Information on Loughborough
News Index
2010
Mar 2010Feb 2010
Jan 2010
2009
Dec 2009Nov 2009
Oct 2009
Sep 2009
Aug 2009
Jul 2009
Jun 2009
May 2009
Apr 2009
Mar 2009
Feb 2009
Jan 2009
2008
Dec 2008Nov 2008
Oct 2008
Sep 2008
Aug 2008
Jul 2008
Jun 2008
May 2008
Apr 2008
Mar 2008
Feb 2008
Jan 2008
2007
Dec 2007Nov 2007
Oct 2007
Sep 2007
Aug 2007
Jul 2007
Jun 2007
May 2007
Catering Controversey on Campus
Posted on 10/11/07
P. Klein
There has been controversy at Loughborough University over the last week over what the University has planned for catering arrangement for students in the future.
At the moment a large number of students live in catered halls, where meals are provided for them. This helps what is known as part of the Loughborough Experience where students from different departments meet for meals and generate a hall spirit. Each hall has its own distinctiveness and carries a sense of hall identity and spirit. Through hall chants, annual sing offs , RAG activities and day to day contact catered halls generate so much more than cooked food.
The catering is run on campus by the Universitys company Imago. The students union is claiming that Imago is planning to cease all catered halls by 2012 and that four new style dining rooms will be located around the campus in their place. The union also claims that this change will also mean they will be unable to become involved in negotiating hall fees and rents.
The Union also claims that they have not been consulted about these plans and that part of the reasons for the local university rising to the top of the league tables is the experience that the catered halls offer.
David Gerty of Loughborough Students Union explained in their publication Label: "Dining halls gave me the opportunity to meet everyone from the hall 3 times a day 5 days a week. It was a brilliant chance to catch up with all your mates from different blocks, people who you wouldnt normally meet and talk about anything and everything ranging from the latest sports news to last nights antics. Dining halls are a central part of the wonderful Loughborough experience and to remove this could well have catastrophic consequences for the University.
The Union has embarked on a campaign to prevent the change and has asked the students to get in contact with the Vice Chancellor Professor Shirley Pearce to prevent the changes that may have been proposed.
However one student Claire McDonald said:I agree that there is not enough protest these days. I also think (at the risk of being universally slated) that this campaign is unfair as it skews everything towards one viewpoint. The article in Label was blatant propaganda not news, which for a serious magazine is almost a cardinal sin.
"As someone who lived for two years in Towers, and studied in the engineering department the freedom to eat in any dining hall would have been a blessing as it would have meant that I wouldnt have got indigestion from running the length of campus twice to get lunch and return to lectures.
"This issue is by no means as simple as the Save Lufbra campaign makes out.
Chris Steele, another student went on to say: Yeah I definitely think more theres more to it than whats made out...cant really comment much more than that.
The Universitys Vice-Chancellor Shirley Pearce as a result of the Unions activities emailed every student and member of staff on the campus to ensure that people received the Universitys position on catering for students on campus. In her email she states:"The Loughborough Experience will remain at the centre of our discussions about residential provision. We recognise absolutely the importance of the Loughborough Hall spirit and the part it plays in Loughboroughs success.
" Not all our students want the same things and so we plan to continue to provide a range of choice in residential provision to ensure that the needs and preferences of different students are met.
"Catered halls will therefore continue to be integral to residential provision at Loughborough.
"We will strive to provide maximum flexibility of catering provision whilst maintaining the hall spirit which we all value so much.
"We do not seek to generate "profit" through the operation of Imago Services (which provides our student residential and catering services), we simply aim to break even.
"Following continuing consultation and a review of the practical issues concerning the strategy for catering provision discussed at the July meeting of the University Council, I can confirm that we will be recommending to the November Council that we do not move to four restaurants and kitchens by 2011.
"When halls of residence come up for refurbishment, as they will do over the next decade, we will need to consider in each case how this is managed. Recommendations to Council on these matters and on hall charges will be made by the Residential Provision and Management Committee and, following recent discussions with Loughborough Students Union, we have agreed to increase student representation on this committee.
So it seems that the proposed changes to the provision of catering have been thwarted, however they are not quite off the table yet.
Latest Loughborough News
Young motorist warns of mobile phone driving dangers |
|---|
Created: Friday 12th of March 2010 04:30:01 PM  Chief Executive's12 March 2010Young motorist warns of mobile phone driving dangersA teenage driver who collided with a motorcyclist leaving him with serious injuries is warning others to think twice before driving whilst talking on a mobile phone. James* (17) from, the Ashby area of Leicestershire, was chatting on the phone when the collision took place last August near Atherstone in Warwickshire.... Read More: Young motorist warns of mobile phone driving dangers |
Safety boost for Coalville students |
Created: Friday 12th of March 2010 02:30:01 PM 12 March 2010Safety boost for Coalville students*** photo opportunity ***Pupils, pedestrians, cyclists and drivers are set to benefit from road improvements designed to boost safety in Coalville and Whitwick. Work has been carried out in Leicester Road, Meadow Lane and Warren Hills Road near to Castle Rock High School and King Edward VII College following an accident study which showed a number of accidents in the area.... Read More: Safety boost for Coalville students |
Vale of Belvoir schools’ Ofsted joy |
Created: Friday 12th of March 2010 12:30:01 PM 12 March 2010Vale of Belvoir schools’ Ofsted joyPrimary schools in the Vale of Belvoir in Leicestershire are celebrating after their Ofsted success. Harby Primary School has been judged as outstanding – the highest rating possible – by inspectors for the third consecutive time.... Read More: Vale of Belvoir schools’ Ofsted joy |
Canal festival calls for volunteers |
Created: Friday 12th of March 2010 10:30:01 AM 11 March 2010Canal festival calls for volunteersOrganisers of this year’s Moira Canal Festival are looking for volunteers to help out at the weekend long event. The venue for the festival is Moira Furnace, on a recently restored 1.... Read More: Canal festival calls for volunteers |
Mothers go free at Bosworth Battlefield |
Created: Thursday 11th of March 2010 06:30:02 PM Community Services11 March 2010Mothers go free at Bosworth Battlefield Bosworth Battlefield is offering people the chance to treat their Mum to a great day out and better still – it’s free!Voted best small attraction in the East Midlands, Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre and Country Park is the perfect place for residents to spend quality time with their mums. The multi award-winning exhibition includes eight interactive galleries bringing to life the deadly battle of 1485.... Read More: Mothers go free at Bosworth Battlefield |
Related Loughborough News
Fast food firmly entrenched in students' lifestyle |
|---|
Created: Monday 11th of January 2010 11:01:32 AM  Recent research backs up University of Leicester campaign to promote healthy eating amongst students... Read More: Fast food firmly entrenched in students' lifestyle |
Loughborough University clamps down on rogue parkers |
Created: Friday 18th of April 2008 01:01:00 PM  Loughborough University is taking proactive steps to ensure that the minority of students who park inconsiderately affecting some Loughborough residents.... Read More: Loughborough University clamps down on rogue parkers |
Sale of Bottled Water at University |
Created: Monday 5th of November 2007 04:14:16 PM  Profits from the sale of bottled water at the Loughborough University campus will be ploughed into providing clean drinking water for a remote Indian village, under a new scheme launched this month.... Read More: Sale of Bottled Water at University |
Loughborough Firework Display |
Created: Saturday 3rd of November 2007 11:15:09 AM  What has to be one of the best firework displays in the county is being held at Loughborough University tonight.... Read More: Loughborough Firework Display |
Loughborough Freefest |
Created: Friday 2nd of May 2008 03:30:00 PM  This year on bank holiday Monday May 5th Freefest, Loughborough Universitys Students Union annual non-profit outdoor music festival is taking place !... Read More: Loughborough Freefest |
Most Read Loughborough News (today)
Graffiti Workshops in Loughborough and Charnwood |
|---|
Created: Friday 18th of July 2008 11:00:00 AM  A SERIES of free graffiti workshops could help creative youngsters avoid a brush with the law. Charnwood Community Safety Partnership, of which Charnwood Borough Council is a partner, is staging the six-week programme of graffiti workshops in three neighbourhoods to give 11 to 16-year-olds an alternative means of expression rather than daubing slogans and images on buildings throughout the Borough.... |
Radical plans to personalise social care in Leicestershire |
Created: Tuesday 22nd of July 2008 04:45:00 PM  Radical changes to social care in Leicestershire will be outlined at a meeting next week. The County Council wants to personalise its social care and will update the Cabinet on the plans next Tuesday (29th July).... Read More: Radical plans to personalise social care in Leicestershire |
Mini moto campaign in Loughborough is a crushing success. |
Created: Wednesday 2nd of July 2008 03:31:00 PM  14 motorbikes and mini-motos have been crushed after they were confiscated by police in Loughborough during a crack down on young people who drive dangerously and inconsiderately on roads, parks and public places.... Read More: Mini moto campaign in Loughborough is a crushing success. |
Robot in Loughborough Town Centre |
Created: Tuesday 27th of May 2008 03:50:00 PM  Reports are coming in that Loughborough Town Centre was yesterday infiltrated by a giant robot. The robot which some eye witnesses say they saw in Market Place and Market Street at various times yesterday afternoon stood some 8ft tall, was metallic in colour, had blue glowing eyes and spoke in sound bites.... Read More: Robot in Loughborough Town Centre |
Loughborough MP Welcomes Help on Electricity Meters |
Created: Thursday 12th of June 2008 03:07:00 PM  Andy Reed, MP for Loughborough, has welcomed steps taken by Energywatch (the gas & electricity watchdog) to help consumers avoid unexpected energy debts. Energywatch has been campaigning for over eighteen months to help consumers who pay through a prepayment meter using paper tokens.... Read More: Loughborough MP Welcomes Help on Electricity Meters |
Most Read Loughborough News (this month)
Loughborough Astra Zeneca Closure |
|---|
Created: Tuesday 2nd of March 2010 04:03:15 PM Charnwood Borough Council has today learned that the Astra Zeneca has decided to close its facility in Loughborough by the end of 2011. The announcement is a huge blow and a major loss of employment in the Borough and in Loughborough in particular. ... Read More: Loughborough Astra Zeneca Closure |
A1 collision - man charged |
Created: Monday 15th of February 2010 07:26:36 AM  A1 collision - man chargedOfficers investigating a road traffic collision which left a workman dead have now charged a man. The collision happened at around 1.... Read More: A1 collision - man charged |
Family of Ernest Mathers pay tribute to him |
Created: Saturday 20th of February 2010 07:49:32 AM  Family of Ernest Mathers pay tribute to him Ernest pictured with his common law wife Nina The family of a man killed in a road traffic collision have paid tribute to him. 46-year-old Ernest Mathers from Doncaster was killed in a road traffic collision at around 1.... Read More: Family of Ernest Mathers pay tribute to him |
Action group to meet regarding Astra Zeneca announcement |
Created: Wednesday 3rd of March 2010 11:03:57 AM An action group consisting of local organisations is to meet on Friday to discuss yesterday s (Tue) announcement by Astra Zeneca. Charnwood Borough Council has organised the urgent meeting after the pharmaceutical firm announced it will close its operation in the town by the end of next year. This will mean a loss of nearly 1,200 jobs. ... Read More: Action group to meet regarding Astra Zeneca announcement |
Colourful boost for empty shop fronts in Loughborough |
Created: Wednesday 17th of February 2010 08:02:43 AM A project has been launched to brighten up empty shop fronts in Loughborough by adorning them with colourful poster-style images promoting different aspects of the town. ... Read More: Colourful boost for empty shop fronts in Loughborough |