MEDIA STUDENTS BRANDED 'SILLY' BY TUTOR

By Gavin Pearce

Some media studies students have been described as “silly” by their course leader for the loss of university equipment worth £11,800.

The outburst came from Graham Evans, head of Contemporary Media Practice, after the value of lost equipment on loan to his students was revealed.

Mr Evans said: “The students responsible are young and silly - I can’t teach my students life skills as well as media skills.”

He said contemporary media practice was more likely to attract “idiots” because there are a large number of people – 200 – on the course.

Since October, Mr Evans’ students have failed to return two tape recorders worth £400 each, a £1,000 sound kit and a £10, 000 film camera.

According to the M Block store technician, Lawrence Jenkins, negligence is the main cause for the loss.

He said: “These students have shown complete disregard for university property. Not only is the loss expensive, it is also a major inconvenience to other students who are unable to hire the missing equipment.”

But Mr Evans admitted that a certain number of losses were inevitable. He said: “The course involves the regular use of loaned equipment off-campus, which means students are at risk from theft. I think the students’ responsibility for losses should be made clearer on the forms that they sign.”

Students sign loan forms which state that equipment should not be left unattended unless locked in a secure place in a private building. Despite this, the £10,000 camera was stolen from a second year student’s car in December.

Negligent losses are not covered by the university’s insurance policy and obtaining replacements is difficult due to declining course funds.

An email leaked last week revealed that students who lose university equipment are likely to have their degrees withheld if fines remain unpaid.