INTO the black? Why the Student Union opposes plans with INTO

Goldsmiths has a fantastic reputation. It’s been hard-won and our status as one of Europe’s leading creative universities reverberates around the globe attracting international talent. A deal with private company INTO would be against everything Goldsmiths stands for. Education and the development of thinking and creativity of our students should come first, not second to profit margins. But aside from an ethical view point, here’s why the Students’ Union believes plans with prviate company INTO would be terrible for Goldsmiths:

The 500 students INTO promise to deliver onto our campus would be taught English at a much lower standard than our current Language Department offers. The staff in our Language Department have not been told if their jobs would be secure if a deal with INTO were to be struck. INTO then promises a 65% conversion rate into the host university (i.e Goldsmiths) and that’s how senior management are hoping to make some cash. There are however a few drawbacks to that plan:

1) INTO are rumoured to be in over 1 million pounds worth of debt. If they sink, they’d take Goldsmiths with them.

2) INTO teach international students to a lower standard of English than in our Language Department. This could seriously harm the international reputation of Goldsmiths if it becomes known that Goldsmiths offers sub-standard language learning. Apart from ripping off the students being taught by INTO of course, our association with a company like them doesn't look good.

3) At UWE and Newcastle, their Student Union has reported students feeling alienated on campus due to being taught separately from all the other students. They’ve also said plagiarism levels and drop-out records have sky-rocketed due to students not being able to cope with the host universities course demands. This isn’t their fault, but the fault of INTO for providing inadequate education.

The Student Union encourages and celebrates the international atmosphere here at Goldsmiths, but we condemn exploiting international students on the basis of them paying astronomical fees for sub-standard INTO education.

This is PFI (private finance initiative) at its worst, and could seriously damage the reputation, students and staff at Goldsmiths. We’re encouraging students to vote NO in this referendum, go to this link to vote:

http://www.ucu.org.uk/saynotointo

So the situation seems clear, certainly the case against. Senior management are currently keeping quiet about INTOs proposals or whether they’re hoping to sign a long the dotted line anytime soon. Given that ‘lack of space’ is one of the reasons management give for refusing to build a new nursery, the idea of selling land off to INTO seems crazy.

Come a long to the Goldsmiths Not For Profit meeting on the 22^nd of October at 5pm, in The Stretch (top floor of the Student Union) to discuss issues regarding INTO, the nursery and Scolarest and how we take the campaign forward.

For more information see Goldsmiths United Against INTO and 'INTO in their own words':

http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/l/k/goldsmithsagainstinto.pdf

http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/l/j/into_theirownwords_sep08.pdf>

Campaigns for 08/09

Goldsmiths Student Union is famous for its campaigning history, we were the only University in Britain whose students chose to occupy their lecture theatres over the introduction of Top-Up Fees in 1999. Supporting collective action at Goldsmiths is a tradition we’re keen to follow and this year the SU sees itself as a space that unites all students in their struggles.

Our main campaign for 2008/09 is ‘Goldsmiths Not for Sale’ - an anti-privatisation campaign that is made up of several issues and key components. Here they are:

Campus Nursery: This campaign is focused around support for our on-campus nursery that provides child-care for staff members and student parents. College management is currently refusing to provide necessary funding for the nursery and is looking to out-source. The SU rejects these current proposals as the on-campus nursery is of an excellent standard and no alternative nursery yet to be suggested is of equal quality. So whilst a 7 million pound Media building is being built behind the backfield tennis courts, college is selling our student parents down the river, hoping no one will cause too much of a fuss.

Scholarest Off Our Campus: Over the past year students have been campaigning to kick exploitative catering company Scholarest off our campus. Scholarest is part of the Compass group, a corporation listed within the 250 richest corporations in the world. It’s no wonder Compass is so rich when it is made up of companies like Scholarest, who make their money from selling non-nutritional, over-priced food to students, whilst paying their staff ridiculously low wages. We want college to drop the contract and bring all catering back in-house. Remember that channel 4 program 'Jamie's School Dinners'? It was Scholarest who were accused of serving endless amounts of barely edible smiley faces to the nation's youth. So it's not just Jamie Oliver who Scholarest are rubbing up the wrong way, it's Goldsmiths students and this year is the year we're determined to get rid.

Student say NO to INTO: Senior management in college have hinted at plans to sell off land and give a 30 year contract to INTO, a 3 year old construction company that promises to bring 500 international students to Goldsmiths each year. These students will be provided with lower teaching standards than those of current Language Department, staff will be less qualified and paid less, yet INTO guarantees 100% of students a place at a UK University?! Essentially this is farming international students into our college on the basis of teaching them poorly and them paying astronomical fees for such poor quality INTO (not Goldsmiths!) Education. Education is not merely another 'market' as much as the current government and senior Goldsmiths management may have accepted it as.

Halls: This year we’re campaigning for better laundry facilities in halls of residence. Goldsmiths students pay some opf the highest rent prices in the country, so why do they have to put up with medieval washining machines and broken tumble dryers? Internet access was also promised by a few of the now sabbaticals but nothing as of yet seems to be happeing. We also wish to ensure halls rent prices don’t sky rocket with inflation. And one last big issue, we intend to prioritise pressuring the Accommodation Office to do something about the vermin in Batavia. Students (and in fact anyone) shouldn't have to live with rats, especially not for £85 a week!

I will write individual blogs in future outlining each campaign in more detail. Until then, if you want to get involved in campaigning on any of these issues please don't hesitate to contact jennifer.jones@gold.ac.uk