Light of his life Five years of freedom How every good piece of Ruth Wyner reflects upon a art has a great woman Hell’smiscarriage Bell’s of justiceit’s some that behind it morechanged films her outlook coming on life The Independent Cambridge Student Newspaper since 1947 No. 630, 20th January, 2006 Cambridge University in 2006 and the people who define it www.varsity.co.uk Including: Cambridge’s most stylish The people who organise our social lives and Clubs and Societies News Feature Sport Interview Varsity interviews Ed Bolton Richard Caborn, and Phillip Scott, stars of Government sports minister, Channel Four’s new series says that he has the best job Beauty and the Geek, about in the world. right now. With The Fast Show’s cold showers, Primark and the Olympics won and Charlie Higson on leaving the lab to bed down Britain’s recent sporting with the High Street Honeys successes in rugby and having a life >>page 3 >> page 3 cricket, it’s hard to disagree >>page 9 >>page 27 >>Drinking societies 2 Varsity News 20.01.06 news in brief Exam marking threat Galloway Drama 3As good enough for us university staff, but this has not Jonathan Birch Geoff Parks, Cambridge’s Jamie Munk proved satisfactory as a long- Falconer Director of Admissions, has term solution for the unions. Hamish slammed the current trend Students’ degrees could be in At present there seems little George Galloway, the Respect MP for students to take “a string danger this year as Cambridge prospect of the dispute being set- currently mid-way through a con- of subjects” at A level. He staff and lecturers prepare for tled. Nick Savage, Secretary of JAMIE MARLAND troversial stint on Celebrity Big said that gaining five or six A potential strike action. As part of Cambridge AUT would like to Brother, has stirred up tension grades at A level only proved a national pay dispute between see more negotiations and told closer to home this week thanks to that a student was “pretty teaching unions and the Varsity: “I’m not optimistic that his impending appearance at the good” at a range of subjects, Universities and Colleges the UCEA aren’t going to play Cambridge Arts Theatre. and they should aim for Employers Association (UCEA), some brinkmanship with this”. Mr Galloway plans to follow his depth of understanding the Cambridge branch of the Chair of the UCEA and Vice TV breakthrough with a lucrative instead.“A student with three Association of University Chancellor of the University of speaking tour of the UK. On As at A level can be a much Teachers (AUT) is balloting its Westminster, Geoffrey Copland, February 12 he is booked to better applicant than one members on whether to pursue said: “we were prepared to give appear at the Cambridge Arts George Galloway is due to speak at with six.” strike action. The move come serious positive consideration to Theatre, a move that has angered the Arts Theatre after the UCEA failed to reach an this new claim but unfortunate- some Cambridge residents. suggested that the various protests Morrissey vs Life agreement on wage increases for ly, the academic unions flatly Nick Savage, Secretary of Cambridge Professor Matthew Kramer of may originate from one coordinat- AUT, anticipates strike action over pay Sciences university staff. refused to engage in such nego- Churchill College has been partic- ed campaign. Huntingdon Life Sciences The demands for pay increases tiation, preferring to proceed the demands of the AUT and ularly vocal in voicing objections Mr Galloway is no stranger to have condemned ageing come at time when universities with their pre-planned industrial NATFHE in calling for higher pay to the MP for Bethnal Green and scandal and enjoys a long-estab- rocker Morrissey for backing are about to receive extra rev- action.” In the last AUT strike for teachers and lecturers. It is Bow’s visit. Professor Kramer, an lished reputation as a controversial violent attacks on scientists enue through the new system of students faced widespread can- disgraceful that the promises expert in Legal and Political orator with a keen eye for publici- involved in research on ani- top-up fees. CAUT maintain that cellation of lectures in made to staff that top-up fee Philosophy, has engaged in ty. In 2004 he was embroiled in a mals. He said,"I support the a third of the money from top-up Cambridge, as well as an assess- income would result in higher lengthy correspondence with the libel battle against The Daily Tele- efforts of the Animal Rights fees was promised to them. Alan ment boycott on all academic pay have proven to be empty. “ Theatre and objects to the booking graph and was widely criticised Militia (ARM) in England and Johnson, the former Higher marking. This time the strike Laura Walsh, CUSU President on several grounds. He takes issue over video footage shown during I understand why fur farmers Education Minister, said in a action is likely to take place from rather ambiguously said, "The with the claim in the Arts court proceedings which appeared and so-called laboratory sci- statement in the Commons in early March. Such a strike would AUT were good friends to stu- Theatre’s brochure that Mr to show him saluting Saddam entists are repaid with vio- April 2004: “University Vice- see all preparation for exams and dents during the top-up fees fight Galloway was expelled from the Hussein. However a commanding lence. It is because they deal Chancellors tell us that, in gener- marking of coursework termi- and we should support them Labour Party “for his opposition to performance at a televised US in violence themselves and al, at least a third of that money nated at a crucial time in the now in their quest to get better the war in Iraq”, and objects more Senate hearing in 2005, at which it's the only language they will be put back into the salaries academic year. Savage warns of pay... However, CUSU would dis- generally to the use of theatres as he refuted accusations he had understand - the same princi- and conditions of their staff.” “a danger of some students not courage action that would platforms for extremist views. profited from the UN Oil For Food ples that apply to war." The AUT see the UCEA and Vice- graduating” if such a strike were impact negatively on our stu- “I don’t think the Arts Theatre is programme, went some way Chancellors as reneging on this not to be swiftly resolved. dents. We hope that it would not a suitable venue” he told Varsity. towards restoring his reputation Hughes Hall is college-to- promise. Their general secretary, The University does not offi- come to a boycott of assess- “Galloway’s extremist views within the UK. be Sally Hunt, said: “This was their cially recognise the Cambridge ments..." should be aired, but only so long Professor Kramer believes there Hughes Hall is on its way to chance to demonstrate that AUT, and was unwilling to fur- National AUT balloting of their as they are subject to vigorous is weight behind the allegations of becoming a fully-recognised decades of telling us they wanted nish an opinion on the dispute. 48,000 members finishes on challenge by someone joining bat- anti-Semitism which have previ- college after the University to pay staff more, but couldn't A spokesperson said, February 15, and, in Savage’s tle with him on an even field.” ously been levied against Mr Council recommended a because of a lack of money, were “Negotiations between the aca- view, the verdict is most likely to Varsity has also learnt of similar Galloway but he conceded “I don’t change in its status. At pres- not just empty promises and they demic trades unions and the be in favour of strike action. If letters of objection from other think his remarks at present are ent it is an ‘Approved have blown it." University and Colleges' negotiations fail, he told Varsity, influential figures within legally objectionable, and I think Foundation’ of the University, Pay for university staff has fall- Employers Association are still in “there will be people taking Cambridge, including Samuel that’s proper: odious people but as a college its associa- en by 40% compared with other progress and until these are con- strike action in Cambridge.” Green, President of the Cambridge should be allowed to express their tion with the University will professions over the last 20 years. cluded, it is inappropriate for the Savage refused to confirm the Jewish Society, and Reuven Leigh, odious views.” be permanent. Reforms passed in August mean University to comment.” They number of current members of a Cambridge-based Rabbi. Galloway’s impending appear- that Cambridge staff are now added, “students may be assured, CAUT, but there were 762 on The Arts Theatre has refused to ance will not be the first time he Terror Bill rejected paid according to the national however, that the University will record in 2004. However, it is cancel the booking and a has aired his views in Cambridge: The clause in the govern- pay grading scale, HERA, agreed take all steps necessary to protect difficult at this stage to ascertain spokesperson assured Varsity that In Michaelmas term 2005 he ment’s proposed Terror Bill between the UCEA and the their interests.” whether a significant number of “Galloway’s appearance will go spoke in slightly more low-key which Varsity reported last unions. This also resulted in pay The National Union of Students examinations will go unmarked, ahead”.