Dizzee New Heights The Rascal returns: an interview with the man who fixed up, and looks sharp - Page 8 No. 616 The Independent Cambridge Student Newspaper since 1947 Friday February 25, 2005 ll we Bar Admissions report y shows black student Luc applications only 1/3 of national average Sam Richardson there is an increasing emphasis on year. Whilst this week’s admis- the outreach work done by sions figures have shown some TWO YEARS after Varsity first Colleges and Departments in improvement, it is clear that highlighted the scarcity of black educational enrichment, through there is much more to be done to students in Cambridge, there are the provision of masterclasses, encourage black students to still fewer black undergraduates study days and a myriad of excel- apply to Cambridge.” at the University than there are lent online resources.” Pav Akhtar, the NUS’s Black students or academics with the Nikhil Gomes, co-ordinator Students’ Officer, said that surname White. of GEEMA (Group to “When I went to Cambridge Last year’s admissions statistics, Encourage Ethnic Minority from a working class background which were revealed this week, Applications) said that the prob- it was a complete culture shock. show that only 1.4% of students lem with attracting black stu- Black students can often feel iso- who applied to Cambridge were dents to Cambridge lies in the lated”. The BBC documentary black. This is less than a third of perceptions of the University Black Ambition, which followed a the national average, and margin- both nationally and internation- number of black Cambridge stu- ally lower than Oxford. Black ally: “If you come from a back- dents, attempted to show a dif- students who were interviewed ground where there is not a great ferent story. A university were less than half as likely to get deal of knowledge surrounding spokesperson said the program in as white students. the Cambridge admissions sys- did “a great service for the uni- The University does not in tem, then obviously Cambridge versity, by bringing to light the fact know the full number of can be quite daunting. GEEMA flourishing diversity of our black students who apply to continues to run outreach and undergraduate student body.” On the move: a view from inside Cambridge’s black community - Interview with BAC, page 7. Cambridge, because the right to access work, and over the last few Opinions within Cambridge Comment, Chine Mbuaegbu, page 7. How to fill a black hole, Editorial, page 11 anonymity under data protection years has concentrated on stu- seem to be positive. A recent legislation means some appli- dents as young as Year 9.” survey by this newspaper found cants do not disclose their eth- The new focus on younger that over 80% of students felt nicity. The University’s confi- pupils is likely to go some way that there was no ethnic preju- dential figures suggest that there towards pacifying figures like dice in Cambridge. A separate Fresh attack on A-Level policy are at least 88 black undergradu- David Lammy, the black MP for survey of interview candidates Oliver Tilley believe there is any need to retain admissions burden, with a greater ates – two more than there were Tottenham, who said “Your inves- also revealed that students from the old terminology of A-levels provision for stretching the two years ago. tigation confirms that both ethnic minorities showed no dis- THE UNIVERSITY has issued and GCSEs in a new educational brightest students and the ability Dr Geoff Parks, Director of Oxbridge and other Russell cernible difference to white can- a statement criticising the govern- era and are still hopeful that the to view individual module scores Admissions for the Cambridge Group universities have to con- didates in their assessment of the ment’s decision not to scrap the Government will reconsider the of each candidate’s A-levels. Colleges, said “Given these fig- tinue to do more to ensure that interview process. A-level and GCSE after it pub- introduction of a single diploma But the government’s senior ures, it’s difficult to say that things they know the names of head- New Statesman columnist lished a white paper on 14-19 when it revisits this issue in 2008.” education advisor, Sir Mike are moving in the right direction. teachers of inner city schools in Darcus Howe told Varsity yester- year old education on Wednesday. The government’s white paper Tomlinson, disapproved of the They make us realise that, even areas like Tottenham, Lambeth, day that “In a recent experience in The critique comes after the outlined significant reform in government’s plans. Tomlinson, though we’re putting in a lot of Peckham and Brixton. They Trinidad, an extremely bright publication on Monday of secondary education, including whose proposed blueprint rec- effort already, there is much more must work together to ensure that young woman, having been Cambridge’s admissions statistics plans to introduce an overarching ommended an obligatory yet to do.” their pupils are prepared to apply, advised by me to apply to for 2004, which revealed that the ‘diploma’ for students at age 14 diploma for all 14-19 year olds, Parks also pointed to the and that on application they are Oxbridge, reacted as though I was University had to reject close to and building 200 vocationally led said “What is proposed yet broader national perspective. “It is well positioned to get in.” mad – that it was humanly 5,300 straight-A applicants. Dr. schools and 12 skills academies. again risks emphasising the becoming increasingly apparent CUSU President Wes impossible for a black person to Geoff Parks, Director of But it did not advocate the aboli- distinction between the voca- that in addition to ‘evangelising’ – Streeting also emphasised the get in unless they were from a cer- Admissions at Cambridge, said tion of A-Levels. tional and the academic.” encouraging students from national nature of the problem. tain social caste. Cambridge is out “The University was very much in Cambridge continues to rise in Cambridge’s admissions statis- under-represented groups to con- “The current situation facing of our reach as black people, not favour of the Tomlinson propos- popularity, with a 7.2% increase tics also showed an increase in sider Cambridge – there are many black students in the UK marks a academically but socially.” als, so we are naturally disappoint- in applications in 2004 combined female intake, from 48% in 2003 instances where we need to sup- complete failure; not of theirs, ed that the government has cho- with a 4.1% decrease in accept- to 52% in 2004, while the number port their schools in helping them but of the education system, - Analysis: page 7 sen not to implement them in ances. Many of the government’s of acceptances from the grant- fulfil their potential. That’s why which lets them down year on - Editorial: page 11 full.” He added: “We do not proposals will ease this obvious maintained sector increased by 1%. HIGH HORSES PAGE 5 LOOKING SHARP PAGE 8 COLLAGE CULTURE PAGE 12 PURLS OF WISDOM PAGE 17 INVENTING GOD PAGE 19 CHICKEN COUP PAGE 21 LAW OF THE LAING PAGE 24 MEAN MACHINE PAGE 26 2 NEWS February 25, 2005 www.varsity.co.uk News in Brief NUS anti visa hike campaign Oxford Snobbery wer Oxford University has found e Ma its admissions procedures under fire once again after Clair the leak of internal guide- lines suggesting that tutors give preference to postgradu- ate applicants from ‘presti- gious’ universities rather than ‘weak’ or ‘second-rate’ ones. The head of an organi- sation representing universi- ties established after 1992 stated that the document ‘reeked of snobbery’. Fatal Cure A Swedish research assistant living in Cambridge died after swallowing a cocktail of prescribed drugs and paracetamol in an attempt to alleviate her hangover. The substances combined with CUSU President Wes Streeting leads a student protest in London against the government’s recent decision to increase visa charges for oversea’s students. the alcohol present in her bloodstream to fatal effect. Anna McIlreavy the government’s recent deci- protests like this have a good want the government to think ties, which would not only cre- The inquest recorded a ver- sion to increase charges for chance of getting real results. hard about these charges for ate a large hole in the income dict of misadventure. CUSU PRESIDENT Wes visa extensions. Although the government have international students.” of such institutions, but more Streeting led a demonstration Students from Cambridge, released the increase in visa She told the Minister of importantly detract from the in London on Wednesday Liverpool and Warwick attended extensions for overseas stu- State Des Browne that there aim to attract the intellectual Winehouse in against the government’s recent the event, which has been herald- dents de facto, it is subject to were many students in her con- elite from all over the world, Doghouse decision to increase visa charges ed as a resounding success. annual review. This system stituency who would find without financial bias. for overseas students. Streeting called the lobby “huge- means that consistent pressure themselves badly out of pocket Overseas students are The tsunami fundraiser con- Streeting led fellow students ly successful” and commented on from students, and support under the new arrangements. becoming increasingly wary of cert which was to be held at in a campaign organised by Anne Campbell’s support. from MPs such as Anne She also pointed out to the being packaged as a financial the Junction on Wednesday the NUS outside the Home The student campaigners hit Campbell, could lead to minister that the move does not commodity.