Union Leaders Warn Compulsory Identity Card Scheme Threatens Civil
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Union leaders warn compulsory identity card scheme threatens civil liberties I BIG BROTHER' WATCHING YOU A NEW identity card scheme seriously threatens students’ individual rights in a university move that smacks of ‘Big Brother’, students union leaders have warned. RAIN DAMPENS DEMO SPIRITS The measure is said to represent a dangerous attack on civil liberties, and has sparked PROTESTORS against the comparisons between Leeds University and the police state of Orwell's 1984. ■ M M m Criminal Justice Bill gathered in All students will this year be forced to carry the , CRIMINAL JUSTICE Leeds last Saturday, but hopes of a cards, and may have to wear them in certain DAVID SMITH large attendance were dashed by the university departments. There are also fears that in pouring rain so that only 150 people the future ID cards may be used to store personal not say they were against the idea.” turned up, writes Paul Greenough. information - including an individual's political But Clement responded: “That is completely The march was the latest in a line beliefs and sexual preference. untrue. Some former Exec members may have given of protests both in Leeds and across “These caids are the beginning of a very serious their tacit support but most spoke out strongly the country aimed at drawing public movement to tie you down,” said Elliot Reuben, against it. The university completely ignored attention to the Bill. It attracted former Financial Affairs Secretary at Leeds anything we said. It was a stitch-up.” demonstrators from all sections of University Union. “The next step from here is credit Elliot Reuben, who resigned in protest from his the community to the front of the cards which cany every bit of information about you role as student representative on the university’s ID City Art Gallery. and your personality. card working group, spelled out his objections at a They heard speeches from “The Big Brother idea is not an exaggeration.” mock Ordinary General Meeting this week. “ID activists who described the Bill as Students will initially be asked to wear their cards create a rule and the idea that there is an “the most regressive piece of union cards in new plastic wallets clipped to their offence in not wearing them,” he said. “That gives legislation in the last 50 years,” and clothing and, although the university denies this is a security the power to stop people, take their details compared it to the “language of Nazi formal requirement, individual departments could and demand why they are not wearing ID. Germany.” One of the speakers, rapidly impose a hard and fast rule. “In countries which operate an ID system, the * 9 Tim, lead singer in the Powder “The scheme greatly affects students’ civil people they stop are most commonly from ethnic Monkeys, argued that the Bill “took liberties and privacy,” said Robin Johns, General and other minority groups,” he continued. “If swipe away your right to travel, protest Secretary at LUU. “The university wants to monitor cards are used to access buildings then your personal C fti and to gather. Basically your right who goes where - but people have a right to go information will be recorded. Anyone can then check to freedom.” where they want.” your details and where you were at a particular time After leaving the art gallery the Administration Secretary Ellie Clement said: “The of day. march - led by the Grim Reaper and establishment has certain perceptions about what “That for me is Big Brother.” a coffin carried by pall bearers - constitutes dangerous behaviour. If there are one or The mebting, which voted unanimously against moved into the city centre. two people the university sees as dangerous, they will the scheme, also heard Steve Parry of the Student Shoppers were startled by whistles, be labelled.” Socialist Workers Society: “The ID cards will be screams and chants of “Kill the Leeds University denied the decision had any used to keep a tab on people at this university and on Bill.” sinister implications. A spokeswoman said: “This is a us as students. This is a union and we should have One protestor, Steve Parry of the security measure in response to a lot of thefts from our rights respected.” Socialist Worker Student Society at university buildings. It’s hoped that people will come Additional swipe cards with a number of Leeds Universtiy Union, said: “As a to recognise the benefits of wearing them, but no functions - for instance allowing cashless vending - student who likes partying it’s pressure will be applied. Students should not feel are to be introduced at the beginning of next year. makfng me angry. But on a political threatened by this.’ “We must fight against it now before it becomes too level students need the right to But Liberty, the civil rights organisation, late,” said Mark Walton, LUU Financial Affairs protest, to picket and to party.” expressed fears at the potential of the scheme. “We’d Secretary. A similar march through Leeds be concerned if there was a move towards making Students gave the cards a hostile reception. in July involved around 400 the cards compulsory for students to wear,” a “That’s scary,” said Jane Davies, a second year protestors, and organisers hoped spokeswoman said. “We are unaware of any other Psychology and Philosophy student. “This kind of that due to bigger publicity this universities where this is the case. thing totally freaks me out.” First year English event would be better attended. “You have a right to the privacy of being able to student Joel Rickett said: “It’s draconian. It should However Catherine Muller, one of walk around without people knowing who you are. be up to the individual to decide whether to tell the organisers, was pleased with the Johns claims the university failed to properly people who they are.” Lee Matthews, a first year event: “We got a good response consult students before announcing the plans. “It Economics and Social History student, said: “I’m from the public. The numbers were was pushed through the bigger departments - the concerned about who defines what is a sensitive a bit poor but it was a horrible day.” union should have had a more prominent role,” he building and what is an undesirable person.” Any students wishing to join the said. The cards are seen as an effective way of dealing national march in London on However, the university says there was no with an increase of crime on campus. Departments Sunday should go to LUU’s Exec for suggestion of imposing the scheme unfairly. The which contain expensive equipment, such as tickets, which cost £5 each. Coaches consensus of opinion is in favour. There was Chemistry, are expected to make wearing of the Search for Justice Pic: Rob Swann leave at 7.30am. consultation with past union executives and they did cards compulsory. Inside: Play Total Football, our own fantasy league, and win £ 500j § f h -o o l LEEDS 2 News Gareth’s game of chants Frigid freshers - official FOOTIE finalist Gareth Jones DAVID SMITH was very supportive.” THE myth of freshers week is that CLAIRE e x d r id g e When asked if sex is a priority hit the right pitch when he told The dream dissertation took sex is readily available on tap. The & tanya veingard 59 per cent of men said it came his gaffers that Brahms would play second its sporting chants with a unique solo effort in reality is quite different, according ------------------ very high on their list, in most fiddle to Barnes. ethnomusicology, which puts the music of the tothe results of a recent Leeds Student survey. cases top. Only 8 per cent of women, however, The 22-year-old chants charter played a people on a level playing field. “It’s music in its The average number of sexual partners in the rated it a high priority. blinder by booting over-the-hill veterans like simplest form, like adult versions of nursery first year of study is only six for males and two for Leeds offers plenty of opportunity for going Beethoven into touch and tuning into classics rhymes,” he continued. females - the implication here is that not everyone out on the pull. 77 per cent of males said it was rather than classical. Gareth netted a Music “All the tunes are very simple and the is telling the truth. The survey also found another easy to find a willing partner and 58 per cent of degree after relegating the masterpieces and words tend to be repetitive. A lot of them are big gender difference in that 71 per cent of males females agreed. The best places to pull according substituting a whistle-stop tour through songs trite and insubstantial but the crowds enjoy would sleep with someone on the first night to both male and female respondents are Ricky's, of a different league - the ones they chant at singing them.” compared with only 17 per cent of females. Ritzy's, Mr Craigs, the Poly Bop, the students football matches. Gareth was over the moon to play on the Respondents rated Leeds six out of ten as a city union bars and any of the Headingley pubs. “I went around lots of grounds, standing in major stage when he was put on the spot to where students can indulge in their sexual A barman at the Dry Dock revealed to Leeds the middle of the crowd with a large shoot off about his energetic essay on Radios 1 preferences. The general view of Leeds students is Student that he had caught two men at it in the microphone, recording all sorts of songs so I and 5 Live, but was as sick as a parrot when that the opportunity is there if you really want it, men's toilets and also found a girl on her knees in could analyse the music,” said Gareth, now a Channel Four blew the whistle on a live and which hits back at a poll conducted by Unique, a the toilets with her male partner.