20 years ago

Academics at The Open University who hoped to see colour co-ordination at graduation ceremonies and an end to bright blue gowns with clashing black mortarboards were nursing their disappointment. The university turned down an offer from an American dressmaker to supply kingfisher blue mortarboards at a knockdown price after other faculty members protested that colour-coordinated academic dress was one more nail in the coffin of the university's vow not to follow convention.

The battered student union minibus, so essential for the smooth running of college social life, was reportedly under threat. Proposed changes to the vehicle licensing system that would bring Britain into line with the rest of Europe were thought likely to result in student unions having to pay hundreds of pounds to register students as drivers, or end up selling their vehicles instead. The National Union of Students was set to launch a nationwide campaign to fight the proposed regulations.