I paid the fine

Barks

Barks

Barks

Soldato
Joined
20 Jul 2008
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4,508
Following on from the other thread I had a chat with the student disiplinary officer who politely explained how and why the university had decided to issue a fine. She said I could appeal but I don't see the point given the fact it's only £30.

On a different matter aside, and I only want the opinion of people who know what they are talking about - not student hating keyboard warriors, which specific law(s) enable universities/firms etc to issue such fines.

If I made my mate sign a contract saying I could fine him £30 if he touched my car. How on earth could I have the legal ability to enforce this? The same thing applies to the university. They are not the police. Private life and work life should be kept separate. They should be forced to accept that the police are responsible for the inappropriate behaviour of some students, and they should only be able to threaten to kick students off their course - not issue financial punishments. £30 to one person is daddy's weekly allowance, £30 to another is 5 hours hard work at Sainsburys. Financial based disincentives are flawed.

I just want to ensure the university are completely within their right to issue fines. Threatening to kick students out of their course, putting a warning on their file etc are completely different, and acceptable, outcomes.

For the record I deeply regret what I did and have paid the fine now.

Cheers
 
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they can enforce it by threatening to kick you off their course.
play by their rules or don't play at all :p
 
yep thats all theyve got

i doubt theyd of kicked you out for what you talked about in the other thread though. after all your paying them 3k a year to be there :p
 
Morba said:
why are they unfair?
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Firstly because the university are not a law enforcement agency, neither a tax office, they provide education.

Mainly however, because £30 is nothing to some people and a lot to others. For example, if your parents pay your rent - £30 is not going to mean as much to you as it would for someone who has to pay their own rent.

Lastly, because what happens outside of the university campus should stay private. The police should be responsible for sorting out badly behaved students.

I personally hate grey areas of the law. If it is deemed universities can fine their students, the Government should publish legislation allowing them to do so and set guidelines on what is and isn't acceptable. Although personally I believe the universities should discipline their students in a non-financial matter, as for reasons outlined above.

What is wrong with that?
 
If £30 means that much to you, then consider next time not doing it, as you know the consequences :]

Do you agree with footballers being fined by their clubs for things they do outside of the club?
 
scott212 said:
Lastly, because what happens outside of the university campus should stay private. The police should be responsible for sorting out badly behaved students.
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I don't agree with this. Badly behaved students can tarnish a University's reputation, so surely the University should take matters into their own hands?
 
scott212 said:
Firstly because the university are not a law enforcement agency, neither a tax office, they provide education.

Mainly however, because £30 is nothing to some people and a lot to others. For example, if your parents pay your rent - £30 is not going to mean as much to you as it would for someone who has to pay their own rent.

Lastly, because what happens outside of the university campus should stay private. The police should be responsible for sorting out badly behaved students.

I personally hate grey areas of the law. If it is deemed universities can fine their students, the Government should publish legislation allowing them to do so and set guidelines on what is and isn't acceptable. Although personally I believe the universities should discipline their students in a non-financial matter, as for reasons outlined above.

What is wrong with that?
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I am guessing that they have no legal right to enforce a fine, but could throw you off the course if you choose not to pay it. I am also assuming that the ability to fine was part of the contract for accomodation. In which case it could fall under contract law.
 
Maybe Univeristies should introduce a sort of... no claims bonus. Don't bust anything up for a year, then get a Bonus discount to your 2nd year's fees.

How's that sound?

:D
 
Well, hopefully a £30 fine will teach the intended lesson better than a kicking out. It annoys me no end when other student houses around me (student) play music too loud, and £30 is nothing; as you said 5 hours work.
 
DampCat said:
Maybe Univeristies should introduce a sort of... no claims bonus. Don't bust anything up for a year, then get a Bonus discount to your 2nd year's fees.

How's that sound?

:D
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Sounds like a great idea, I can't think of anyone that could disagree with the no claims discount idea. :D
 
if they university perceive the fine as monies owed to them, they will probably withold any awards (i.e. your degree) until all fines+fees are paid. I know some do that just for library fines.
 
Difference is football clubs are paying their players but again they have to legal position to levy a fine...

The correct course of action for the uni assuming this is the first occurance would be to issue a written disciplinary. Unfortunatly they are abusing their position here in that if you refuse to pay it (which is your right) they could make things difficult for you at university or even kick you out.

Personally I'd say for the sake of your future its a fairly small price to pay so pay up and move on would be the smart thing to do unless you want to end up like me working for Argos :D Not that theres anything so bad about working for Argos.
 
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i hope you learnt your lesson though

that you shouldnt tell police/neighbours/council what university your at unless your forced too :p
 
Don't know about the ins and outs of the legality of it, but the fact that you seem to resent it so much will hopefully see it acting as something of a deterent in future.
 
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