YUSU Silences Media Following Threat of Lawsuit

Nominated for Five Guardian Student Media Awards Autumn Term Week Seven Tuesday 20 November 07 www.nouse.co.uk NOUSE Est. 1964 ‘I expected to trawl through holiday snaps and the same old sunset. I was wrong’ Photo competition M10 - 11 YUSU silences media following threat of lawsuit Raf Sanchez Societies and Communi - that he would take legal EDITOR cations Officer Sam Bayley action should defamatory said: “YUSU has decided statements about him that until the end of this appear in the student media. A MEMBER of University term, when the situation will The University recognises staff is threatening legal be reviewed, it is too much of the right of any individual to action against YUSU for a risk to the Union to print seek legal redress in those alleged defamation and stories regarding the staff circumstances.” harassment by the student member. On October 26 Bayley media dating back over the “With legal action being emailed all student media past several years. YUSU has considered, and a well docu- organisations declaring “an invoked the most serious mented case already in exis- indefinite media embargo” articles of its Media Charter tence, we feel it would be on any stories relating to the to pr event Nouse from unwise to inflame the situa- staff member. In the email reporting o n the situation, tion by identifying the indi- Bayley said: “We are getting for fear of provoking the vidual concerned.” rather concerned here that individual further. The staff member [the staff member] is The staff member con- refused to comment on the preparing a legal case for tacted YUSU Service and situation, saying that he continuing harassment due Finance Officer Matt Burton would only speak through to the number of mentions in mid-October to inform the University Press Office. about him in the newspapers the union that he was con- He is rumoured to have built over the past few years.” In sidering legal action. Burton up a dossier documenting York Vision’s November 6 said the staff member the student media’s coverage edition no mention was claimed the University, obli- of his actions for the past made of the situation. gated by a duty of care to him several years. Concerns have been as his employee, had agreed The University con- raised that if the situation to support his case if he did firmed that the staff member does escalate into a court decide to sue. had contacted YUSU but case in which YUSU is facing The call to the Union would neither confirm nor a lawsuit from a member of GEORGE LOWTHER came days after Nouse con- deny the claim that the University staff it could have tacted the University with University would support a damaging effect on the regards to allegations made him in a potential legal University's public image. against the individual by action against the student Garner said he would not other members of staff. union. comment on "a purely hypo- In a formal letter to A University spokesper- thetical situation". Nouse explaining the deci- son said: “[The staff mem- sion to pull the story YUSU ber] has indicated to YUSU COMMENT >> Page 11 Victory for NUS >> Pages 4-5 BNP hit back against York enters world’s Which wine? Rowers begin season YUSU condemnation top 100 universities Nouse’s resident wine campaign with victory The BNP has described the deci- The University of York has been expert finds out if it’s York University Boat Club began sion to condemn the Oxford Union ranked the 74th best university in possible to drink good new Head racing season with coxed Deba ting Society “farcical”. YUSU the world according to a new table fours win in their division at the Racial Equality Officers have crit- compiled by the Times Higher wine on a budget, and annual York Small Boats contest. icsed Oxford Union’s decision to Education Supplement. York has discovers that expensive Novice women achieved ‘senior invite BNP leader Nick Griffin and climbed over 50 places from its level’ time in their first race togeth- David Irving to a debate. previous position of 124. bottles don’t always hold er in a coxed four, but novice men the best tipple. NEWS >> Page 2 NEWS >> Page 9 were unable to compete. COMMENT >> Page 10 COMMENT >> Page 11 MUSE >> M6 - 7 SPORTS >> Page 17 NOUSE :THE UNIVERSITY OF YORK STUDENT NEWSPAPER 2 News Tuesday November 20 2007 Student attacked Debate condemnation sparks outside nightclub A University of York student required hospital treatment follow- a hostile reaction from BNP ing a violent assault outside Toffs nightclub last month. Matt Thomas, a first-year Politics and Economics student, was returning to James Henry James Foy College when he was confronted by a NEWS EDITOR man in his 20s who punched him and, when he fell to the ground, kicked him repeatedly in the head. YUSU HAS CHOSEN to sup- The attack appears to have been port the NUS in its condemna- unprovoked and follows a series of tion of the Oxford Union violent incidents that have occurred Debating Society’s invitations to recently in the vicinity of the club. British National Party leader The police were contacted but, Nick Griffin and discredited his- despite CCTV footage, were doubtful torian David Irving. The deci- they would catch the perpetrator. sion was met with strong criticism from the BNP, who described the affair as “farcical”. Fake event posters The Oxford Union Debating leave NGS perplexed Society, famed for its controversial speakers such as disgraced The New Generation Society (NGS) former US President Richard has said it has “no knowledge” of the Nixon and political activist posters put up on campus bearing its Malcolm X, has invited Griffin logo and advertising an event with and Irving to its ‘Freedom of controversial Oxford eugenicist Chris Speech’ debate on November 26. Brand. The event, entitled The NUS swiftly condemned the ‘Engineering the New Generation: announcement and encouraged Eugenics and the Society of the affiliated unions to follow suit. Future’, is billed for P/X001 on BNP Press Officer Simon Wednesday, November 21. NGS Darby said: “Who do these small Chair Amy Cummings said: “The unrepresentative student unions NGS does not endorse any event think they are to tell other stu- held on the 21st of November” but dents who they can and cannot would not speculate on who put the listen to? It’s ridiculous. To posters up. No events are booked for accuse us of being fascist and P/X001 at the time given. then prevent a political party from speaking is pretty ironic. In a free country you can’t stop James College alert somebody’s opinion.” YUSU Racial Equality after intruder scare Officer Michael Batula defended the decision to write to Oxford An email was sent to James College Union denouncing its choice of residents warning of an intruder who speakers. He said: “I have noth- Nick Griffin (right) and David Irving are set to speak in Oxford on 26 November tried to enter a college office but fled ing against freedom of speech”. after being challenged by a member Their letter describes the BNP our idea. Then we sought backing and claims “whenever the BNP is coverage of the controversy. He of staff. The police were contacted and have said that a man fitting the as “a scourge on the contempo- from YUSU Senate to get the sup- active in an area the number of reiterates that the debate is to description was wanted for question- rary, progressive, multicultural port of the whole University. It is racist attacks increases.” “challenge and attack their views ing. The wanted man, known as British society”, and claims that signed by the two of us, and was Darby dimissed the accusa- in a head to head manner.” “Junior Bradshaw”, is a con artist and they “openly voice anachronistic sent on behalf of YUSU, but we tion, and said that the NUS has an The coverage and criticism petty thief. Bradshaw is described as and racist ideology.” It also calls would have written it on our own inherent problem with the party. has, as yet, had no impact on a 5 feet 7 inches tall, 18-20 year old Irving, who was recently impris- behalf anyway. It was good to have “It’s like a Pavlovian response from Oxford Union’s decision to invite black male. Police suspect he has oned in Austria for Holocaust the backing of the Union; it’s the NUS – as soon as they hear the speakers. Darby said Griffin friends at James College and may be denial, and Griffin “obsolescent, strength in numbers.” BNP, they react. It’s a psychologi- still plans to attend the debate. living on campus. Neil Lunt, James bigoted, racist fascists.” The NUS also issued their own cal illness,” he said. He said: “We’re still unaware of College Provost, urged students to Batula and co-officer statement: “Freedom of speech is According to Batula, around whether the invitation is still report any suspicious behaviour. Ishmael Norris were initially often cited as a reason to afford a 25 students’ unions have written to open. If it is, then Nick will cer- asked by the NUS to sign a peti- platform to racists and fascists.” It criticise the Oxford Union. The tainly go.” tion against the invitations. The also states that: “Our primary con- society’s President, Luke Tryl, Reporting by Peter Saul and letter, says Batula, “was purely cern is the safety of our members” issued a letter in response to press COMMENT >> P10 Jonathan Fransman Who’s November 20 2007 MANAGING DIRECTOR ARTS EDITOR SPORTS EDITORS In this edition www.NOUSE.co.uk NOUSE Chris Cowan Helen Citron Criss Noice Matthew Jeynes Grimston House (V/X/010) CHIEF SUBEDITOR ARTS DEPUTY Sarah Foster Sarah-Jane Silvester SPORTS DEPUTY News 1-9 Vanbrugh College

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