The Courier 1261

www.thecourieronline.co.uk Monday 3 December 2012 Issue 1261 Free

WHAT’S THE GREATEST TV DRAMA EVER? FEATURES P.18-19

Students reject biometric scans By Susie Beever News Editor

Students have rejected proposals to implement biometric fingertip swiping to monitor course attendance on campus. Results from the referendum, which was called by Students’ Union Council on 8 November, revealed a record poll turnout of 1,528 students. This worked out as a 7.3% turnout and showed a vast overall improvement from last year’s numbers in the student November elections. Statistics show that an overwhelming 1,206 people voted against the implementation of biometric fingertip swipe scans as a digital record of attendance in lectures and seminars. 320 people voted in favour of the scans. By UKBA (UK Border Agency) law, it is only international students’ attendance requiring monitoring. When asked whether, if accepted, attendance monitoring should be implemented for all students, 813 agreed. 700 voted against. Rachael Thornton, Education Officer for NUSU, said: “I think the right decisions were made. I feel the results are quite telling of the population of students we have, and that they’re not voting for something which would mean segregation of just international students.” Thornton added: “University is not about attendance monitoring, especially not biometric.” Statistics also show that 617 people were in favour of universities monitoring student attendance using all methods, whilst 904 were anti-attendance

monitoring. The University is looking to implement a new attendance monitoring system in September 2013. These results now constitute the Students’ Union’s stance on biometrics and monitoring. Other possible methods of monitoring include smart card scanners and students using a PIN input. Lindsey Lockey, Junior Returning Officer, said: “Across all elections, there was a remarkable increase in Statistics show turnout and the demographic is that 1,206 but still people voted improving requires further against the work.” 21% of all interimplementanational students tion of on campus voted biometric in the referendum, fingertip swipe while 7% of postgraduates voted to scans as a make their opindigital record ions on the scans of attendance heard. Lockey added: in lectures “Increasing turnout within both these groups is a target.” Charles Barry, Chair of Students’ Union Council and newly appointed NUS Delegate, said: “This is a sound endorsement of what the Students’ Union is doing. The results are testament to fact.” Results from the referendum were announced on Friday evening alongside those from the November elections, for which there was a record turnout of 2,899 students voting, nearly doubling last year’s total of 1,528.

INTERVIEW: THE VACCINES P.14-15

CREME OF THE CROP

FULL ELECTION RESULTS, PAGE 2

Crème Fresh edge 17 votes to become Freshers’ Week Organisers 2013. Photo: Anna Templeton

Debates turn heated as BBC3 Free Speech hits Newcastle By Aine Stott Online News Editor BBC Three’s interactive, live debate show, Free Speech, hosted a Body Beautiful Special from Northumbria University on Tuesday. The programme gave young people a unique opportunity to discuss issues raised in BBC Three’s Body Beautiful Season. Debates centred on the main body issues faced by young people to-

day, and included the rise in cosmetic surgery, the acceptance of obesity, male grooming and the regulation of the media. When speaking with The Courier, social media correspondent for the show Sam Naz highlighted the importance of reaching a young audience. The programme is specifically targeted at 16 to 34 year olds, and Naz hoped it would “give younger audiences a voice when there are so many shows that voice the

opinions of older people.” The live nature of the broadcast “means that audiences can tweet straight away”, and so “just because you’re at home doesn’t mean you can’t get involved.” Social media has proven the most effective way for the programme to reach its younger target audience: “it is where young people interact with friends, and where they get their news now. It is a key ingredient of the show.” For Naz, online interaction is essential to the formula

of Free Speech; the use of the power bar “gets interaction to a maximum, and getting lots of tweets involved in discussion helps spark the panel.” This week’s panel featured fashion stylist and TV presenter Grace Woodward, CEO of YMCA Rosi Prescott, award-winning performance poet and feminist Sabrina Mahfouz, and author of diet book Six Weeks to OMG: Get Skinnier Than All Your Friends, Venice A. Fulton.

Rosi revealed for the first time the results of recent YMCA research into body image, finding that “one in seven young people would rather be thin that healthy.” These pressures were not felt exclusively by young women, and Rosi revealed that “one in three men would sacrifice three years of their life for a better body, and one in seven young people would consider, or have had, cosmetic surgery.” continued on page 4