The Principal talked us through the Government's enquiry into Transparency in University expenditure. If you use a piece of chalk to write on the board, then that is teaching but if you use it to soak up ink and separate out the different colours, then that is research. However, we have made considerable savings through reduced energy expenditure. Vice-Principal Green said that we were clearly going in the right direction but urged us to do better. A very serious mood descended over Court, as we discussed the new Harassment Policy.
Nobody wants to see staff harassing students or vice versa.
However, there is no way that worries over harrassment should prevent any member of staff from giving the best possible advice to students during lectures, tutorials or even in the pub. The University will stand by any member of staff who gives best advice to any student. On the other hand, students have to accept that our advice must, of necessity, be our best view at a particular time. As time passes, views will change and later advice might well be justifiably different. We broke for tea and the splendid cookies, so ably described by our December correspondent, were again in evidence.