Uni Condemns Admissions Advice for Cash
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CUSU has a new officer for students with disabilities. Unfortunately, the University still hasn’t provided a students’ union building with wheelchair access. A look at Cambridge life for disabled students Page 4 No. 609 The Independent Cambridge Student Newspaper since 1947 Friday November 19, 2004 Uni condemns Damned if they do: Church anger at Xmas event admissions advice for cash officialdamned.com Chine Mbubaegbu CUSU’s Access Officer, Naveed Anwar, also voiced his concerns. “A thor- THE UNIVERSITY’S Admissions ough examination of the small print [of he authorities have condemned the recruit- the interview questionnaire] will reveal ment of students by a company whose that payment is dependent on satisfacto- aim is to ‘demystify’ the Oxbridge ry performance, as defined by admissions process. them…We would urge all students to Oxbridge Applications, based in refrain from working with this company.” Mayfair, London, has offered students Wes Streeting agreed, calling the venture £20 each in return for the completion “morally bankrupt.” of a questionnaire in which they are James Uffindell defended his compa- t Mockel-von-dem-Bussc asked to detail their interview experi- ny’s actions against the University’s r lbe ences and provide information such as claims, saying: “We never portrayed it as A names of interviewers and a descrip- being charitable. We’re a commercial tion of their ‘main characteristics.’ The organisation.” He also reacted strongly organisation recruited current under- against what he called the ‘fundamental graduates to act as agents in finding misconception’ that Oxbridge other suitable students. Applications ‘coaches’ people in order to The company, founded by Oxford prepare them for Oxbridge interviews. graduate James Uffindell in 1999, has He said that the company merely aims said that it will use the information col- to tell people what admissions tutors are lected in its forthcoming book Real looking for in a potential applicant. Oxbridge Applications, which will include Since the company’s creation five sections on each college and case studies years ago, it has worked with close to on particular subjects, and will be sold in 4,000 applicants and its clients now con- major bookshops. stitute 5% of the total applications to Geoff Parks, Director of Oxbridge. During this period, James Dacre been tailored towards families with Comparing the symbolism of Admissions for the Cambridge Uffindell’s company has come under fire children in the past. Christmas lights to that of the Christian Colleges, has criticised the recent from Admissions officers at both CAMBRIDGE CITY Council’s deci- The Damned have achieved notori- emphasis upon light, the Rev. Stephen events, saying: “The level of detail of Cambridge and Oxford. sion to invite 70’s punk rock group The ety for their controversial performances, Leeke, vicar of St Martin’s Church, said information requested is considerable: Parks disagrees with Oxbridge Damned to switch on the city’s lyrics and publicity stunts. They are that “it would be more appropriate for much greater detail than you might Applications’ message, which he per- Christmas lights has met with fierce known for a host of anti-religious songs, The Damned to switch them off.” think necessary for a book seeking to ceives as: “the only way to get a place at opposition from local Church leaders. including ‘Anti Pope’ which contains Cambridge City centre manager, demystify the interview process, but Oxford or Cambridge is to buy our The Church of England have con- the line “Religion doesn’t mean a thing; Annette Joyce, responded that “It is exactly the sort of information that extremely expensive services.” Services demned the council as “insensitive.” it’s just another way of being right actually a mixed cultural event that pro- would be very helpful for coaching are priced at up to £180 for private con- Lambeth Palace told Varsity that “we wing.” The Damned have previously motes what’s happening in Cambridge. applicants for interviews with specific sultations, £800 for an interview prepa- are unhappy with the event,” adding described Christians as “weak,” saying Some think it’s blasphemous, others Cambridge interviewers.” He added ration weekend in a luxury hotel, and that “you cannot separate a Christmas they are “plain ignorant and just don’t think, ‘don’t be ridiculous.’ ” St. Mary’s that “Oxbridge Applications were por- £4,000 for the “premier service.” event from the fundamental meaning of understand.” Members of the group church called for the event to be restored traying their reasons for collecting the Uffindell told Varsity, however, that his Christmas.” CUSU and local junior responded to criticisms of their involve- to a “short religious service,” adding that information they were seeking as company is not geared towards getting schools have also expressed concern. ment with the event by saying that last year’s event was “a completely mixed being charitable, in the best possible rich people into Cambridge. He pointed But a spokeswoman for the band told Christmas “is a time to behave disgrace- cultural event.” light, and there were clearly other uses to the fact that a significant proportion of journalists that the response to their fully and slob out in front of the TV,The The Salvation Army band, the to which it could be put which were his clients come from state schools, and booking was ‘laughable.’ Damned are particularly good at that Collegium Choir and the cast of not highlighted. There was no guaran- the fact that this weekend the company There are almost 100 places of wor- sort of thing and the church stuff just Cinderella on Ice will also be involved. tee that the information provided by has subsidised an event for a group of ship within three miles of Market gets in the way.” Previously, Christopher Biggins, Big students would not be sold to their youngsters from less conventional back- Square, many of which have expressed The Church of England asked “if the Brother’s PJ and Spencer and the annual clients, in addition to being used to grounds, which will “only cost them £60 grave dissatisfaction with the event. Damned realise that they are involved pantomime cast have flicked the switch. compile the book that is apparently a head.” Most admissions interviews take Last year’s ceremony focused around a with something that is about the com- The Damned are to perform at the being researched.” place at the beginning of December. short Christian service. The event has ing of the light into the world?” Junction after the ceremony. RECORDED AID NOT SLADE PAGE 3 CACK-HANDED SINISTERISM PAGE 12 ANYONE CAN PLAY GUITAR PAGE 21 TALKING ‘BOUT AN URBAN REVOLUTION PAGE 23 ALL THAT JAZZ PAGE 25 THE BLUES SEE RED PAGE 28 2 NEWS November 19, 2004 www.varsity.co.uk Off with OFFA, says Howard Animal rights campaign r Scott Jennife collects £500,000 a year Amy Goodwin IT WAS revealed this week that ani- mal rights protestors are collecting up to £500,000 a year in street stall dona- tions. This money is being used to finance the ongoing campaign against Cambridge-based Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS), with a significant proportion directed towards splinter groups and individuals involved in direct action against researchers and their families. The finances of SHAC, or Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty, are not monitored in any way as the organisation is not an officially regis- tered charity. The disclosure of the scale of their funding has thus caused immense concern, particularly as the extent and quality of SHAC’s internal democracy has come into question in the past. Police are in the process of launching an investigation into the large sums of money amassed by sen- ior figures in the organisation, which subsequently disappears from sight. Do the animal rights protestors have something to hide? A considerable amount is held in CONSERVATIVE LEADER Michael Howard made a keynote speech in cash and used to finance actions ect after intimidating letters were sent tering’ near students. He claimed that his electoral campaign at Emmanuel College last Friday, provoking strong against employees of companies con- to shareholders in July, and earlier this the injunction did not prevent anyone reactions within both the university and local community. nected with HLS, but it is unclear month internet service provider Yahoo from expressing his views, but restrict- Howard outlined the Tory policy on higher education, stressing its exactly how much funds illegal activ- removed a site which listed the home ed ‘to whom and where he expresses prominent position in their overall political agenda: “Our ambition is excel- ity and at present SHAC is under no addresses and telephone numbers of those views’. The university’s lawyer lence in higher education as it is the key to British competitiveness in the obligation to disclose details of its Oxford staff, including Chancellor said that the injunction was ‘a win for global market place”. Howard denounced the Labour government’s “inter- internal organisation. Chris Patten, at the request of the uni- liberal democracy’. ference” in universities, and was heavily critical of the Office for Access to Such alarms come against a back- versity. A spokesman for the university Scientists have expressed their fears Higher Education, branding their proposed strategy as ‘coercion’. ground of mounting disquiet regard- said that the site represented an that extremist activism could hinder Howard also unveiled plans for bursaries to encourage able students to ing the tactics of animal rights protes- ‘incitement to harass’ staff. Although efforts to find cures for diseases such study core subjects such as mathematics and chemistry. he pledged to tors. Since plans for a £32 million pri- SPEAC condemned the listings, its as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.