Warwick University graduates are being urged to join a campaign against plans to force students to own their own lap-top computer.

Former students, incensed by plans to make all first year students have a computer by 2003, are getting together to campaign for the principle of free education.

The university is running a consultation period on the controversial proposals after they leaked out last week. The idea is being considered to open up new areas of learning to all students.

University bosses said ways would be found to lease or lend computers to students who couldn’t afford them.

Figures were used in last week’s announcement to show that most students either owned or considered getting a computer. But the figures did not say if they were normal desktop PCs, or more expensive lap-tops.

Former student Steve Thomas, one of the first to speak out against the scheme, said people who have left the university should still show concern for the plight of the students of the future.

He said:

“The reputation of the university reflects on every graduate.

“We wish to show that graduates may be outside the bubble but still care about issues of fairness and exploitation, particularly when we benefited from free tuition and access to communal computing facilities which look likely to be removed under the 'e-strategy'.”

Mr Thomas said local MPs and former Warwick students who are now in Parliament, including schools minister Estelle Morris, would be contacted and asked to back the campaign.

He added:

“Last week the government announced measures to encourage students from less well-off backgrounds to apply for elite institutions

“At the same time, Warwick, which considers itself to be in that elite is announcing a plan that will shut all but the very rich out.”

He said there are fears that students living in Coventry and Leamington could become easy targets for criminals.

Last month a 22-year-old man was robbed of a lap-top computer at gun point in Melbourne Road, Earlsdon – a road with many students houses.

Mr Thomas added that students could also face high costs of living if they had to connect to the internet or university intranet from home when they move off campus, if campus facilities are wound down to save money.

SEE [07 FEB 01] WARWICK PONDERS LAP-TOP REVOLUTION
SEE [30 JAN 01] MAN ROBBED AT GUNPOINT IN CITY STREET