#HEWPOTT: Rules of engagement

In the next few hours David Willetts, Minister of State for Universities and Science, will launch his much anticipated ‘Higher Education White Paper’.

After over eight months of waiting, the online higher education community are chomping at the bit. The raucous rhetoric and hyperbolic displays of vitriol about the content of the White Paper is coming to a head. Finally, after a speech by the Minister at 3.30pm today (28 June 2001), the Paper will be live for all to digest.

Higher education policy tends to stir the emotions of the HE community. Some will laugh. Some will cry. Some will tweet with rage. With this in mind Richard Brabner and Mario Creatura, two higher education policy wonks, have devised a game to try to alleviate the stresses and strains during this harrowing time.

Your mission? To identify the most over-the-top tweet about the HE White Paper.

The rules are as follows:

1. Twitter users can submit the most outlandish comment using the hashtag #HEWPOTT. To clarify, twitter users can not submit a comment they have made themselves. The purpose is to find the most OTT comment. 
2. Each tweet will be treated on its own merits – chains of several tweets in ‘rant-style’ will not be permitted.
3. Users can enter as many times as they like and can nominate others.
4. Comments will only be included if they are about the Higher Education White Paper and its contents.
5. A ‘Top Ten’ will be collated by Mario and Richard and will be released on this blog from 12.30pm on Wednesday 29 June 2011.
6. Twitter users will then be able to vote for their favourite over-the-top tweet which will be announced until 4.15pm when the winner will be announced!

Good hunting!

Richard & Mario