Cassidy Metcalf, Swansea Socialist Students
Our vice-chancellor, Paul Boyle, is one of the highest-paid public sector workers in Wales, earning a hefty £300,000 a year. When he’s not busy lining shareholders’ pockets, he flies down to Swansea, from his home in Scotland, just often enough to keep people from wondering why we even have a vice-chancellor.
This month, the university ran a campaign asking alumni to give money to the university’s ‘Greatest Need’ fund to cover projects to help students and local community. The goal of £70,000 donations over the five years, £14,000 a year, is less than 5% of Paul Boyle’s salary.
He could donate this without experiencing any changes in his living standards. The money isn’t coming from the university’s reserves either. Instead, it’s left to students and alumni, most of whom are struggling to get by, to make sure people are fed.
Students and staff are being failed by a higher education system run like a business. When 150 vice-chancellors are making nearly £50 million collectively, while staff have had 20% pay cuts, it’s time to say that enough is enough. Universities must release funds from their reserves to reverse the damage done to pensions, and bring in above-inflation pay raises for a start. Socialist Students is proud to stand with staff at the University and College Union (UCU) picket lines.
