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issue 86

23 February 2012

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'Truth: lies open to all'

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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/.

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CONTENTS: editorial, news in brief, lusu meeting, Goenka, city council, deans-gate, branding, timing, fodens brass, uni brass, council report, council report, council Liverpool visit, vox pop, letters

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EDITORIAL

In the light of increasing evidence that the union between Lancaster and Liverpool was originally conceived as exactly that, thus making subsequent denials look all the more disingenuous, the Vice Chancellor's recent letter to staff re the Business Process Review and the 'Livercaster' negotiations was a timely dampening down of the heat generated by poor handling of both projects. His statement that the Liverpool/Lancaster link-up would not happen unless there were clearly 'mutual benefits' was a necessary declaration of the obvious; a joint project which had all the benefits on one side would be unlikely to appeal. But it does at least give Lancaster a way out. Let's be clear; in all the sound and fury of discussion to date, not one concrete argument has yet been advanced to suggest why this particular union would be of tangible benefit to Lancaster, and it appears that Liverpool colleagues, while assuring themselves that the link is a done deal, also don't seem to feel there is much in it for them. The major driving force behind the overture to Lancaster seems to be that the government has said that funding will generally be given to 'large unit' research projects. So be it then, but we're surely going about it the wrong way. Research projects are about issues that cry out to be investigated, in company with people of relevant expertise and experience. You don't first invite people to join in, and then sit around asking what research to do. Colleagues across the university are already involved in complex networks of collaborations all over the world - would these have to be curtailed or terminated, if they didn't fit the Liverpool agenda? And are multiple collaborations with many institutions not anyway the obvious way forward, and something Lancaster can accelerate without being tethered to any one institution - particularly if the tethering involves the structures of the university? For, behind the reassurance about consultation, there is also a determination not to prolong the process too long, which is fair enough, but also reference to ambiguous terms such as federation. Even if links with Liverpool are attractive, why is it being assumed that they have to be accompanied by the loss of the ability to make our own future?

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Max Lazarus

subtext notes with sadness the passing of Max Lazarus, lecturer in Physics at Lancaster since 1968. Dr Lazarus will no doubt be more than adequately memorialised elsewhere, but he was a friend to subtext, and we shall miss his always idiosyncratic observations.

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International Women's Day

Come and join in with International Women's Day celebrations and the opening of the exhibition 'Women at Home and at Work 1900-1999' - 8 pm, Thurs 8 March, at the Gregson Centre, Moor Lane, Lancaster.

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Wall of Protest

On the 8th of February a student-led 'guerrilla art action' saw the construction hoardings on the north end of the Spine redecorated. Chalks and spray cans were made available for passersby to add their comments. Some were against the BPR. Some were just rude, and some were quite funny. The link below also reports on it, though it should be noted in our students' favour that the spelling on the hoardings was generally a good deal better than in the report.

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/02/492166.html

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Senate effectiveness

The Senate Effectiveness Working Group has begun its work. It is to meet four times, with two consultation periods between meetings, and to produce a report and recommendations by June. This will be the first such report since 2007. Then, one outcome of the review was an increase in the size of Senate (from 80 to 95 members); this time, it looks as if the Group is more likely to recommend a decrease. (subtext suspects that this apparent pendulum effect is probably some off-shoot of Parkinson's Law.) Lancaster's Senate is larger than those of most of the institutions with which we are accustomed to compare ourselves, and unlike York, for example, has a substantial representation (18) from the Colleges. While subtext does not see a larger Senate as inherently superior to a smaller one, we think it would be a pity if any downsizing were to erode the representation of some constituent parts of the University and reinforce the domination of senior and middle management. (See also 'Deans-gate' below, in this context.)

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UCU suspends industrial action

UCU has suspended the current industrial action while negotiations resume on the proposed changes to pensions. The suspension will be reviewed in June at the UCU conference.

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Exhibition at Storey Gallery, Lancaster

A Century of Chairs: An exhibition of twentieth century chairs from the collection of the Design Museum in London

This exhibition has come to the Storey Gallery directly from its previous showing at the 2011 Cheongju International Craft Biennale in Korea where it attracted more than 420,000 visitors.

The exhibition encourages us to consider the significance of the chair. It illustrates how designers have responded to shifts in the way we choose to rest our legs, and how they have made use of new materials and technologies to create beautiful, sculptural forms.

There will be a series of talks related to this exhibition.

Venue: Storey Gallery, The Storey, Meeting House Lane, Lancaster LA1 1TH

Dates: 28th January 2012 – 7th April 2012

For more information: http://www.storeygallery.org.uk/programme.php 

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LUSU Meeting

The LUSU General Meeting on Thursday 9.2.12 was the first quorate such meeting for three years. An actively engaged student body is something we can only applaud, and would express the hope that those attending found the meeting a sufficiently interesting experience to want to repeat it. We also note that the issue that prompted such engagement amongst students was the Business Process Review. The BPR is starting to resemble the Poll Tax in the 1980s and the present government's proposed health reforms, both in that it is becoming increasingly viewed as a poisoned chalice, and in that it is becoming increasingly difficult to find anyone beyond a very few die-hards who actually still think it is a good idea.

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GD GOENKA WORLD INSTITUTE GRADUATES

The first cohort of 131 students has graduated from GD Goenka World Institute with Lancaster University postgraduate qualifications in a range of management, marketing and law subjects. A further 556 are currently studying for a Lancaster degree at Goenka. The promised exchange of students between the Goenka and Lancaster sites seems not, as yet, to be happening on any scale. Only 17 Goenka students have opted to take the third year of their studies in Lancaster.

It had been planned that the range of subjects offered at Goenka would expand rapidly over the first few years of the partnership. However, Mail Online India reports that these plans have been out on hold due to delays with the government granting University Status to G.D. Goenka World Institute: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-2100674/UK-universities-come-New-Delhi-scout-Indian-talent.html. subtext has been unable to find out any details about these reported delays.

Clearly, overseas expansion remains a priority for the university. Currently amongst the advertised job vacancies are three 'Directors of Partnership Development'. These are senior posts, with one Director to be based in each of Sunway University (Kuala Lumpur), G.D. Goenka World Institute (Delhi) and COMSATS University (Lahore), for 3-5 years. The advert states that the salaries are 'attractive' - though in a somewhat unusual move they will only be revealed to those contacting Prof Steve Bradley, PVC (International).

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CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE ON UNIVERSITY COUNCIL

In June 2011, Cllr Paul Aitchison (who also happens to be a student at the University) was nominated by the City Council to sit as its representative on the University Council. At the time the University refused to accept his nomination, claiming that the university regulations said that the post could not be filled by a student. However, finding the alleged regulation containing the prohibition proved troublesome, and the University has now backed down and agreed to accept Paul Aitchison on to the University Council – at least until such a time as the regulations can be revised to explicitly exclude the possibility of the City Council representative also being a student. After all, who wants to encourage students to get involved in things that matter?

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DEANS-GATE

Classical scholars will recall that the Roman Senate once offered the Emperor Tiberius blanket approval of all and any measures that he might wish to enact, at that time and at any point in the future. This offer probably saved time, as no-one was about to argue with Tiberius anyway, being as how people who opposed him tended to find themselves executed, their property confiscated and their families sold into slavery. While not admirable, the Senate's abject sense of self-preservation was at least understandable.

Two weeks ago subtext 85 asked if anyone knew when the University changed its procedures concerning Faculty Deans, from a system of election to one of appointment by the Centre. We suspected then that for such an outrageously offensive and undemocratic move to have succeeded, something sneaky must have happened. In fact it turns out that no degree of sneakiness was necessary. Back in 2008, a proposal to allow the University to appoint Deans (and Principals, and Pro-VCs), rather than have them elected by those they would represent and manage, was presented to a University Senate meeting, and duly rubber-stamped by it. This was reported in the Senate Report in subtext 42. We make no apology for re-printing the relevant section here:

'...Tucked away at the end of the agenda was an innocuous looking document entitled 'Appointment of Senior Officers' and this prompted the most excitement of the day. The proposal put to Senate was for appointments for Deans, Pro-VCs and College Principals to be externally advertised rather than selected from among existing members of staff. The appointment panel would be chosen by the VC, removing participation by members elected by Senate as in the past. The reason for these changes was presented as being to increase fairness and diversity in the appointments and do away with the possibility of vote rigging since there would be no votes to cast. A number of speakers raised various objections to the proposal, with one of them pointing out how Senate was again being asked to vote away some of its rights to have a say in the governance of the university like 'turkeys voting for Christmas'. The possibility that any of these posts could now be filled by non-academics was raised and confirmed. A question regarding the mechanisms by which the views of staff could be formally linked into the process was skilfully if misleadingly diverted by the VC into a discussion of how Professors were appointed. Moreover, despite being clearly raised, the question of what happens to these indefinite appointments once they have served their fixed term of office as Dean or other role was not answered. The University Secretary, Fiona Aiken, defended the proposal robustly though at one point admitted that she was 'making it up on the hoof' when pressed on the detail of the proposal, and at times looked to the VC to help deflect difficult questions. But it's OK as she passionately believes that a professional management is needed for the university and this is the way forward. One amendment was successfully passed: this removed mention of college principals from the proposal, and was prompted by a detailed analysis of the power of line-managers to veto prospective College Principals (hardly a way of ensuring diversity and equity) from this month's Senator of the Month (the Principal of Bowland College, Joe Thornberry). The remainder of the proposal split the Senate chamber with 18 votes to 14. Furthermore, with numerous abstentions, this can hardly be said to have been a ringing endorsement...'

And see also subtext 31 - http://www.lancs.ac.uk/subtext/archive/issue031.htm.

There is so much occasion for ironic laughter in this that it's hard to know where to start, though the sheer chutzpah of the idea that it would 'do away with the possibility of vote rigging since there would be no votes to cast' has to be very near the top of the list. We suggest that the Politics department might like to consider the logic of this statement as an exam question.

This meeting happened around the time that subtext was often criticised for routinely using the word 'spineless' when describing Senate behaviour (though not, we would emphasise, that of certain courageously noisy Senators). Regarding that, nous ne regrettons rien. At least the Roman Senators mentioned above had real reason to fear the consequences if they did not co-operate with authority. It is not so clear what our excuse is. The ability to choose one's representatives is about as basic a right as can be imagined. (The American colonists even started a war over it.) When we give up the right to choose those who represent us, can we really then complain if they act in ways of which we disapprove? Shame on us all.

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£135,000 FOR 'BRANDING MANAGEMENT'

The THES reports that Lancaster University spent £135,000 on 'brand management' in the 2010-11 financial year. See the report at http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=418600.

Rather harshly, the THES article suggests that brand management consultants 'have almost no effect on how a university is perceived and much of their work is a waste of time and money'. However, on the THES online comments, we hear from 'Terry', who really should know because he is a brand manager, and his chums in the trade, who all maintain that brand management has been misrepresented. Contrary to popular belief, brand management isn't all about picking fonts and logos. Rather, it's really important, and difficult, and good. No, really. The subtext collective has no view on the value of 'brand management', but we trust that the university would only be spending £135,000 on something pretty special. Perhaps someone from the Management School will write and tell us?

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TIMING IS EVERYTHING

Many colleagues have recently received emails, apparently (and rather depressingly, given the low level of literacy demonstrated therein) on behalf of some Public Service Unions, from a company inviting them to 'win a fabulous 14-night western Mediterranean cruise'. In view of the much publicised recent disaster involving the cruise liner Costa Concordia in the (oops) western Mediterranean, this might seem a rather tarnished inducement. Those curious (or, indeed, wishing to avail themselves of this tempting offer) can view the advertisement at staffdiscount@247coupons.net.

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FODENS BRASS

Now in their 43rd season, the University's International Concerts have gradually relaxed from the formal all-classical-music programmes of the 1970s towards a much broader and more inclusive set of concerts that offer something for almost every punter. In this spirit, on 9th February the Great Hall welcomed the 28-member Fodens Brass Band. 

A brass band? Isn’t that going a bit too popular? For some of us, these words conjure up memories of a sea-front promenade, mugs of tea and buns, accompanied by cloying renditions of palm-court ballads arranged for sweet-toned cornets played with too much vibrato.

When Fodens Band took to the Great Hall stage in bright red jackets decorated with copious gold braid, this only added to one’s fears; but they were dispelled the minute they started to play. The band was as crisp and taut a group as could be imagined. Their ensemble playing was first-class, and every individual player seemed to be a virtuoso at their instrument.

It is a compliment to the Lancaster Concerts audience that visiting groups generally put together interesting and quite ambitious programmes. The Fodens programme contained original pieces for brass band written by a range of composers, including their composer-in-residence Andy Scott, who was present in the Hall, together with arrangements for brass band of orchestral works. As well as a full set of brass, there was a range of untuned and tuned percussion, including xylophone, glockenspiel, vibraphone, marimba and several timpani. This took up the full width and some of the depth of the Great Hall stage, to the point where one of the players had to run from one instrument to another to be in position to grab the sticks at the right moment. No wonder he was slim. His athletic performance added to the entertainment in what was already a very satisfying programme, performed with great skill and musicality. Fodens Band have won many national and international brass-band championships in recent years - this recognition would seem well deserved.

One reason to invite the Fodens Band at this point in the year was no doubt so that their conductor, Mike Fowles, could run a masterclass with the University Brass Band, ahead of the UniBrass competition on 18 February. Last year, having initiated and organised this inter-university competition, Lancaster’s band was placed seventh.

(For a review of this competition and its results, see Uni Brass article below – eds)

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UNI BRASS (Contributed by David Denver, for which much thanks)

I can't imagine anyone not being variously thrilled, moved and uplifted by what took place in the Great Hall on Saturday 18th February. The occasion was the National University Brass Band Contest and it provided a real treat. Twelve bands participated, each playing a programme lasting 25 minutes. Two of the bands were clearly outstanding and a cut above the rest – Brass United (University of Manchester and Royal Northern College of Music) and Huddersfield. The former included two BBC young brass musicians of the year on euphonium and they performed a duet of astonishing virtuosity. Nonetheless, all the other bands were worth listening to and were duly congratulated by the adjudicators. The soloists too were terrific. The cornet solo 'Zelda' by Oxford University band was the first to raise well-deserved cheers from the audience while 'Donegal Bay' on euphonium by Huddersfield was a thing of beauty.

To no-one's surprise, Brass United took first prize overall (as well as prizes for best march, best entertainment and best feature – the pyrotechnic euphonium duet). Huddersfield came second so that the real battle was for third place. The prize went to......Lancaster! This was just reward for a thrilling performance which began with the band coming on to the stage and joining in section by section in the rousing 'Joy, Peace and Happiness'. The players then stood throughout and ended strung across the stage belting out the last tune. This was a smashing effort.

The only criticism I have of a great event is that the publicity for it was so poor. There was nothing much around campus and nothing at all in town.  A few posters and a call to the Lancaster Guardian would have paid dividends. I myself had a bit of a job finding out details about the day.  So here is an early warning. Next year's competition is again at Lancaster and is on Saturday 16th February. For a day of great music from enthusiastic young people – and all for £5 plus £2 for the programme – put it in your diary now.

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COUNCIL REPORT

The latest meeting of the University Council opened up with a presentation from Ms Katrina Payne, the Director of Marketing and External Linkages. Ms Payne listed advances, particularly in digital marketing, such as reactive and proactive initiatives on Facebook, Twitter and the Student Room. It was also revealed that we have won an award for our mobile phone web page!  When asked, what exactly are we marketing? Ms Payne summed us up as 'excellent, flexible, supportive and quirky'. Which sounds good to us.

The Vice-Chancellor opened his report by mentioning the tragic events of Boxing Day morning in Salford, resulting in the death of Anuj Bidve. There was a large attendance at the memorial service and a signed memorial book has now been personally delivered to Anuj's family by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor. As a tribute a Studentship in Engineering has now been established.

News from HEFCE: moderation funding – the safety net for institutions hardest hit by the removal of teaching and research grants - has now been removed. Funding for PGT has been introduced which is good news. Our undergraduate admissions figures are buoyant and bucking the national trend.

Diversification news: The Chancellor presided over the inaugural graduation ceremony of the GD Goenka World Institute-Lancaster University on 8 February 2012. The VC and Deputy VC are to travel to China next month as an indication of our support for the development of a campus there. The Study Group students now have a new facility here on campus.

Good news was our successes in research funding but bad news about our MBA falling from 45 to 71 in the Financial Times League Table. Finally the VC mentioned the Business Process Review, emphasising that this is not a cost cutting exercise but is designed to make administration better and more efficient.

The President of LUSU reported that LUSU are researching student opinions regarding their services and activities to ensure that LUSU is 'fit for purpose'. A delegation from LUSU are travelling to Liverpool to meet with the Liverpool Guild of Students to discuss the Liverpool-Lancaster strategic developments. Space continues to be an issue. The President reported that there is strong support from all quarters for a new Student Union space to be found or constructed.

The Council then spent some time discussing its recent trip to Liverpool.  It was agreed that this had been a valuable exercise and very useful to make contact with our opposite numbers in Liverpool. The views of the Liverpool Pro-Chancellor and the President of their Council (see report on the visit below) were discussed. The Lancaster Pro-Chancellor insisted that these are personal views and should not influence the discussions currently proceeding at a Faculty and Departmental level.

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REPORT ON UNIVERSITY COUNCIL VISIT TO LIVERPOOL

On Thursday the 8th of February the Lancaster University Council members visited Liverpool University. The Council travelled down by coach and had a short tour of Liverpool's historic sites before proceeding to the Liverpool campus. The Liverpool COO then led a tour of recent and current construction projects including new residences and new science laboratories. The Lancaster Council then met up with members of the Liverpool University Council and listened to talks given by Liverpool academic staff on current and possible research collaborations. The final session was an open discussion of the Liverpool-Lancaster association. It was universally agreed that stronger research collaboration between the universities could only be beneficial to both parties.

One of the key drivers for a stronger 'federal' link between the two universities has been to increase the 'research power' of both institutions by their combined research output being submitted as a single entity to the government and research councils. When asked what degree of federalisation would be necessary to achieve this aim Professor Sir Howard Newby, the Liverpool V-C, stated that as yet this was unknown. The preferred option ('to have our cake and eat it') would be to have our combined research activities viewed as a single submission whist each university would retain autonomy over governance and undergraduate teaching – each university keeping its own 'brand'. The Chair of the Liverpool Council, David McDonald, and the Liverpool Pro-Chancellor, Professor James Keaton, were more candid and forthright in their views. They were both of the opinion that only what amounts to a full merger of the two universities would persuade any government body to view any joint submission as a single submission. The new organisation would have to have a single strand of governance, a single governing Council and of course only one Vice-Chancellor. This is of course only their personal opinion but it was eye-opening for some of the Lancaster contingent who have been told repeatedly that a merger is not and has never been on the table.

The visit was useful and informative and in a reciprocal arrangement the Liverpool Council is to visit Lancaster University at the end of March. In what might be viewed as a portent to future negotiations, the coach carrying Council back to Lancaster broke down and a new bus had to be sent out to complete the journey home!

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VOX POP

The first rule of subtext is, of course: we do not talk (much) about subtext. The second rule of subtext is: we do not, under any circumstances, discuss parking issues on campus in subtext. Despite great temptation, this self-denying ordinance has been stuck to religiously. Fortunately we did not take the same vow concerning wider traffic issues. Following the article in subtext 85, the letters section this issue (see below) contains three (a record!) communications expressing concerns about the junction by the new Sports Centre. We should also note that one of the subtext collective is currently practising for his driving test, and when he and his Instructor drove through the junction, the Instructor opined that it was 'a bit of a nightmare'.

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LETTERS

Dear subtext

Very glad to see subtext picking up on the dangers associated with the new Sports Centre zebra crossing. It can be extremely difficult even to see people crossing there, particularly when the sun is low. The additional road narrowing if anything seems to have made it even harder, as a driver, to see clearly what is going on. There must be a safer way of arranging this.

Karin Tusting

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Dear subtext

The article in this week's Subtext regarding the crossing at the new Sports Centre has provoked me into putting pen to paper (or pixels to virtual document at least).

The planning and execution of the crossing at the Sports Centre is another glorious shambles.

It is bad enough that we seem to be incapable of engaging contractors that do not have to repeat the same job two or three times before (if) they get it right (anyone watching the progress with Alex Square last year will be well aware of this issue), but surely we could at least plan properly? It is difficult to control the efficacy of external contractors, this much I can recognise, but I don't understand why we do not appear to be capable of planning new projects in a way that covers all the angles. Posh new sports centre (tick), posh(ish) new Waterside Building resplendent with NCP Car Park–like interior (tick) etc, etc, but whilst we're busy congratulating ourselves on the completion of these grand new edifices we appear to be overlooking the details. Details like 'Is it actually safe for anyone to get into the posh new Sports Centre, or have we actually just created an opportunity for our staff and students to be inadvertently mown down, perhaps by one of the aforementioned contractors proceeding through the 20 mph speed limit at a cautious 45 mph?'.

I welcomed the news that some improvements were to be made to this crossing after it became apparent that the job was botched the first time around. I was subsequently dismayed that the improvements still failed to deliver a safe crossing. Perhaps there is some reason why it would be impossible to light the crossing properly? Maybe some vagary of our electrical supply that meant the addition of a couple of (small) floodlights might capsize the institution (electrically speaking). Let me spell it out, in the hope that it will inspire some sort of Eureka moment for those who make the decisions on these things – you cannot see people on the crossing.

subtext is absolutely right, unless further improvements are made soon I fear someone is going to be seriously hurt.

Surely it can't be this difficult to get it right first time?

(Name and Address supplied – eds)

PS: Perhaps if we didn't spend so much on contractors who can't get the job right (even if it was planned properly in the first place), we might be able to hang onto a few of the much valued staff members who might be packing their belongings into spotted handkerchiefs in order to meet the savings that are the objective of the BPR?!

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Dear subtext

With regard to the 'accident waiting to happen' by the Sports Centre – yes, I agree entirely as it's difficult to see (mainly) students as they emerge from the trees suddenly from both directions in dark clothes with hoods and sometimes earphones. But another even worse place is where the path running past the end of the Trim Trail joins the main drive. As a pedestrian, you can't easily see traffic, including lots of buses and bicycles, coming down quite quickly from campus. It's a very bendy road and difficult to look both ways and estimate the correct time to cross. As a driver, you can't easily see people emerging from the trees to cross especially when it's dark and they are wearing dark clothes. 

As a pedestrian, I once nearly didn't see a bike hurtling down in the dark with no lights on when I was about to cross. As a driver, I have found it difficult to see people due to the trees and bendy road.

There should be a zebra crossing with lights there and traffic calming either side. I believe also here it is a question of everyone being particularly alert in this spot and I believe it is certainly an accident waiting to happen. I have thought this for some time.

Julia Resenterra

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The editorial collective of subtext currently consists (in alphabetical order) of: Rachel Cooper (PPR), Mark Garnett, George Green, David Smith, Bronislaw Szerszynski and Martin Widden.

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