Balancing the Books... 1980 - 1990

Things got even tougher in the 1980s as the Thatcher government imposed successive cutbacks on higher education spending. In 1980 - the University's Silver Jubilee year - Senate and Council issued a statement expressing its 'deep concern' at Government proposals for financing universities.

"Our grant for 1979-80 was so inadequate that, like most universities, we had been obliged to budget for a large deficit in the present year. Now, on current indications, it appears that.grants will be reduced by at least 3 per cent below the figures we were given in May 1979... we have had to propose a large reduction in next year's student entrants at a time when applications have shown a sharp increase."

Joint statement from Senate and Council

One area of funding that was proving fruitful was donations from Arab States keen to show their appreciation for the work of the Centre for Arab Gulf Studies. A donation of £750,000 from the Ruler of Dubai (together with funds from the Universities Grants Committee) made it possible to build a new Library, which opened in 1983.

Further gifts from Arab benefactors arrived in 1986, including £650,000 from companies in Sharjah for the new Postgraduate Centre, which opened in late 1989. The government announced plans for an expansion in student teacher numbers in 1986 and gave 330 extra student places to St Luke's. It also provided a grant of £3 million for new buildings.

The University ended the decade with 5,800 students – just 600 more than in 1980. The last years of the decade were characterised by more cost cutting.


I’m sure that wasn’t there last night... The Tiananmen Memorial Sculpture erected secretly by students outside Devonshire House in 1989.

Dominic Hopkinson, now a local sculptor, was one of the students who erected the Tiananmen Memorial Sculpture outside Devonshire House in 1989. The sculpture was put together at the request of the Guild by a small group of art students from Exeter College of Art and Design. It was built in a weekend to a very tight deadline and in great secrecy. Said Mr Hopkinson: 'Since we did not have any form of permission from the University authorities for what we were doing we had to make sure we sited the sculpture before we got caught. By now it was dark and a number of motorcyclists, armed with walkie-talkies, were riding shotgun making sure the Estate Patrols were out of the area. On reaching the chosen site as many bemused students as possible were persuaded out of the Ram Bar to help carry the pieces off the lorry. The base and stone were positioned and the figure hauled upright and welded into position. A flag was also originally included in the figure's outstretched hand. Chinese students returning from London saw the figure and burst into tears. Monday morning dawned to find the campus agog at the new addition to the sculpture collection.