C ardonald ourier 

THE Scottish Labour leader Johann

Lamont will work with Cardonald

College Glasgow to ensure dialogue with

the UK Border Agency after the college

had its non-EU students licence revoked.

A group of 41 International students at the

college face an uncertain future after its highly

trusted status licence was taken away for failing

to meet three of the six mandatory requirements.

Lamont, MSP for Glasgow Pollok, said: “This

development is clearly of great concern to the

college and the students who will be impacted

 by this and I will be writing to the UK Border 

Agency to determine how we can resolve this.

“One of Cardonald College's major strengths is

its diverse mix of students and I will be working

with the college and the students to ensure that

this is not impacted by the decision."

 Non-EU students at the college could be faced

with just 60 days to nd a new college with

highly trusted status, or be forced to leave the UK.

Anniesland and Stow colleges in Glasgow

have also failed to have their highly trusted status

renewed.

Samuel Akintunde Folorunso, who is from

 Nigeria and studies administration, and IT at

Cardonald College Glasgow is one of the students

at the college who could be affected.

Folorunso, the black students’ ofcer on the

college’s student council, has conditional offers

from two universities in England that hinge on

him being able to complete his studies this year.

The

CHANGES to the wayScottish students are paidtravel expenses could leavethousands out of pocket andfurther in debt.

From term 2011/12, Scottishstudent funding body SAASbegan incorporating studenttravel expenses into the annualstudent loan, capping paymentsat £350 each year and meaningstudents will now have toborrow travel expenses helpinstead of being reimbursed.Under the old system, students

declared the distance theytravelled and were reimbursedmid-way through theeducational year based on thecheapest possible route SAAScould calculate.The move has left many

students angry, claiming theyweren’t properly informed of thechanges.Fashion textiles student at

Cardonald College Glasgow,Emma Miller, said SAAS couldhave made the changes clearer."I found out from my friend at

university. She had got travelexpenses back last year and thathelped her but then she foundout it was getting incorporatedinto the loan," said the 19-year-old. "I applied online. I didn’tsee it on the SAAS website, theydidn’t make it obvious. Theycould have sent emails or sent

Expensescut hitsstudents'pockets

Lamont offers helpin college visa battle

International students facing uncertain future

By Angela Haggerty

Continued on Page 3Continued on Page 2

The Cardonald Courier March 2012

SportQuestionsover GersEBT trust,p20

UP IN THE AIR: Samuel Akintunde Folorunso is one of 41 Cardonald students who could be affected by the college losing its international licence

FeaturesComedian Greg McHughon writing, studying andweird fan encounters,p14

F R E E 

By Stuart Findlay

NewsPolice clampdown onknife crime,p4-5