THEFTS COULD MEAN DEGREES WITHHELD

By Gavin Pearce

Westminster students who lose equipment borrowed from the university could have their degrees withheld under new proposals.

If fines are not paid for lost or stolen equipment then degree confirmation may be withheld, according to a leaked email.

At the moment students must sign a university indemnity agreement, which holds them liable to pay up to £1,500 for such losses.

Since September more than £20,000 worth of equipment has been lost. £11,000 of this was from the M block store, and includes a film camera, two tape recorders and a microphone kit.

Lawrence Jenkins, store technician, said the main cause was negligence. He said: “In most incidences, equipment is stolen when left in cars overnight, or lost when left on tube trains.”

A senior source said that students must pay the fines or have their degrees withheld, because the university can only claim for losses of £1,500 or more. An insurance policy with a lower excess charge would cost “millions”.

Rebecca Seidel, a Westminster student, said: “We pay thousands of pounds in fees, so why can’t the university afford the insurance to cover themselves? All the equipment I borrow is expensive, meaning there’s no way I could buy some more.”

Price labels are now being put on all equipment to ensure students know the value of all hired items.