Cambridge's Racy Side

Friday The Independent February 13, 2004 Cambridge Student Issue 595 Newspaper since www.varsity.co.uk 1947 The Sex Issue Cambridge’s racy side: getting hot under the gown Bryan Coll Following the national trend for “sexing dancing classes in the near future. “art - just the same as ballet, tap or any up”, growing numbers of students are now The move has, however, caused contro- other kind of dance”. She was, however, looking to shake their booty on stage as a versy among those who fear pole-dancing unable to contest the fact that pole-danc- As Valentine’s approaches, Varsity has found pole-dancing craze sweeps the university. may be too raunchy for Cambridge. Ex- ing is very sexy: “Cambridge is definitely conclusive evidence that Cambridge is sexier One pole-dancing lobbying group, calling CUSU President turned Cocos impres- getting sexier and pole-dancing is just a than ever. With Ann Summers opening a themselves “The Fellowship of the Pole” sario Paul Lewis made clear he would part of this… People are definitely more store in the city last week, sex toys appearing have been campaigning for recognition by veto any moves to make pole-dancing a up for it now”. in pub vending machines and pole dancing local clubs. The group is keen to perform in feature of his Licked night “for all sorts of Last week, a new Ann Summers store lessons set to arrive in Cocos, Cambridge is all of the major Cambridge clubs and have reasons”. Yet, Nadia Messaoud (see pic- opened in Lion’s Yard. There are now more losing its stuffy image. More and more stu- contacted Cindies and Cocos about appear- ture), a keen pole-dancer, denied that she lingerie shops than sationery shops in dents, it seems, are looking to add some tit- ing on a more regular basis. Cocos have was sliding down the slippery pole to Cambridge. Company spokesperson... illation to their Tripos. agreed in principle to start daytime pole- sleaziness. In her eyes pole dancing was an continued on page 3 Alex Mair The region’s best guide to what’s on – see next Thursday’s Cambridge Evening News NEWS 02 Feb 13, 2004 www.varsity.co.uk Cambridge dons to strike in pay row Lectures, supervisions and essays all to be affected by nationwide industrial action by AUT Archie Bland of the union who abide by the deci- term funding.’ which has been fiercely argued for the ballot, which favoured strike sion will be expected to strike for two Undergraduates were similarly upwards of two years, and covers a action by two thirds to one. But days in a fortnight’s time. They will ambivalent. One second year range of complex issues, finally came to UCEA claimed that 95% of staff in Cambridge faces a strike by teaching refuse to give lectures or supervi- English student told Varsity that a head in December 2003, when the higher education were opposed to a staff in the near future after the uni- sions. Also, for a longer period of up ‘though it’s fair enough for academ- AUT declared themselves ‘in dispute’ – strike, and pointed out that other versity lecturers’ union voted to take to a week, all ‘assessment activity’, ics to strike, I don’t think I know a necessary precursor to strike action – unions were still in negotiation. industrial action yesterday. Nick including the marking of essays, will enough about the issues to get and were asked to leave negotiations by They urged those striking to ‘rethink Savage, the Cambridge branch sec- come to a halt. involved myself ’; a first year land the University and Colleges Employers and look for a constructive solution – retary of the Association of The National Union of Students economist acknowledged that the Association (UCEA). one that does not aim to disrupt stu- University Teachers, told Varsity has supported the strike, and urged its lecturers had a right to take industri- 54% of their membership voted in dents’ education’. that the decision was a reaction to al action, but said he ‘didn’t feel it ‘the biggest change to staff’s pay and UCEA claimed that 95% of was an issue worth being personally conditions in a generation’. staff in Higher Education involved in’. Reacting to the news yesterday, were oppposed to a strike When contacted, the university chive Savage called the decision a sign of press office refused to comment, say- “how angry our members are with ing it has no position on the matter. the employers offer and how deter- members to boycott lectures and take The university does not acknowledge arsity Ar mined they are to get a better deal.” further ‘disruptive action’; however, the AUT, which is the principal union V However, he could not be sure how CUSU president Ben Brinded for higher education staff at ‘old’ uni- many university academics would remained non-committal, telling versities, as a legitimate union. This strike. The AUT, which represents Varsity that the decision to boycott inevitably raises questions of how academics and support staff in uni- lectures was ‘a choice that students striking dons will be treated if they fail versities across the UK, has 47 000 should make for themselves, and to teach. Cambridge does not use members. which we won’t force upon them.’ But national pay scales, and the university If the strike gets approval from the he also commended AUT for not has said that only ‘endowments and AUT’s executive today, which is said ‘accepting the carrot of a small rise to relatively low salaries have allowed to be a formality given their advoca- endorse top up fees when such fees Cambridge to maintain quality so far.’ cy of the move, Cambridge members couldn’t provide the necessary long- The long-running pay dispute, Deadline looming for supervisions The future of the supervision system at Cambridge is in doubt after rumours of radical change Sarah Marsh more financially viable teaching and tures and small seminars. In certain there is little consensus on how this voked the current enquiries into super- that Oxbridge increase the propor- subjects at Cambridge, such as is to be achieved. vision standards. At their best supervi- tion of graduates and research stu- English and Economics, teaching in The secretary of the Senior Tutor’s sions were seen to bring students to According to CUSU Academic dents. Cambridge and Oxford have small groups is already superseding Committee, Mr. Jobling, revealed to their full potential, providing an Affairs officer, Jessica Childs, the long faced criticism over their the traditional supervision. Vice- Varsity that Cambridge should follow intensive and focused teaching session. university is currently at “a major archaic institutions and rising debt. Chancellor Alison Richard recog- the example set by American universi- Yet the intimacy of supervisions makes crossroads” regarding teaching The value of the expensive supervi- nizes that supervisions are a unique ties that “rely heavily on outside fund- it essential for supervisors and students methods. This comes as the Senior sion system is being questioned and advantage of studying at ing such as private benefactors and to forge understanding and comfort- Tutor’s Committee prepares to make possible alternatives considered. Cambridge. The university consis- corporate sponsorship”. able relationships. decisions that will determine the The parliamentary decision in 1997 tently achieves excellent ratings in Whether or not such measures are CUSU has launched an extensive academic direction of Cambridge to progressively phase out the extra external quality assurances conduct- implicated depends almost entirely online survey in order to specifically over the next twenty years. college fees paid to Oxbridge is ed for the HECFE (Higher on individual colleges. Each college locate the strengths and weaknesses Rumours of radical changes are partly responsible for foregrounding Education Funding Council for receives a proportionate sum from of the supervision system. Childs rife after the success of the Higher these issues. England). However, even if the stu- the university, but is left to allocate protested that they were not using Education Bill. These include the Other leading universities main- dent and governing body are in this autonomously, and priorities this survey as “a bashing exercise on possibility that the tutorial system tain high standards of teaching agreement as to the importance of vary between colleges. Although the university” but rather want to use may be abandoned in favour of through a combination of small lec- upholding the supervision system, King’s students, for example, may be the feedback – available online at the confronted with rent rises, the col- end of term – to take proactive steps lege is very generous in providing such as encouraging supervisor- chive extra tuition. On the other hand, training programs. colleges such as Trinity are simply Although the staff-development better endowed. It is arguable department and disability resource whether or not these discrepancies centre provide intensive training ses- arsity Ar V are harmful to equitable education sions, they are not presently compul- within the university. sory and participation is dependant Jessica Childs maintains that one of CUSU’s main goals is to make super- Supervisions will “die a natu- vision standards equal across the university and ensure supervisions are ral death” according to a suited to all. She proposes a financial King’s supervisor.“It is a sad but also “personal and academic” day for Cambridge.” reassessment of Cambridge teaching. Over the past fifty years, huge changes on college commitment. Needless to have taken place with the increased say, participation in these schemes admission of women, state school stu- varies greatly from college to college. dents and ethnic minorities to As Cambridge’s 800th anniversary Cambridge.

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