ROSES VICTORY See Our Special Pull-Out for Match Reports, Statistics and Exclusive Photographs Are We a Racist University?
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Nominated for Guardian and NUS Student Newspaper of the Year 2006 Summer Term Week Three Tuesday 08 May 07 www.nouse.co.uk NOUSE Est. 1964 ROSES VICTORY See our special pull-out for match reports, statistics and exclusive photographs Are we a racist university? Cantor speaks out about the importance of racial integration and tolerance at York 49% of foreign students say they feel excluded, while 30% have experienced racism By Heidi Blake the University and in York. are involved in extra-curricular ticipant said he had experienced in a recent interview with the York EDITOR Speaking to Nouse on Sunday, activities at the University. violent and threatening behaviour Press “There are certainly not any Vice Chancellor Brian Cantor However, the Nouse poll, which on and around campus, on one racial undertones at the University. broke a long silence on student was conducted over the internet, occasion when “someone in a car The Students’ Union at the A NOUSE POLL has uncovered issues to express his support of also revealed surprising levels of tried to attack me with an egg” and moment is working very closely potentially worrying divisions international students, saying “The racial tension on campus, with another when the driver of a BMW with the University to ensure all between international and home foreign students that come to York many of the participants submit- “attempted to intimidate me by students – particularly internation- students at York, with 49% of inter- are a great benefit to the York com- ting detailed written accounts of pretending he wanted to run me als who may find it difficult – feel national students saying that they munity; they do very well, they’re what they consider to be personal over while I was crossing integrated into the University.” ‘feel excluded by British students’ good students, and they go on to do experiences of racism. University Road.” However, concerns about and 30% saying that they have marvellous things in the world. One participant wrote “Non- Bukky Ojo, last year’s SU underlying racial tensions in York experienced what they consider to There’s no way we wouldn’t want academic staff seem to be preju- Racial Equality Officer, said have been augmented in recent be racist attitudes from students or international students coming diced when seeing someone with “During my officership, a lot of peo- months by the increased presence staff during their time at York. This here.” an Asian appearance. The assump- ple did talk to us about experienc- of the BNP, who put forward candi- comes at a time when concerns Of all the international stu- tion seems to be that I should be ing racism on campus.” dates in nine York wards in the have been raised in some quarters dents polled, 89% said they enjoy pliant and not protesting when I’m Michael Batula, Ojo’s succes- recent council elections and gained about creeping racial tensions at their courses, while 70% said they treated in a lax way.” The same par- sor as Racial Equality Officer, said >> Continued page 5 Sponsored by NOUSE :THE UNIVERSITY OF YORK STUDENT NEWSPAPER 2 News Snappy Snaps Tuesday May 8 2007 Baroness attacked by Controversy over use of Fruit of mother goose A VISIT to the University of York by the Baroness Thornton of Mannington the Loom as Roses kit supplier ended with an attack by an ill-tem- pered goose. The Baroness was visiting By Heidi Blake very different, and from the University to address the New EDI TOR this point on Union mer- Generation Society on the topic of the chandise should only be future of the House of Lords. After THE AU PRESIDENT purchased from companies leaving the event the Baroness crossed Tom Moore has come (and initially sourced from over Langwith bridge where she star- under scrutiny this week manufacturers) that we tled a goose protecting its nest. James for his decision to source approve, and I very much Townsend, President of the NGS, who Roses merchandise from hope that this will be the was with the Baroness at the time, said the contoversial clothing last occurence of its kind.” the goose “didn’t appreciate her status supplier Fruit of the Loom. Fruit of the Loom or rank” and “hissed and nipped at her” Moore decided to use have been condemned by as she went by the goose and its the supplier, which has the International Textile goslings. Neither the Baroness nor the come under fire in the past Garments and Leather goose was injured during the incident. for poor working condi- Workers Federation as tions and the use of sweat- having “a history of viru- shops, despite the fact that lent anti-union activity” as YU SU win award for the Union Code states that well as subjecting employ- YU SU will promote ‘sound ees to long hours, “poverty eco-friendly policies ethical choice’ of products pay” and dangerous condi- and ‘will purchase, where tions reminiscent of a YUSU WON silver the Sound Impact practical, from suppliers Victorian mill rather than Awards for “greenest” student union in graded highly by the a modern transnational the country. The awards look to encour- NUSSL Environment and company. age, nurture and reward the most envi- Ethics Committee.’ Derwent College ronmentally friendly universities. While Tom Moor e ju st ified decided to unilaterally ultimately York was beaten by his decision to purchase abandon contracts with Loughborough for the title of ‘greenest the merchandise from the company as long ago as student union’, the judges were Fruit of the Loom by 2005. impressed by “the grass roots activity of claiming that “the order for The SU has already the students and the sheer number of the shirts was made weeks been caught up in another them involved in environmental activi- ago. ethical clothing gaffe earli- ties.” Service and Finance Officer, Amy “O r d er in g t h r ou gh er this year over the t- Woods, said YUSU will “build on this 'fairtrade' suppliers, which shirts for the Viking Raid for next year and become a contender breaches commercial con- II, where Fruit of the Loom for Gold ” which will be achieved “with tractual agreements made was the supplier despite further documentation on our targets by YUSU, would mean objections from and environmental practices”. they simply would not have Environment Council as been delivered on time and well as staff and students. they would have cost 60% The same excuse was used Student gambles loan more to buy.” then as now; that the mer- Moore also added that chandise would not have A FIRST YEAR student at York has the company ADM, arrived in time for the been forced to leave university, after an through which the SU event had it been ordered online gambling addiction left him sources its merchandise, from a fair trade supplier. unable to afford to continue studying. and which deals with Fruit Roses is pre-sched- Adam Colley, a member of Langwith of the Loom, are ecologi- AU President Tom Moore wearing a Roses t-shirt. Photo:Georgi Mabee uled to take place every college, left mid way through the second cally sustainable and check year, arguably giving the term of the year, after his debts related the trading standards of Environment and Ethics aware of it, would certainly Ethical Merchandise current AU adequate time to online gambling spiraled out of con- the companies they source Officers, Tom Williams not have been supported.” motion was finally passed to prepare an order with a trol and he had lost his student loan to from. He added “You may and Tom Langley, claimed Charlotte Bonner, the at the last UGM members manufacturer with a better online gambling companies. This case also want to ask the YUSU they “weren't aware that previous Environment and of the union weren't record on workers’ rights. only further highlights the lack of environment and ethics the Roses merchandise Ethics Officer said she “had obliged to consult on mer- With the passing of advice available to students concerning officers as they have had been sourced from not been involved in the chandise, and so it would the recent UGM motion it their financial affairs, but also brings checked everything Fruit of the Loom” and said decision making or even have been fully within the is hoped that this will be into question exactly how students through with this compa- they were ”more than a lit- consulted.” AU's power to order from the last time YUSU will spend their loans. ny.” tle dismayed to have this Langley and Williams any company they liked order merchandise from a However, when con- brought to our attention - told Nouse “part of the without us being aware of supplier not considered Reporting by Raf Sanchez and tacted, the current the decision, had we been problem is that until the it. The situation is now ethical by the NUSSL. Sarah Foster Who’s MANAGING DIRECTORS: FEATURES DEPUTY: B & R EDITOR: Jonat han McCar t hy Venetia Rainey Lauren Menzies May 8 2007 Laura Nicol www.NOUSE.co.uk NOUSE ARTS EDITORS: B & R DEPUTY: In this edition SUBEDI TORS: Amy Milka Helen Citron Grimston House (V/X/010) Kel l y Neukom Amy Scott News 1-7 Vanbrugh College Harriet Wray SPORTS EDI TOR: ARTS DEPUTY: Daniel Whitehead University of York NEWS EDITOR: Sar ah Jef f r i es Comment 8-10 Heslington Raf San ch ez SPORTS DEPUTY Yo r k MUSIC EDITOR: Ch r i s No i ce Letters 11 NEWS DEPUTIES: Sar a Sayeed YO 10 5D D Milda Sabunaite WEB EDITOR: Politics 12 -13 Email: [email protected] Nicky Woolf MUSICDEPUTY: Em m a Gaw en Ben Rackstraw Sport 14 -16 EDI TOR: STAFF REPORTER: WEB DEPUTY: Heidi Blake Alex Stevens FILM EDITOR: Natasha Woodward Dave Coates DEPUTY EDITORS: POLITICS EDI TOR: PHOTO EDITOR: Student strippers M4-5 Jenny O’Mahony Cl ai r e Yeo FILM DEPUTY: Georgi Mab ee With summer approaching and the Anjli Raval Jam es Fanning Hitch to Morocco M6 POLITICS DEPUTY: PODCAST EDITOR: array of festivals ever-widening, Nouse MUSEEDI TOR: Alberto Furlan LAST WORD EDITOR: Niahm Walsh Goodbye, Campus Ken El l en Car p en t er Andreas Masoura M9 provides the ultimate guide to where to COMMENT EDITOR: Festival guide head for the perfect weekend of sun- PRODUCTION MANAGER: Sam Thomas LISTINGS EDITOR: The opinions expressed in M10-11 To b y Gr een Daniel Ball soaked hedonism.