Gwyn Wright

Spike in number of students accessing counselling sessions

Jun 4, 2019 – by Gwyn Wright

The number of students accessing counselling support at the university has more than doubled in recent years, Exeposé has found. Figures released under freedom of information laws show that 369 students accessed such sessions in the academic year 2017/18, compared with 144 students in 2016/17 and 168 students in 2015/16.

The figures also show a smaller rise in the number of students accessing cognitive behavioural therapies. 284 students accessed therapies that the university’s website describes as ‘low intensity’ in the academic year 2017/18, compared with 208 two years previously. 86 students accessed higher intensity therapies in the academic year 2017/18 compared with 65 two years ago, although 109 students accessed such therapies in the intervening year.

The figures show that the higher numbers of students accessing certain wellbeing services have emerged against a backdrop of rising spending per-user at the Reed Mews Wellbeing Centre. Wellbeing spending rose to £1.1 million in 2017/18 compared with £652,000 two years previously.

“It’s great to see that we’re heading in the right direction towards a mental health service that is able to meet the need for mental health support amongst the student population”

The Mind Your Head Society Co-President Nicole Pascual told Exeposé: “It’s great to see that we’re heading in the right direction towards a mental health service that is able to meet the need for mental health support amongst the student population. There is still a long way to go to enable all students that could benefit from wellbeing support to be able to have access to these services, but the recent rises in students accessing counselling and CBT services is very promising.”

A University of Exeter spokesperson said: “Our priority is for students to have the easiest possible access to our broad range of high quality services. As well as traditional, structured psychological therapies we offer a broad range of additional support including single sessions, drop-ins and workshops, all of which allow swifter access to support for more students.”

If these issues affect you, please get in touch with:

‘Exeter Speak Out’: www.exeter.ac.uk/speakout/report/
Guild Advice Unit: https://www.exeterguild.org/advice/
Wellbeing Service: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/wellbeing/org.uk

‘Five criteria’ for digital check-in to remain in place

Shadow Council was informed on Wednesday 20th March that the incumbent VP Education, Warren Bingham-Roberts, was content to keep the Digital Check-in system in place provided that sufficient reassurances had been provided on five aspects of the system.

These reassurances surrounded accessibility issues for students who lack phones, concerns that had been raised over protecting the rights of Tier 4 visa students, accessibility for students with disabilities or caring responsibilities, concerns over personal data and broader concerns that the system was seeking to ‘punish students’.

Councillors were informed that the Students’ Guild are working with the university to explore the option of providing students who lack phones with phones to enable them to check-in, and are exploring a web check-in system. This would be funded by the university.

VP Education: “most of the reasons students wanted to get rid of it have been mitigated against, or are being dealt with”

He conceded that warning emails and communications to Tier 4 visa students had originally been too aggressive and had now been ‘toned-down’, stating: “There is going to be no punishment if you miss a lecture.’’

He stated that he was satisfied with university reassurance over concerns that have been raised about students’ personal location data.

He stated that guidance issued to students on Tier 4 visas, disabled students and students with caring responsibilities had been insufficiently clear, and that this had now been improved.

Bingham-Roberts conceded that warning emails and communications to Tier 4 visa students had originally been too aggressive

Bingham-Roberts told Exeposé: ”There were […] problems around Tier 4 visa students experiencing distress and confusion at being monitored by the University, which was further impacted by problems with communication.”

”We have been given assurance multiple times by the University that students’ locations cannot be tracked.”

A student idea calling for the end of digital check-in was ratified by Democracy and Governance Council on 30 October 2018.
On Wednesday 23 January, Bingham-Roberts told Shadow Council that he felt that “most of the reasons students wanted to get rid of it have been mitigated against, or are being dealt with.”

This article originally appeared in print 25/03/2019.

‘No meaningful communication’ on sanitary products student idea

Students have sent an open letter to the Students’ Guild which states that there has been ‘no meaningful communication’ on a student idea calling for free sanitary products to be available on campus, despite the idea having been passed in December. The letter asks the Guild to contact the person who originally submitted the idea and inform them of how and when the idea will be implemented, commit to adopting a free sanitary product scheme and consult universities which have successfully implemented such a scheme.

“[the guild] have shown no desire to introduce a scheme which would make campus and higher education a more inclusive place for people who menstruate”

Molly May Smith, who created the idea, told Exeposé: ‘‘Since the idea passed in December there’s been next to no meaningful communication from the Guild. They’ve shown no desire to introduce a scheme which would make campus and higher education a more inclusive place for people who menstruate. The recent government announcement of free sanitary products for all those in secondary schools and colleges shows there is a real need for us to engage in a wider conversation around period poverty and the taboo around menstruation, a discussion which has yet to reach Exeter’s campus and has in fact been halted by the Guild’s inefficiency.’’

Neha Shaji, DVP Democracy and Governance, said: ‘‘I was unaware of FemSoc not receiving any feedback on their idea, and am quite disappointed that they have not. The Student Ideas system was closed down for this term to allow staff to work on existing ideas, and in theory this means that ideas which have passed would eventually receive a contact on the progress of their idea. However, it is important to also consider that staff time this term has been taken up by a governance review and the student elections, hence responses may have been slower. However, as it seems that it’s been quite a while, I will go check on this myself and urge staff to respond to this idea as soon as possible. It seems like a fantastic initiative and I am excited to see it carried out by the Guild.”

“it is important to also consider that staff time this term has been taken up by a governance review and the student elections”

A Guild spokesperson told Exeposé: ‘‘The Guild can confirm that this student idea passed, and that the proposer of the idea was communicated with by email regarding the progress of the idea earlier this week [beginning 18th March]. The idea will be developed the same as other student ideas, and is still in stage one of progression. Stage one sees Sabbatical Officers agree to remit under the mandate of their roles, templates and communication drafts are put in place and the University is contacted by Sabbatical Officers. Ongoing progress updates are made to the tracker, available on the Guild website.’’

This article originally appeared in print 25/03/2019.

USS engaging in new pensions consultation

Discussion began on 2 January about a new valuation of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), a pension scheme for university staff.

USS are indicating that they are not seeking to implement the recommendations of the Joint Expert Panel (JEP), which was set up by Universities’ UK (UUK) and the University and College Union (UCU) and published its first report in September, in full. The report in September suggested increasing the contribution rate from 8% to 9.1% for employees and from 18% to 20.1% for employers.

The methodology of the new valuation does not appear to have changed from that of the 2017 valuation, which was at the centre of last year’s UCU strike. This is despite the fact that the JEP report criticised the methodology of the 2017 valuation.

The methodology of the new valuation does not appear to have changed from that of the 2017 valuation, which was at the centre of last year’s UCU strike

The USS have said on their website that they will consider the JEP’s recommendations in isolation but not in full. They have stated that the JEP’s report did not give enough consideration to market data and the extra financial risks that would be incurred if it was implemented, which UUK have since asked the USS to assess and address.

The trustee is also consulting with UUK on ways in which contributions may automatically increase if investment returns in the short term prove lower than expected.

A spokesperson for Exeter UCU told Exeposé: ‘‘JEP was set up to provide an easy resolution. It said its proposals were a short-term compromise designed to be accepted by USS and other parties as quickly as possible. The rest of the JEP report contained a much wider-ranging critique of the Scheme’s valuation methods and assumptions. USS not only ignored this critique, and they are now admitting that even the short-term compromise would be unacceptable.’’

A University of Exeter spokesperson said: ‘‘The valuation process is at an early stage, but it is encouraging to see this information. We are currently considering the consultation document’.’

This article originally appeared in print 14/01/2019.

New regulator seeking more data on Prevent

Chris Lindsay, Director of Governance and Compliance at the University, updated students and staff on 31 October about changes to the implementation of the counter-terrorism duty Prevent.

A new regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), which replaced the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) on 1 April of this year, are asking for more data and information from higher education institutions and evidence of ‘active implementation’ by the University. In practice, this means that more information is being provided about which staff have and haven’t received Prevent training, and that the precise number of students being referred to Prevent is now being asked for.

Prevent is one of four elements of the government’s broader counter-terrorism strategy known as CONTEST

Lindsay also highlighted that Exeter’s Prevent programme is now more closely linked to the university’s wellbeing and safeguarding teams. Prevent is one of four elements of the government’s broader counter-terrorism strategy known as CONTEST, and seeks to de-radicalise people at risk of further radicalisation and terrorist activities. Under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, it places a duty on higher education institutions to have ‘‘due regard to the need to prevent individuals from being drawn in to terrorism.’’

The event also featured presentations by Abu Ahmed, Head of Counter terrorism Communications at the Home Office, Andy Ferris from the Southwest Counter terrorism Unit followed by a question and answer session.

The presentations by Abu Ahmed and Andy Ferris focused on the broader national context surrounding Prevent. Ahmed acknowledged that Prevent is not universally popular and has been criticised by some for allegedly stigmatising Muslim communities. He claimed there has not historically been enough data provided by the programme, and that this needs to change. Both Abu Ahmed and Andy Ferris pointed out that the programme also seeks to prevent far-right terrorism, with Ferris adding that, in Devon, far-right referrals exceed referrals related to Islamist extremism.

In response to a question about the Students’ Guild’s non-compliance with Prevent, Lindsay stated that the University works closely with the Guild executive management and see risk assessments, adding that the OfS will press harder for student participation on Prevent and that closer co-operation may be ‘a matter of time.’ The idea, which labelled Prevent as a ‘discriminatory’ programme ‘based on racial profiling’, was voted on by 205 students, with 71 per cent of those voting for the idea in 2015.

“I think today’s event was really valuable, and it was great to hear from the police and the Home Office.”

– Mike Shore-Nye, Registrar and Secretary of University of Exeter

Attendees also raised concerns that there was insufficient evidence to suggest that Prevent does reduce radicalisation, and that it would not always be clear what student behaviour would be most effectively dealt with through a Prevent referral.
Mike Shore-Nye, Registrar and Secretary, told Exeposé: “I think today’s event was really valuable, and it was great to hear from the police and the Home Office. I think it helped de-mystify our Prevent duty more, and reiterated the importance of safeguarding.”

‘”I think that some of our questions from colleagues were really, really useful because they highlighted the potential misconceptions and potential concerns, and what we’re trying to do is provide reassurance so that this is something that we can work on together. I think these events are really helpful and it certainly helps frame our thinking and we need to continue to build on them in the future.’”

“We welcome student involvement in helping shape what this looks like.”

– Grace Frain, Guild President of Exeter Students’ Guild

Grace Frain, Guild President, told Exeposé: ‘‘The Students’ Guild continues to monitor the Prevent agenda, the University’s actions in relation to it and any changes in our obligations towards it. We welcome student involvement in helping shape what this looks like.’’

(Originally published 12/11/2018)

Exeter students march for People’s Vote

The largest number of Exeter students so far took part in the People’s Vote march on 20 October of this year.

They joined an estimated half a million people at the march, which was the largest protest of its kind since the anti-Iraq War protests of 2003. Exeposé understands that 54 students signed up to take the coaches from Exeter to London that were organised by Exeter Students for Europe, and that almost 50 of these students turned up on the day. This represents the largest number of Exeter students who have attended a People’s Vote march so far. An unspecified total number of Exeter students attended the march.

The coach trips were funded by Peoples Vote Ltd. who work through the National Union of Students (NUS). The NUS had obtained a grant of £20,000 from donations which enabled them to fund the coach trips.

“… our generation has been ignored. Because of this, students led the protest.”

– Exeter Students for Europe

Exeter Students for Europe told Exeposé: ‘‘On Saturday we took a coach of Exeter students to the People’s Vote People from many different political parties and backgrounds joined together to support a common cause; the People’s Vote.’’

They continued that many students felt underrepresented in the referendum, and that “our generation has been ignored. Because of this, students led the protest. We marched at the front, alongside students who had travelled from all areas of the country to have their voices heard, and demand that they be listened to.’’

Originally published 29/10/2018

Islamic Society raises over £14k

The University of Exeter’s Islamic Society have raised £14,344.40 during Charity Week, which was held between 22 and 28 October. This amount surpasses the total amount raised last year.

The money was raised through a mixture of events held throughout Exeter as well as through online platforms. The events included a Fifa tournament, Kaspas dessert night, and ‘ultimate game show’, dodgeball and an annual dinner, which was held on 4th November. The society were also present with in the forum and at St Luke’s campus throughout the week with numerous bake sales, as well as fundraising in Exeter town centre.
The broader Masjid Community also raised between £3,764.97 during the week.

Islamic Society have raised £14,344.40 during Charity Week

The society was placed second in terms of institutions in the South region for their fundraising efforts. In addition, Exeter were presented with the SpaceX award for helping forge a sustainable environment for all members in Exeter to help further Charity Week initiatives for next year. They chose to fundraise through Islamic Relief (IR) because they believe that it is one of the most transparent and effective charities in the United Kingdom.

The money raised went towards numerous charities supporting orphans and children in need throughout the developing world.
These projects have included support for an orphan village in Mali, before and after school day centre in South Africa, training centres teaching vocational skills in Somalia, provision of a sustainable income for orphans in India, funding of orphanages and a school in Syria, girls’ education in Afghanistan and education and training in Pakistan.

“This year in particular it was absolutely mind blowing to have the sort of engagement we had with the wider Exeter community and wider student body”

– Madina Bengaly, President of University of the Exeter Islamic Society

Madina Bengaly, President of the University of Exeter Islamic Society told Exeposé: “Charity Week is a beautiful initiative which brings students together under the banner of doing a selfless act. The week primarily focuses on unity and fundraising for orphans and needy children, who are some of the most vulnerable members of our society. This year in particular it was absolutely mind blowing to have the sort of engagement we had with the wider Exeter community and wider student body in delivering the Charity Week message of unity and helping us fundraise. We hope this streak can only continue in the coming years.’’

Rosie McDonagh, VP Activities, said: ‘‘It’s great to see groups of students taker the opportunity to raise money for such a great cause. I’d like to congratulate all those involved in this great work.’’

Stuck on Mount Brexit

Theresa May likes her walking holidays. She reportedly decided to call last year’s general election on one such venture in Snowdonia. She may not have visited her other favourite (the Swiss Alps) this year because it seems as though she is there already- climbing a huge mountain, with little grip, and rather a big crevasse on the other side.

The legacy that any new Prime Minister inherits from their predecessor has a huge bearing on how they will ultimately be remembered. The mess May has inherited has few parallels – the country is still reeling from the effects of the financial crisis, social divisions are deep and we face the biggest administrative task since the war to boot.

The mess May has inherited has few parallels

The promises made by Vote Leave, which she chose to make her own, are the most toxic legacy of them all. Vote Leave and the Conservative Party have promised an inconsistent triad of policies – leave the single market, leave the customs union and avoid additional physical infrastructure on the Irish border or a border in the Irish Sea. This is the root of all the mayhem we have seen in recent weeks.

The Chequers proposals are an attempt to get out of this jam. For now, the illusion that all three promises can be kept is being maintained through the complicated ‘facilitated customs agreement’, under which the UK would collect EU tariffs and then reallocate the money back to Brussels – but the assumption across Westminster is that those plans will get the boot from Brussels and that some form of customs union will be agreed.

The explosive reaction to the Chequers plan, and the fact that hindsight is 20:20, means many of the Prime Minister’s previous decisions suddenly make some sense. The desire to avoid or delay the day of reckoning with backbenchers who think the inconsistent triad can be upheld is the story of the past two years – from the attempt to stop parliament having any say over the Brexit process, to the decision to call a snap general election and the endless attempts to fudge the issue and kick the can down the road in its aftermath.

Theresa May’s Cabinet ahead of talks at Chequers

The reckoning has now arrived. David Davis and Boris Johnson’s resignations suggest that the Tories are now irrevocably split; between former Remainers who broadly welcome the Chequers proposals, Brexiteers who say we just have to leave and worry about the future relationship later, and Brexiteers who are prepared to sink Mrs May’s proposals. The fact that neither Davis, Johnson nor Eurosceptic backbenchers can come up with their own workable proposals is almost beside the point. The Tories’ civil war over Europe, which has been rumbling on since Margret Thatcher’s day, may now be decisively won by one side or the other.

There’s a chance that the chaos and splits at the top could lead to May giving fewer concessions to Brussels. The mood music from the Commission in the immediate aftermath of Chequers was cautious optimism, accompanied by a clear message that many of the proposals may prove difficult to implement. Since the resignations, Brussels has gone into submarine mode – saying as little as possible to ensure May isn’t toppled. Since there is so little time left for negotiations, the EU’s main focus is secure a transition period with a ‘backstop’ solution for the Irish border, avoid no deal and push the rest of the detail into the transition period.

And when this is all, hopefully, wrapped up and the struggling PM has finally reached the summit, she has to look over the other side. It’s not pretty. Indeed, there are very few ways that she can get down unscathed and secure a safe landing.

The mood music from the Commission in the immediate aftermath of Chequers was cautious optimism

The reason for this lies in the most serious mistake Theresa May has made as Prime Minister – and it has nothing to do the Brexit talks or the calling of the general election. Since the crash, no party has been in the sweet spot of being trusted to manage the economy effectively and deliver a more compassionate society, and this explains why no single party has won a comfortable majority in parliament since 2005. Before the election, the Tories clocked up 20 point poll leads because voters largely believed that May was a very different type of Tory, which was crystallised by her rhetoric about ‘burning injustices’. When given the chance to put the flesh on some bones of this in an election manifesto, we instead got the dementia tax, fox hunting and proposals to take away free school lunches rather than anything that was positive.

With the onset of a hung parliament, it has become clear that any Brexit option would be extremely difficult to get through parliament. No option is supported by a majority of MPs, and any deal looks doomed even though, legally, the only alternative to leaving with a deal is to have no deal. Labour is guaranteed to whip its MPs to vote against whatever is proposed with the hope that it would trigger a general election, while it looks like enough Tory backbenchers are so ideologically opposed to the Chequers plan that they would be willing to risk an election. Whatever May brings back is extremely likely to be voted down. This could trigger a second referendum, an election, a frantic new round of negotiations, a fudge which pushes the substantive issues into the transition or no deal – but as this is Brexit, a fudge is most likely.

Fasten your belts because this whole thing will just go on, and on, and on. The tragedy is not that our GDP will be a bit smaller and our voice on the international stage will be slightly quieter, but that the real issues facing Britain will continue to be overlooked.

The King Billy Closes Its Doors

The King Billy pub on Longbrook Street, which had built up a loyal following over the years, closed its doors on Tuesday 10th July. The pub, which was often referred to by locals as ‘the zoo’, was often regarded by Exeter students as an out-and-out ‘locals pub.’

Regulars packed into the octagonal shaped pub for a final party after the sudden announcement of July 10th, just a day before England’s landmark semi-final match against Croatia, as its closing date. The following morning the pub’s signs had already been removed.

A pub had existed on the site since the eighteenth century, but it’s former location will soon be home to up to 108 students

Pub regular Matt James, who recently launched an e-petition in an attempt to save the pub, said: “Last night was a great send off with so many people dancing and enjoying the night. Punters were upset it has now been closed. I miss the great atmosphere we all had there, especially when football games were played- and especially the World Cup.”

A pub had existed on the site since the eighteenth century, but it’s former location will soon be home to up to 108 students in purpose-built new accomodation. The developers Rengen initially planned to replace the pub with nine stories of student accommodation but were told to go back to the drawing board by Exeter City Council, who claimed the flats would dwarf their surroundings.

“The King Billy is iconic to the town and I will be sad to see it go.” (PETERS)

The pub’s landlord Chris Peters said: “The company I work for- Eighteen Inns- were looking for other places to relocate the pub to but their was noting that suited their needs or my needs.”

“Places like Whetherspoons have a niche as they appeal to everyone, but I wouldn’t want to drink in them as it rips the heart and soul out of the business, in my opinion. That’s why locals close because people are not supporting them.”

“The King Billy is iconic to the town and I will be sad to see it go.”

Exeter Student Cuts Hair for Charity

Harriet Stack, a third-year drama student, is cutting her hair and donating it to The Little Princess Trust. On her JustGiving Page, Hattie states: “I have always had long hair for as long as I can remember and have never thought about cutting it short. I am extremely lucky and, at times, have taken my hair for granted, which I’m sure many of us do.” Hattie originally set a fundraising target of £150, but that has already been exceeded.

The charity provides wigs, free of charge, for children and young adults, up to the age of 24, who have sadly lost their hair own hair during cancer treatment and other illnesses. This is achieved by working with specialist suppliers and experienced hairdressers who offer wigs tailored to the individual child’s needs. The Trust also relies solely on the efforts of enthusiastic community fundraisers. Hattie’s fundraising page can be found at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/harriet-stack.