The Independent Cambridge Student Newspaper 25th February 2011 Issue No. 737 ESTD 1947 A room worth a few: uncovering the disparities in Cambridge rents (cont p.3) MICHAEL DERRINGER OPINION Is the Kindle the new book, or just a flash in the pan? p6 CULTURE Rose-tinted spotlights light up this week’s fashion A libel without a cause University donor Dmitry Firtash, who brought a libel case to British courts p11 on account of his connections with Cambridge, has had his case struck out ANDREW GRIFFIN Cambridge formed a significant part of and numerous proponents; Stephen English PEN, said: “This is obviously deputy news editor Firtash’s lawyers’ argument, Varsity was Fry and Simon Singh of libel reform good news for free speech, but the libel told. The defence, on behalf of the Kyiv tweeted Varsity’s article covering the chill still remains. Dmitry Firtash, a prominent benefac- Post, argued that this would set a dis- proceedings. “This phenomena of libel tourism tor of the University of Cambridge, turbing precedent, whereby one could It was seen as a demonstration of is a form of legal harassment, which who attempted to use his donations buy UK court hearings with university the possibilities and problems of libel discourages responsible investigative to engage in ‘libel tourism’, had donations. law in the UK, which is thought to give journalists from speaking the truth to his case thrown out of UK courts Master John Leslie, who presided undue power to litigants. ‘Libel tourists’ [those in] power.” yesterday. over the case, said that it was “almost” exploit this by bringing cases through The judge did allow for an appeal of Firtash, a Ukrainian billionaire, had was an abuse of process. English courts that would not usually be the libel action, which was brought by attempted to sue the Ukrainian Kyiv The lawsuit concerned the Kyiv Post’s heard elsewhere. Firtash against Public Media, publish- Post for libel. As Varsity reported last publication of an article online about The editor of the Kyiv Post, Brian ers of the Kyiv Post. month, Firtash’s solicitor attempted Ukraine’s natural gas sector in which Bonner, said that he was “very pleased” As a result, the newspaper has not to justify bringing the case to English Mr Firtash, through his company the with the ruling, and hoped that it would lifted its block on traffic from the UK, SPORT courts by citing his donations to the GDF group, is financially involved. give impetus to libel law changes that which has been in place since 14th University’s Department of Slavonic Following the publication of the arti- would “strengthen free speech and curb December 2010, in protest at “dra- The netball girls Studies, which fund the Cambridge cle, Firtash issued libel proceedings in the practice of ‘libel tourism’ in the conian libel laws there that hinder Ukrainian Studies programme, as well London against the Kyiv Post. In order UK”. legitimate free speech and threaten wing their way to as the fact that he had once dined with to justify their being heard in England, He said that the Kyiv Post had the work of independent journal- victory the Queen. Firtash’s solicitor claimed that Firtash “repeated [their] offer to Dmitry ists, authors, scientists and others Master Leslie, at the Royal Courts of was a “prominent businessman who Firtash to tell his side of the story or worldwide”. Justice, said that Mr Firtash’s connec- lives in Ukraine but also enjoys a repu- tell [them] what is wrong with the arti- The paper said that it would wait tions with the UK were “tenuous in the tation in the UK”. cle in question”, but had not received to see if the ruling was appealed by extreme”. The case was of significant inter- a response. Firtash’s lawyers before removing the p16 The donations to the University of est to numerous libel reform groups, Jonathan Heawood, the director of block. Win a stay at The Varsity Hotel and a month’s 08 > membership at the Glassworks Spa and Gym 9 771758 444002 Go to www.varsity.co.uk/competition to find out more Comments to make? [email protected] 18th February 2011 2 Old Examination Hall, Free School Lane, Cambridge, CB2 3RF Telephone 01223 337575 Fax 01223 760949 ESTD 1947 Issue No. 736 www.varsity.co.uk EDITORIAL DIGITAL DIGEST VULTURE Radiohead’s the King of Limbs: ver the years, there mere body parts. have been many reports in Varsity and other publications in Dan Brooks listens to Radiohead’s Cambridge on the eighth studio album The King of Ostatus of women within the Univer- Limbs and concludes that “It is not sity. Looking back at the archives great.” Dare to disagree? you can fi nd anything from “Now King’s agrees to take women” to “Women’s Campaign blasts Union sexism”. EMAILS, LETTERS & TWEETS VETEMENTS We have clearly come a long way Undercover at London Fashion since the fi rst headline, from 1969, ANIMAL INSTINCTS SEX EDUCATION, EDUCATION, Week and huge leaps since the fi rst female EDUCATION Colleges, Girton and Newnham, Dear Editors, were established in 1869 and 1872 What exactly is the point being made in Clare Dear Editors, Our London Fashion Week correspon- respectively. This term, after all, we Mohan’s article. That stereotypes exist? That Sex education from a young age is very dent goes undercover at a Pam Hogg fi nd ourselves in the unusual situa- they’re not always accurate? Oh my god, benefi cial and sex will always be a learning show and witnesses a crying Daisy tion of having women at the helm thank heavens we have the fi nest Cambridge experience full of mistakes. Even in a porn Lowe and more of all three major newspapers and minds on the case, coming up with such earth free world. having a female president of the shattering pronouncements and radically chal- Sarah Wooley Union. lenging opinions! Male/female stereotypes via website Cambridge still fosters, however, exist because of sex. Notice the things you a pervasive ‘lads’ atmosphere prob- mentioned are the things most attractive to JUMPING THE GUN? VERIFIED Climate Change Explained ably best exampled by Kat Gri th’s the opposite sex in (most) straight relation- RAG Blind Date (see www.varsity. ships. Feminine women are seen as more Dear Editors, STILL not convinced about climate co.uk/opinion/3225). Yes, it began attractive. Masculine men are seen as more I write to question the validity of damning change and want to see the data for as a joke, but it was the kind of attractive.* This isn’t something disturbing comments made in last week’s article, entitled yourself ? Our blogger breaks it down. joke that could only have arisen or outdated. This is biologically founded, and ‘Stingy Students Dodge Donation’, regard- out of one kind of mentality. More plenty has been written on the subject - we ing students opting in/out of the Collective worryingly, that it was done at all are animals fi rst and last, something which Charitable Donation, currently enjoying its and that the writer went on said so many non scientists seem happy to ignore. inaugural year. date suggests that he was not per- And since sex is the most important biological Firstly, it was made clear in the previous turbed by what he had written and imperative which impinges on others (breath- week’s Varsity that many May Ball Commit- assumed that it would be accepted ing, eating and weeing are less about social tees would struggle to take part this year due VARSITECH as ‘banter’. interaction in general. Certainly less than sex to the delayed formation of the idea. However, Bridging the digital divide We can only admire Kat for is), naturally it will defi ne us outside of the it was quite rightly emphasised that next making a point of this kind of bedroom too - the reason we think about sex year the ‘charitable pot’ will be signifi cantly Is the internet a basic human right? 5 behaviour. Too often it goes unsaid so much is that it is so important.Since a lot greater as more Committees will be able to billion people worldwide are currently and unnoticed, accepted as the of what constitutes society is about curbing contribute and a chosen charity for next year left out of a thriving global conversa- usual run of student life here in our animal behaviour, there are in fact a lot of has already been unveiled. As Chair of the tion - here are some of the ways this Cambridge. It is not to suggest that laws in place to mitigate stereotyping, you’ll King’s A air this year, I fi nd it astounding gap is being bridged. we should only ever see gender rela- no doubt be shocked to learn. *(Of course this that this article has been produced before one tions in a dour light or not see the is refl ected in the gay world - why do butch of the few Colleges, in a position to make a potential of a funny side. But this lesbians and very e eminate gay men exist do considerable donation this year, has even was a joke too far. When there is a you think?) begun selling tickets? Only an informed con- recurrence of sexual attacks, as there Guido Martin-Brandis clusion can be drawn regarding the ‘stinginess has been around the Newnham via website of students’ once ALL the tickets of ALL the YOU, THE COMMENTATOR area this week, we are once again participating June Events/May Balls have A pick of the week’s comments from the website reminded that to be a woman is still LAMPOON been sold.