Dear Gown,
Some things I think you should consider for your next issue. Regarding the new library, why the hell there is still work going on in the building when it’s supposed to be finished? Particularly on the second floor where there was scaffolding, and tables were out of use for most of last week. Also, why does cleaning take place during the day when it’s busy? I go to the library because it’s meant to be quiet, not to listen to someone hoovering!
On another note, a lecturer of mine recently highlighted that they had been instructed by management within the university that they are to only answer student emails during office hours. So basically an hour a week is the only time they’re allowed to answer emails. Personally I find this appalling, if I have a question I generally want it answered pretty quickly. I mean, I’m paying over £3,000 a year for their teaching so why am I not entitled to more support and advice? It makes me laugh that they’re considering raising the fees, if they do I know that I won’t be back…
I hope you feel it necessary to raise these issues in the public domain.
Keep up the good work!
QUB Student
I recently attended my graduation and I have one point that is clearly a point that everyone has noticed or has been affected in some way shape or form and that is the fact that Queens is a ‘business’. The amount of times I heard his ‘excellency’ say Global World-Globilisation etc in his opening speech shows the mentality of the university to almost Americanise its structure and image to those of such Universitys open for business in the USA. The graduation was a volley of clapping and 300 people collecting a scroll. It was a nice ceremony then its off to the marquee for a £7 glass of champagne. This should have been complimentary at least and I know that may sound silly but if you regard the owverall committment we make to Queens via fees and also working in the Uni and playing and representing the name through sport, it is clear to see there is a huge deficit in committment and recognition from Queens to its students and people who ‘make the university the place that it is’ a commonly used phrase.
The Graduation ceremony was fantastic for myself and many others but it had almost a routine like feel and one which was resembled a factory production line excepts the products were overpriced. The lectures I had recieved throughout the years were in some cases death by powerpoint. I could have gotten the same result sitting at home reading. However there were many inspirational people in the English dept in particular who could give a few tips to some of the others in University academia.
I wrote that in a hurry btw so some sentences were a little rough around the edges lol
Perhaps you should bring this forward to the student union management- thats what they are there for
the management? as in…the sabbs?
Could they help with this?
Hope they read this site because I think that email thing is RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shaneeqa, the sabs could help, especially the President who is on the Senate (the governing body of the union). Also try Daniel Critchlow (also on the Senate) and Nathan Anderson (member of the University Academic Board).
I’m pretty sure the term “office hours” is generally considered to be between 9am and 5pm. You could test this by sending an email to a member of staff saying “When is your office hour?”
If the reply is anything other than “NOW!” then my point stands.
it’s travesties like this in a service MEANT for students that make me question why the FORK I’m paying £3225 a year, money that I clearly don’t have and will inevitably be p[paying back till I’m 30. It’s a joke and not a funny one either
and in reply to “honestly…” i agree whole-heartedly, universities everywhere including Q”UB have lost their way, they are more interested in funding [their gentleman's club memberships]than educating the young adult populace, who spend YEARS working their backsides off to get into university and then spend countless hours without sleep doing the work to stay in said university only to be let down like this. its not fair, we shouldn’t have to pay for a sub-par education, we’re paying for the “QUB” brand more than anything and its infuriating and disgusting. Any student I’ve meat is genuine in attaining their degree and QUB are apparently feeding on that to squeeze as much money out of us as they can, to run us into as much debt as they can we NEED to something about it, if not for us for those students still aspiring to attend QUB