The October 1986 issues of Student are now live! Read on to explore the wonders of fresher’s week in 1986, and the exciting first month of the ’86/’87 academic year…

2 October, 1986: Freshers’ Advice and Freshers’ Confessions!

• In this special Fresher’s addition to ring in a new academic year, Student gives advice to incoming students on how best to manage their finances, how to make new friends, where the best spots around campus are, and much more.
• This week the arts section of the paper reviews the best theatre venues, cinemas, orchestras, music halls, and galleries, so that the incoming fresher will know exactly where to satiate their artistic cravings.
• Student includes a new feature in this issue, known as the ‘True Confessions’ page. This humorous addition pokes fun at the highly varied experiences of first years during fresher’s week.

Read the full issue here

9 October, 1986: Loans and Taxes and Fees, Oh My!

• Front page news this week is the accommodation shortage which undergraduates at the University faced during the first week of the 1986/1987 academic year. According to the article, approximately 80 first years were having to be housed in temporary accommodation until the University Accommodation Service could find them permanent residences.
• The University Students’ Association made the decision this week to oppose the current Government’s proposal of a mixed grant and loan system for UK citizens seeking higher education, however the Principals of the University came out in support of the system proposal this very same week.
• Over the summer, Kings Buildings’ Union refurbished their kitchen and café premises in order to cater a more enjoyable selection of snacks and meals. Student reviewed the new set-up, saying that the coffee was excellent and the food was the best for its value at the University.

Read the full issue here

16 October 1986: Too Soft, Too Hard, or Just Right?

• The Federation of Conservative Students published a report condemning the size of student beds in catered halls. They claim that the beds are too narrow, and not conducive to a healthy student lifestyle, saying that the layout of student halls are “administratively convenient” without taking into account student health and safety.
• To the relief of Students’ Association representatives, it was reported this week that the Principals of the University decided to rescind their support of the newly-Government-proposed system of loans for higher education students.
• The Anti-Apartheid Society (AAS) on campus has filed an official dispute on the legality of the Scottish South African Union Society (SSAU) existing on campus. The AAS claimed that the SSAU’s support of apartheid was in direct negation of the Students’ Association’s anti-apartheid stance, and presented their case at the Societies Executive Meeting, where their proposal will be deliberated.

Read the full issue here

23 October 1986: A Derogatory Duke?

• The Duke of Edinburgh, and Chancellor the University, HRM Prince Phillip, was criticised in Student this week for making insulting and bigoted comments to students upon his return from a state visit to Peking, China. He allegedly called the city “ghastly,” and said that he expected to arrive home with “slitty eyes,” to the anger and offence of many Chinese students and the University community.
• The Commonwealth Games Fund, which was charged £900,000 to use Pollock Halls as the Games Village over the summer of 1986, was found to be at risk of liquidation, with £650,000 still owed to the University Information and Accommodation Department.
• Upon the announcement that all Bus transport would be privatised in Britain, students protest the possibility of raised fees, changing routes, commercialisation, and profiteering of Edinburgh’s main form of public transport.

Read the full issue here

30 October 1986: Iron Maiden Rock Out at The Playhouse!

• Acclaimed heavy-metal band Iron Maiden preformed at the Playhouse in Edinburgh this week, putting on a show which garnered a rave review from Student’s music critics. “If there is a better live band on the planet I’d like to see them. From start to finish this show was a fireball of energy, power and class,” writes Ted Linehan.
• The University contemplates taking action to combat the increasing amount of book theft and vandalism committed by students in the Main Library, according to Student this week. Apparently the Library staff have submitted a proposal to outfit the library with a significant amount of security cameras, which the University administration is currently considering.
• The EUSA poll on how students feel about different grant and loan systems was published, and it shows that students the University strongly favour grants over loans, in contest with the Government’s proposed plans to switch from a grant-based system to a loan-based one. 81 per cent of students voted for a grant scheme which was either denoted by family income, or on a universal subsidy, while 19 of students voted for either a loan only, or mixed grant and loan scheme.

Read the full issue here