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Student anger at graduation move Student anger at graduation move
(about 1 hour later)
Plans to move graduation ceremonies for hundreds of Swansea University students from an historic hall to a marquee on campus are facing a backlash.Plans to move graduation ceremonies for hundreds of Swansea University students from an historic hall to a marquee on campus are facing a backlash.
Council strikes on July 16 and 17 mean the city's grand Brangwyn Hall, where the ceremonies are usually held, is out of bounds. Council strikes on 16 and 17 July mean the grand Brangwyn Hall is out of bounds and instead ceremonies will be on a lawn near the campus entrance.
Instead, the university will hold a week of ceremonies in a marquee on a lawn near the entrance of the campus. Students have set up a protest group on social networking site Facebook.
Unhappy students have set up a protest group on a social networking site. The university regretted the situation but reassured students that marquees were often used successfully elsewhere.
The university said it "regrets" not being able to hold the ceremonies at Brangwyn Hall but has reassured students that marquees are often used successfully by other universities for graduation ceremonies.
It comes after discussions were held with the council and union Unison to try to ensure the hall was exempt from strike action over pay.It comes after discussions were held with the council and union Unison to try to ensure the hall was exempt from strike action over pay.
Brangwyn Hall is usually used for Swansea's graduation ceremonies.
A spokesman for Swansea council said the union initially rejected this option but eventually agreed to an exemption on Friday afternoon.A spokesman for Swansea council said the union initially rejected this option but eventually agreed to an exemption on Friday afternoon.
By this stage it was too late for the university to rearrange its plans to use the marquee for 12 ceremonies from 14 to 18 July, he said. I'm not happy and wondering if it's worth bothering when it's clearly going to be a disaster Dafydd Vaughan hoped to graduate at Brangwyn Hall, like his parents By this stage it was too late for the university to rearrange its plans to use the marquee for 12 ceremonies from 14 to 18 July, he said.Angry students set up their Facebook protest when they heard about the plans in letters on Friday, and by Sunday, it had more than 240 members.
Angry students have set up a group on the social networking site Facebook against the plans, which they heard about in letters on Friday.
By Sunday, it had more than 240 members.
Computer science student Dafydd Vaughan, 21, from Abergavenny, said he was hoping to follow in the footsteps of his parents, Bob and Sue Vaughn, who both graduated at Brangwyn Hall.Computer science student Dafydd Vaughan, 21, from Abergavenny, said he was hoping to follow in the footsteps of his parents, Bob and Sue Vaughn, who both graduated at Brangwyn Hall.
'Building site'
"I'm livid. The campus is currently a building site," he said."I'm livid. The campus is currently a building site," he said.
"I was looking forward to my graduation and have already ordered my gown and photographs."I was looking forward to my graduation and have already ordered my gown and photographs.
Dafydd Vaughan hoped to graduate in Brangwyn Hall like his parents.
"I'm not happy and wondering if it's worth bothering when it's clearly going to be a disaster.""I'm not happy and wondering if it's worth bothering when it's clearly going to be a disaster."
He added there are other venues which are not under council control which would be more appropriate on campus such as the Taliesin Theatre, which is on campus. He said there other venues not under council control which would be more appropriate on campus such as the Taliesin Theatre, which is on campus.Dafydd's father Bob said: "As a graduate of Swansea University myself I am outraged that my son will not have the opportunity to celebrate his achievements over the last four years in a fitting way."
Dafydd's father Bob said: "As a graduate of Swansea University myself I am outraged that my son will not have the opportunity to celebrate his achievements over the last four years in a fitting way."
Students on the Facebook group are also worried about the fact the marquee will be erected on Fulton Green - which they claim is a "roundabout" at the university's entrance.Students on the Facebook group are also worried about the fact the marquee will be erected on Fulton Green - which they claim is a "roundabout" at the university's entrance.
But the university has reassured them that traffic will be banned in the area for the graduation week. Brangwyn Hall is usually used for Swansea's graduation ceremoniesBut the university has reassured them that traffic will be banned in the area for the graduation week.
They are also concerned that some guests who are unable to fit into the marquee will have to watch the proceedings via a video link to a nearby lecture theatre.They are also concerned that some guests who are unable to fit into the marquee will have to watch the proceedings via a video link to a nearby lecture theatre.
But the university says the marquee should be able to hold more guests than can normally be accommodated in Brangwyn Hall.But the university says the marquee should be able to hold more guests than can normally be accommodated in Brangwyn Hall.
Only guests invited in addition to the allocated two guests per student should have to use the lecture theatre, it said in a statement.Only guests invited in addition to the allocated two guests per student should have to use the lecture theatre, it said in a statement.
Professor Richard B Davies, Vice-Chancellor of Swansea University, said: "This is not the first time the graduation ceremonies have been held at the University campus, or the first time high-profile events or gatherings have taken place on Fulton Green. Professor Richard B Davies, vice-chancellor of Swansea University, said: "This is not the first time the graduation ceremonies have been held at the university campus, or the first time high-profile events or gatherings have taken place on Fulton Green.
"The university is doing everything in its power to ensure an enjoyable and memorable occasion for all graduating students this year.""The university is doing everything in its power to ensure an enjoyable and memorable occasion for all graduating students this year."
A Swansea Council spokesman said: "It is disappointing that these events at the Brangwyn Hall were cancelled owing to Unison's industrial action. " A Swansea council spokesman said: "It is disappointing that these events at the Brangwyn Hall were cancelled owing to Unison's industrial action. "