2013-05-25T14:51:51-04:00 Faye Grima http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/author/index.php?author=faye-grima Copyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Faye Grima Good old fashioned elbow grease. tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2410309 2013-01-04T12:26:45-05:00 2013-01-06T04:47:20-05:00

Faye Grima http://www.huffingtonpost.com/faye-grima/
The majority of ethical journalism students would be idle to disagree that student media should be wholly independent; acting as an essential bridge between those in power and the student body. So of course everyone becomes outraged when unions are censoring their media - the fourth estate along with press independence gets lost in union translation and the entire purpose of student media comes into questioning. But is it possible to have a publication under provision of a union-elected media officer which is wholly independent?

Most university media outlets across the UK are owned and financed by the Students' Union and edited by a media officer who is elected by the students through a yearly election. They are a paid employee of the union and therefore have a duty of care to both other sabbatical officers as well as those volunteers under their power.

This highlights the first major problem facing student media - the officer themselves. It deems almost impossible to hold members of your own organisation to account with its best effect when you all work as union trustees under the same umbrella. Could an elected MP provide unbiased, constructive news that holds his other party members to account?

The ever-complicated relationship between the media officer and the union once again came into the limelight last year as students at the University of Central Lancashire were gagged by union representatives; leaving other student journalists across the country outraged, whilst others claimed the issue was conclusive of the ever-growing difficult position of the SU officer.

Former SU president, Reni Eddo-Lodge tweeted: "Funded by the union and run by a union trustee - it's not independent press", whilst others remained frustrated at the fact the website, which has since been shut down, branded itself "the independent student newspaper of UCLan."

For me, this proved how important it is that the editor-in-chief at any student media organisation should not be a union trustee, but an independent leader of media, as without an independent status, diluted versions of the truth will continue to suffice throughout student publications. It's impossible to make responsible decisions on behalf of the union as well as holding such concepts to account.

The media is an important source for students at university - you're paying for a service, and when that service is questioned, you should have a right to both know about its effects as well as have an active part in its future. This is why students at Sheffield University gained national coverage when their front page read: "The story your university doesn't want you to know about" - proving the vital role independent student media holds.

Student media has changed over the two years I was involved in it, but one thing remains the same: they should be independent of press control, act as the fourth estate and not present a misted reality forged by union representatives.

Although my opinion remains that publications should be wholly independent, I hope that the role of the media officer changes and adapts in order for this to be possible, because if it remains the same, student media will always be censored.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.2280924 2012-12-14T18:07:09-05:00 2012-12-17T10:19:33-05:00

Faye Grima http://www.huffingtonpost.com/faye-grima/ The Only Way is Essex have normalised the phenomenon potentially affecting women's confidence all over the country. Going out and getting a boob job has become the norm across reality television shows, as the famously annoying Essex girls have "graced" our screens with more than just fake eye eyelashes.

Growing up, plastic surgery programmes began to launch on my television screens, as celebrities went under the knife. Channel 4 was also soon to jump on the bandwagon, as 10 Years Younger gave women with little confidence a dramatic makeover.

As I watched the television, I never thought I'd be offered plastic surgery right on my doorstep at a discounted price at 20-years-old from my university. But recently, the University of Central Lancashire revealed they would be offering Botox and Lip fillers at a discounted price for students across campus.

Students are now able to book appointments for Botox and fillers, lip enhancers, facial peels and laser treatments, all conducted by healthcare professionals who are studying for an MSc at the university.

A spokesperson from the university said: "Over recent years, the provision of non-surgical facial aesthetic treatments has emerged as a key growth area within healthcare delivery in the United Kingdom.


"UCLan's MSc/PgDip Facial Aesthetics programme is designed to ensure that practising clinicians, be they doctors or dentists, are recognised to be the leading evidence-based practitioners in their field."

The saddest thing about the situation is the revelation from the Dental Clinic, where the procedures will take place, who claimed that a number of students have registered their interest.

Heather Lomax, a UCLan student and member of the UCLan Feminist society said: "I couldn't believe it when I heard that UCLan would be offering Botox to students.

"UCLan is a university, and should be offering education and supporting the health and needs of students, not offering Botox, which certainly has its risks. The very idea of it, of students feeling the need to beat the (perfectly natural) aging process, to have perfect skin, makes me feel sick", they later added.

Ed Farthing, a third year English studies student also expressed his disgust with the recent proposals: "Botox and similar treatments epitomize the ever-growing modern day fanaticism with the 'perfect self' image, and often enough force users into a never-ending life of constant addictive usage".

Women's magazines are notorious for flaunting the most beautiful and skinny celebrities with flawless skin without a shadow of worry about the consequences: it is near impossible to search for a magazine without stereotype injected into its front page.

It's not the women's magazines that are the sad part of this situation however, it's the fact the University of Central Lancashire are now too endorsing the stereotype of a woman being fixated on beauty whilst carelessly attracting men and women with serious confidence issues.

Is UCLan putting on the pressure to keep up appearances? Although not directly forcing me to lie on the dreaded dentist chair, open wide and have Botulinum toxins injected into my not so wrinkly forehead, I still think it is sending out the wrongly glamorised stereotype to the population of the university.

Whether this is a desperate plea to attract students to the 9k charging university or is simply acting as a training school for plastic surgeons, I certainly won't be used as a guinea pig in this highly degrading and materialistic experiment.

For those students interested in undergoing treatment, you can book a consultation by calling 01772 896300 or email reception@uclandentalclinic.com]]>