Only Half Back Reading Week
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he Independent Student Newspaper Number 787 Friday 30th January 2015 Published in Cambridge since 1947 www.varsity.co.uk 5 Election proile12 Interview: Finkelstein 27 heatre 28 Reviews Only half back reading week » 47 per cent of students either ‘undecided’, ‘don’t know’ or oppose a reading week » Majority unsure whether CDE’s overall impact in Cambridge positive or negative ANDREW CONNELL Eleanor Deeley Helen Hoogewerf McComb argued Some, however, have another con- to me that there are few alternatives concern about the impact of the addi- Senior News Editor that a reading week would increase the cern. Second year James Sutton told which would have a genuine impact in tional costs for students that proposed quality of work submitted and would the same way that a proposed reading changes to term length could entail. halt the University from “rewarding week would.” Trinity College Student CDE are seeking to ensure that Only half of Cambridge students are the ability to work without sleep”. Union has oicially given its support a nine-week term would not result in favour of nine-week terms, with a She told Varsity: “It seems that a to the campaign, with many other in inancial hardship for students reading week in week ive, according majority of students do support the 53% JCRs and MCRs in the progress of dis- through consultation with individual to a Varsity survey. idea of a reading week and that many Students in favour of introducing cussing oicial ailiation. colleges and the university-wide bur- 35 per cent of students were against more might be in favour of the change, a reading week Despite the weak level of overall sup- sary scheme. However, the 281 par- the measure, while a further 12 per should key concerns be addressed. port revealed in the survey, planning is ticipants in Varsity’s survey revealed cent indicated that they did not know CUSU will be consulting with students Varsity: “I ind it indicative of the underway to develop the movement. a widespread ambivalence over CDE’s or were undecided. to identify these concerns and develop general problem that it is CDE, and CDE are preparing to launch a pe- overall impact; 53 per cent said they 53 per cent of students voted in a plan for the introduction of reading not CUSU, who are spearheading the tition outlining their proposals to the were either undecided or didn’t know support of a change in term length, weeks, which would address as many campaign.” university, with an accompanying FAQ as to whether CDE’s impact has been and 59 per cent “broadly agree” with of them as possible. #endweek5blues has cited mental for all potential signatories. CUSU largely positive or negative, and a fur- Cambridge Defend Education’s (CDE) “Expect to hear a lot more from us health and general student wellbeing have agreed to help design and pro- ther 14 per cent thought CDE’s impact #endweek5blues campaign, started at on this issue over the coming terms.” as driving factors behind the burgeon- mote the petition. CDE intend to hand had been negative. the beginning of this term. he cam- In response to this move by the ing movement. Outgoing Trinity JCR it to an oicial university representa- Only 33 per cent voted positively. paign to introduce a reading week has representatives of the student body, President homas Hughes-Mclure tive during a rally planned for the end his has been relected in the mixed also been backed by a vote in CUSU 54 per cent of those polled agreed told Varsity: “A reading week would of week 5 this term. attitudes regarding proposed protest Council. Speaking at the irst Council with CUSU’s decision to back meaningfully reduce stress without di- At CDE’s open meeting on Monday action. meeting of Lent term, CUSU President #endweek5blues. luting the Cambridge degree. It seems 26th January, members expressed Continued on page 3 2 Friday 30th January 2015 Editorial A campaign too many? Whose University? he question has been at the Why, then, do only a narrow majority of As a collegiate university, a Cambridge-wide stu- forefront of student debate recently. A Varsity Cambridge students support it? dent union will always have to do more to en- survey, however, reveals a surprising indiference gage its students. However, this does not mean to the issue. Only 53 per cent of students are in he rise of organisations like Whose University? we should give up. We need a more integrated favour of a reading week, a campaign launched by seeking to reclaim Cambridge as a space for stu- central union, that works with JCRs (including CDE, backed by CUSU and with which WU? has dents and compile student testimonies is not only those that are disailiated) and advocates on stu- expressed solidarity – too many acronyms yet? a reaction to a university that won’t listen: it is a dents’ behalves, something other campaigns are reaction to a student voice that isn’t being articu- taking on in its absence. What we have instead he #endweek5blues Facebook page exclaims: lated. he issues WU? and CDE draw attention is a body with both little relevance to students “Enough is enough. We’re demanding a reading to – feeling safe in college spaces, putting student on a collegiate level and that doesn’t represent week.” But with 12 per cent of students unde- welfare at the forefront of university planning, a our collective interests to the university. A body cided or not knowing whether they support the reading week – fall exactly within the remit of which hasn’t even put the minutes for its reading measure, and a further 35 per cent opposing, this what a student union should be doing: represent- week open meeting online as this editorial goes ‘demand’ is less overwhelming than such a call to ing student interests on a university-wide scale. to press, despite it being three weeks into term. arms implies. Instead, the student voice is blurred: #endweek- A reading week is an important measure, and the And yet Varsity must come down with the 53 per 5blues, CDE, CUSU, WU?, TCS. 53 per cent of work of student campaigns like WU? and CDE is cent. A reading week is the most logical way to those surveyed were unsure whether CDE’s im- also important. It is unfortunate, however, that organise academic learning; Manchester, Bristol, pact was positive or negative. In this complicated these campaigns would be much more likely to UCL and many other top universities use them, patchwork of organisations, it’s no wonder that gain support and ultimately succeed if they were in addition to much longer terms – this is not half of students felt they couldn’t rally behind the being led by an engaging, convincing student un- EDITORIAL revolutionary. campaign – who do they rally behind? ion. Whose University? It’s certainly not CUSU’s. NEWS Inside CUCA Varsity Writers’ Meeting Sarah Sheards asks whether this age-old breeding ground for modern conservatism has lost its fangs (page 4) INTERVIEW Come along on Monday 2nd Norman Finklestein February at 6.30pm to the Dr Finklestein questions whether anti-semitism still exists in Europe, in conversation with Joe Robinson (page 12) Varsity ofices if you’re inter- COMMENT On election fever ested in writing for us Millie Brierley scientiically proves that Nick Clegg will spontaneously combust in just 97 days (page 15) CULTURE Contact [email protected] he Oscars & diversity for more information Naomi Eva Obeng questions representation, the Academy and what we can do about it (page 19) FEATURES It’s a basic struggle Lucy Roxburgh says goodbye to M&S and hello to the Tune in to Radio Varsity Sainsbury’s Basics Range, for a whole week (page 23) THEATRE Sunday 6pm Show must come out Will Heilpern and Alex Rice on this week’s Richard Skipper explores LGBT+ issues in the Cambridge theatre scene (page 26) Varsity and more E Talia Zybutz @.. D E Tom Freeman @.. B M Mark Curtis @.. O D Joe Whitwell P D E Sareeka Linton, Sanjukta Sen, Phoebe Stone, Daniella Mae Brisco-Peaple, Harry Stockwell @.. N E Eleanor Deeley (Senior), Till Schöfer & Richard Nicholl (Deputy) @.. N F I E Sarah Sheard @.. C E Tess Davidson & Georgia Turner @.. S E Harry Taylor @. E Elissa Foord & Leo Sands @.. C E Will Hutton & Ciara Nugent @.. T E Marthe Ogg de Ferrer & Gabriella Jeakins (Deputy) @.. F E Livs Galvin & Gayathiri Kamalakanthan @.. R E Matilda Ettedgui @.. S E Peter Rutzler @.. I E Ellie Olcott @.. O E Alex Izza & James Sutton V R Will Helipurn & Alex Rice @.. C S E Eliza Jones P Jess Franklin, Jonny Rowlands, Harriet Wakeman & Daniel Zhang @.. I Sophia Buck, Meggie Fairclough, Ben Waters, Hannah Taylor, Suraj Makwana, Chris Roebuck @.. V B Dr Michael Franklin (Chairman), Prof. Peter Robinson, Dr Tim Harris, Chris Wright, Michael Derringer, Michael Curtis (VarSoc President), Chloe Stopa-Hunt (he Mays), Amy Hawkins, Talia Zybutz NEWSPAPERS SUPPORT Varsity, Old Examination Hall, Free School Lane, Cambridge CB2 3RF. Tel 01223 337575. Fax 01223 760949. Varsity is published by Varsity Publications Ltd. Varsity Publications also publishes the Mays. RECYCLING Recycled paper made ©2015 Varsity Publications Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission of the publisher. up 78.9% of the raw material for UK Printed at Iliffe Print Cambridge — Winship Road, Milton, Cambridge CB24 6PP on 42.5gsm newsprint. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office.