Saturday, March 11, 2006
Of men and daffodils
Today is the second time I have had to check the date of the newspaper I was reading to ensure that it was not 1 April. Yesterday it was the Swanseas University Student Union's 'Waterfront' magazine, which described a proposal for a 'leek island' to be constructed in Swansea Bay. Now it is the Western Mail with the same suggestion, characterised as a 'man-made Daffodil Island'.
My colleagues on Swansea Council are too kind about this latest brain-child of the Vice-Chancellor of Swansea University. The Council Leader describes it as a 'visionary idea' whilst a local Councillor points out that we are not Dubai and do not have money to burn. Too right!
With lecturers on strike over their pay, with Swansea University considering a multi-million pound shortfall in capital maintenance and with the entire Higher Education sector in Wales struggling with years of under-investment, the last thing we need from our Vice-Chancellor is crackpot schemes such as this. Perhaps he should get his head out of the clouds and address these issues instead of chasing headlines in this way.
My colleagues on Swansea Council are too kind about this latest brain-child of the Vice-Chancellor of Swansea University. The Council Leader describes it as a 'visionary idea' whilst a local Councillor points out that we are not Dubai and do not have money to burn. Too right!
With lecturers on strike over their pay, with Swansea University considering a multi-million pound shortfall in capital maintenance and with the entire Higher Education sector in Wales struggling with years of under-investment, the last thing we need from our Vice-Chancellor is crackpot schemes such as this. Perhaps he should get his head out of the clouds and address these issues instead of chasing headlines in this way.
