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April 11, 2026
Featured: March 1988
Spring has sprung in Edinburgh, with an exciting election for rector taking place, some great musical acts and much more! Read all about it below….
3 March, 1988: Medical Marches and Rector Races
The University is reported on the eve of the election of a new rector to the University, with the candidates being the “flamboyant” Richard Demarco, the “youthful” Christopher Lipscomb, the “political” Albertina Sisulu, and the “direct and humorous” Muriel Gray.
Student reports on a march of thousands of medical students from around Scotland across Edinburgh, to protest the cutting of NHS provisions for both patients and doctors, as proposed by the UK government.
10 March 1988: A New Rector a Great Performance
Muriel Gray, famous English journalist, wins the election for new University Rector by a landslide, with a more than 1,00 vote margin between herself and the next candidate.
The Proclaimers return to Scotland to preform in Edinburgh as the finale to their U.K. tour, putting on a great show at Usher Hall, according to Student critics.
Read the full issue here
February 1988
This month’s issues of Student are the bearers of bad news, from corruption in the SRC, betrayal from the Secretary of State, house fires and bus crashes. Read about the sad state of February 1988 below…
11 February, 1988: Committee Corruption and London Protests
Student reports on accusations made this week that the Teviot Row House Union Committee have been running their business with “Mafia-like operations,” according to anonymous sources.
Students from the University of Edinburgh went to London this week to take part in a nationally-organised protest against the current military actions being taken by the Israel Defence Forces against Palestine.
18 February, 1988: Essay Companies and Secretarial Betrayal
This week Student investigates a company known as London Essay Services (LES), who cater to overwhelmed students and offer an “expertly completed essay” service for a high price.
Secretary of State for Scotland, Malcolm Rifkind, announces that he will be supporting the institution of a poll-tax in Scotland, despite previously siding with those who believe it will be detrimental to vulnerable groups such as students and working class citizens.
25 February, 1988:Homeless and Hospitalised Students
A fire in a privately-let flat have cause four students to become homeless, Student reports, with no provisions or help being offered to them on the part of the University Accommodation Services.
Due to a bus crash between two vehicles on the route from Edinburgh to Dundee, a number of University of Edinburgh students have now been admitted to hospitals in both Edinburgh and Dundee, for moderate to severe injuries.
January 1988
As students return from their Christmas Holidays to the new year of 1988, an issue of Student greets them, reporting issues such as student financial problems and the protest of a conservative MP on campus. Read more below…
21 January, 1988: Student Poverty and Conservative Disagreements
According to Student, many students are now over a term behind their housing benefit payments and provisions and are now facing severe financial problems.
Conservation MP Ian Laing was hosted at Teviot Row House by the University of Edinburgh Conservative Club, however many students showed up to the MP’s speech to protest his support of policies such the poll-tax and the introduction of a loans-only scheme for all UK students.
December 1987
The final issues of Student for 1987 see a celebratory issue for 100 years of stellar student reporting, some exciting news for Teviot-goers, and a Christmas-themed political protest. Read more below…
3 December, 1987: The Centenary Issue
This edition of Student is celebrated as the centenary issue, marking 100 years student reporting!
10 December, 1987: Protests and Television on Campus
Thousands of students flocked to Edinburgh from all over Scotland to attend a Christmas-themed protest against the cutting of student funding and provisions on the part of the UK government.
Student announces that Teviot Row House is due to be fitted with Satellite Televisions in their pubs and bars, to the great excitement of many students
November 1987
This month Edinburgh is home to some great performances and some controversial politics….Read more below!
5 November, 1987: Merchant of Venice Success, By No Wind Fall for Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh may face serious cuts to resources and funding from the Scottish Government and private investors, Student reports.
The Merchant of Venice was a huge success at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, according to Student critics, who particular praised the performance of actress Elizabeth Millbank as Portia.
12 November, 1987: A Visit from Westminster and A Nightmare on Elm Street
The Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Smith, paid a visit to Teviot Row House and spoke about the positives of Scottish devolution and the negatives of the impending poll-tax.
The final instalment of The Nightmare on Elm Street series premiered at the Odeon Cinema this week, with a great reception from students.
26 November, 1987: Student in Detention and James Taylor in Edinburgh
A former University of Edinburgh student was put in a detention centre in South Africa for ten weeks for his outspoken opinions supporting the anti-Apartheid movement.
James Taylor and his band travelled to The Venue in Edinburgh and put on a staller performance, according to Student critics.
October 1987
Welcome back to the University of Edinburgh campus for a new academic year, 1987/1988! This first month of the term saw Student with lots to report, from Freshers Week, political campaigns, and some important changes to the University structure….Read all about it below!
7 October 1987: Freshers Week Excitement and A Scary Prospect for Professors….
This first issue of the 1987/1988 academic year was made free to all students, and includes some indispensable advice to freshers, from good study habits and how to make friends, to the best clubs and coffee shops in town!
Student reports that professors are fearing for their job stability, as a new education bill threatens tenure and pension schemes.
15 October 1987: High NUS Fees and A Scrapped Department on Campus
According to Student this week, fourteen student unions across Scotland and the UK may be forced to unaffiliated themselves from the Nation Union of Students (NUS) due to their hiking of membership fees.
The University of Edinburgh has reported closed it s Department of Urban Design and Regional Planning, and has forced all students of this school to be relocated to Heriot-Watt University.
22 October 1987: Students in the Military for Charity, and A New Campaign on Campus
The Student Aid Society reportedly held an assault course open to all students, in which more than 200 student participated to raise money for charities, despite the Army course being rife with danger.
The Scottish Campaign for Resistance Against Poll Tax, also known as the “SCRAP It!” campaign has been formally ratified by the Students’ Association to exist on campus, due to widespread student support.
29 October, 1987: Anti-Apartheid Action and Exam Feedback Gains
University of Edinburgh students travelled to London to take part in the nationally-organised anti-Apartheid march in Hyde Park.
Student announces the exciting news that students will now be able to see their examination papers after receiving their marks, a right which has never been afforded students at any level of the University in the past.
May 1987
7 May, 1987: Rag Week Festivities and Outrages Rent Hikes
Rag Week 1987 was celebrated with parade floats, crazy costumes, and lots of money raised for various charities at University of Edinburgh this week.
Next academic year’s rent for the University’s only catered accommodation, Pollock Halls, was announced this week, and it has seen a hike of more than 7%, causing outrage among students.
14 May, 1987: Conservative Club Corruption and Election Excitement
Student reported on what some are believing is electoral malpractice on the part of the Conservative Club on campus, with the illustrious society being accused of doctoring their constitution, embezzling funds, and more!
Today the polls also opened for the 1987/1988 EUSA Election candidates. They waited with baited breath to see who would be chosen for the roles for the next academic year…
21 May, 1987: Election Results and A Banned Magazine on Campus!
Student announces the winners of the EUSA Election, with sabbatical officers and SRC representatives being chosen for the 1987/1988 academic year.
The University Newsline, a magazine published by west-coast students and graduates was banned on many Scottish University campuses for it extreme right wing views and allegedly offensive content. However this week Student reports that copies of the magazine are being distributed across campus by an unknown source, cause outrage among students!
April 1987
Returning from the 1987 Easter Holidays, Student reports on the EUSA Elections, AIDS research breakthroughs and some great theatre! Read more below….
23 April, 1987: Cuts to EUSA on the Eve of Elections!
EUSA nominations opened for the Students’ Association elections on this day, however only five were featured in Student‘s preliminary coverage.
The Students’ Association could face up to £20,000 in cuts, Student reports this week.
30 April, 1987: AIDS Research Breakthroughs and Tennessee Williams Plays…
AIDS is said to be quickly spreading in the outer Lothian areas and Edinburgh, with a link being found between AIDs contraction and Heroine use.
The Glass Menagerie rose its curtains at the Lyceum and received a rave review from Student critics’ this week.
February 1987
This month’s Student editions contain exciting content, from Days of Action and grant raises, to toilet seat trophies and illegal bovine exploits! Dive in to the February 1987 issues of Student below….
5 February, 1987: Grant Gains and Debate Success
Front page on this week’s Student is the announcement that the then-Secretary of Education Kenneth Baker and Scottish Secretary Malcolm Rifkind had decided to raise student grants by 3.75% from the previous academic year.
The Edinburgh University Debates Committee won the Maiden Speakers Championship at Aberdeen this week, a competition named “The Bogwell” due to the fact that the trophy for the winning team is a wooden toilet seat.
12 February, 1987: Students and Politicians Take Action
The Students’ Association organised a day of action this week, which they told Student reporters was “our chance to show we think education is important.” Students occupied the New College campus and other University buildings on this day of action.
Edinburgh has filed a bid to host the 1991 World Student Games, a move which then-Labour councillor Mark Lazorwiz claimed had cross party support; however Councillor Donald Gorrie contested this, according to Student reporters, saying the bid was a “megalomaniac act.”
19 February, 1987: Success for EUSA, but not for the SU…
After last week’s Day of Action, this week Student reports that the Students’ Association officials who helped organise the event were heralding it a great success.
According to Student, Edinburgh’s bid to host the 1997 World Student Games ended in failure this week, with Sheffield holding the winning bid.
26 February, 1987: Modernising the Library and Tipping Over Cows
The University announces that it will be computerising the entire book loaning system at the Main Library, to become effective on the 1st of June 1987. University personnel heralded this as a great new scheme to make both students and librarians lives’ easier in the long run, as paper borrowing and recall slips would no longer have to be used to access library books.
Student reports on a rising craze across rural Scottish, English and Welsh campuses, known as beef bouncing. This activity is apparently an American import started by American football players, but has become the main activity of secret campus societies in the UK as well. The activity consists of members trespassing on farmer’s fields at night and trying to knock over sleeping cows, who sleep standing up.
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