While the other peaceful group was lead by One Law for All and Iran Solidarity to mark the anniversary of the killing of protester Neda Agha-Soltan in Iran last year.

I’ve always heard of the remarks made by groups such as Muslims Against The Crusades on the television but this was the first time I have ever seen it up and personal.  It was a scene so striking that anyone who passed the chanting of “Sharia will dominate the world” and isn’t worried about the future of the Western world has a lot to wake up to.

After watching from a distance I became so captivated I made my way over to the front lines of the protestors and immersed myself in the group.  What caught my eye the most was the group of boys around the age of twelve or thirteen holding signs reading, “UK watch your Back, Islam is Coming Back” and “Man Made Law go to Hell” as well as another boy violently waving a flag while debating a spectator saying how he could kill her with his wooden flag pole.

While listening to all of this, I began a discussion with a member and spokesperson of Muslims Against The Crusades and asked him about the demonstration.  He made it clear that they were only there to spread the work of Sharia and express unfairness the media has placed upon them.

The only thought that was racing through my mind was the radicalisation and brainwashing of those young boys who were waving their flags and holding their signs, shouting out “Death to democracy”.  I can only imagine how far those young boys will go in the movement of taking down democracy in the world and how manipulative and violent they with become in order to obtain Sharia.

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‘Coming to the UK is a privilege not a right, and I am not willing to allow those who might not be conducive to the public good to enter the UK.’

The words of Home Secretary Teresa May resonate around the counter-terror and counter-radicalisation blogs this morning as ‘hate preacher’ Zakir Naik is halted in his attempt to enter the UK for a series of speeches.

On June 1st, Student Rights submitted an ‘Open Letter to David Cameron’ alongside a petition which gained 68 signatures.

Since then, the Home Office has been working to explore Naik’s previous speeches, including one now infamous incident where Naik stated of Osama Bin Laden, “If he is terrorising the terrorists, if he is terrorising America the terrorist, the biggest terrorist, every Muslim should be a terrorist.”

Student Rights spokesman Raheem Kassam has stated, “It’s a promising precedent that this government is alert to the dangers of radicalisation.  Speakers such as Naik are touring the UK and we must expose and impede them to stop them spreading hate across the country.”

The video below shows Zakir Naik speaking in late 2006…

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