UK students’ union accused of spying on profs

From The Times Higher Education:

Students are being encouraged to “snoop” on academics by texting a hotline if their teachers turn up late, the University and College Union has claimed.

Manchester Metropolitan Students’ Union launched its “LATE” campaign after receiving a number of student complaints about lectures running late and being cancelled without warning.

The students’ union then set up a phone line to test the scale of the problem.

“We’ve made it easy for you to tell us when your lectures start late or are cancelled without notice by using a simple text message,” it says on its website. “All you have to do is send us a text with the word ‘LATE’, followed by the year and course you’re studying.”

Bold blue and yellow posters have been put up around the university, featuring the message: “If you’re on time, why is your class LATE?”