THE VARSITY FOUR PAGE PULLOUT TWICKENHAM FULL SQUAD DETAILS MATCH Tuesday 6th December ‘Twas the quiz before Christmas Living with HIV MP3 player, DVDs, The Cambridge WIN! theatre tickets residents whose lives have and much more been irreversibly changed No. 629, Friday November 25, 2005 The Independent Cambridge Student Newspaper since 1947 DEMANDING THAT CUSU DOES ITS JOB At the beginning of this term, Varsity criticised CUSU for failing to adequately address issues that affect students.As the term ends, college MCRs and JCRs are seriously questioning their relationship with a student union that is ignoring the law and wasting our money.Here are just some of their officers: Matt Clifford, Union of Clare Students Tristan Collins, Magdalene MCR Guy Willis, Jesus JCR Chris Kellaway, Homerton Union of Students Tom Larsen, Downing MCR James Cameron, Selwyn JCR Joe Powell, St. Catharine’s JCR Will Barrett, Peterhouse JCR Emile Axelrad, Downing JCR Darshan Brahmbatt,Gonville & Caius MCR support rather then allowing up fees. This despite the fact sity that motions such as JP’s External Officer, told their time to be wasted debat- that the CUSU website is likely Swain’s are ultra-vires and that CUSU Council on November LEADER ing motions unrelated to to be the first port of call for if CUSU were to implement 16 that “it [is] not practical for Cambridge students’ concerns prospective Cambridge appli- them, it would be acting in CUSU to debate legality. If the as students. cants seeking information on breach of the Education Act of NUS could discuss war, then his week, representatives The Charity Commission financial matters such as the 1994 because the issues “do CUSU should also be able to of student bodies from a provides operational guidance bursaries available to students. not affect the welfare of stu- have an opinion”. Yet this is Tthird of all Cambridge for students’ unions, stating: “a Whilst we recognise that the dents as students”. He also incorrect. According to the colleges have expressed serious charity cannot campaign on an website is newly operational raised the interesting and gen- Charity Commission “the NUS concerns over the current issue which is unrelated to its and that a vast transfer of erally unrecognized fact that is not a students’ union within direction of CUSU. Their pri- purposes, even if trustees may information has been required, the same Act demands that the meaning of the act” and mary concern is that the regard the issue as interesting Varsity would suggest that the JCRs annually re-endorse their does not possess charitable sta- attempts by some to politicise or important.” This term alone, HE Funding Officer make this affiliation to CUSU via referen- tus. Conversely, the role of the CUSU is preventing it from motions have been brought to his absolute priority, over and dum. This threatens to throw NUS is to represent the politi- adequately fulfilling its role of CUSU Council calling for the above the use of his position to any existent doubts over cal views of the student unions providing for Cambridge stu- boycott of Coca-Cola because further his personal political CUSU’s direction into sharper precisely because they them- dents. Many fear that their of alleged human rights viola- Helen Marks, Downing Access officer concerns. A motion of “No relief. Whereas previously selves cannot. Despite such respective college JCRs and tions in Colombia, and seeking Confidence” in the abilities of those students agitated enough clear guidelines, CUSU Student MCRs will be unable to remain to promote a national cam- drawal of troops from Iraq. Yet Swain as HE Funding Officer is to urge disaffiliation were dis- Action Officer, Dave Smith a part of CUSU if this contin- paign on climate change. Last a glance at the HE funding sec- being brought to the next missed as awkward malcon- (who has no legal training), ues. Today, Varsity joins them week a motion was brought to tion of the CUSU website CUSU Council. tents, now mutterings over the described this... in urging CUSU to aggressively a CUSU Open Meeting by reveals coverage of two year Graham Virgo, University possibility may be given a year- focus their energies on supply- CUSU HE Funding Officer Dan old campaigns and no updates Reader in English Law and ly loudspeaker. Continued on page 15 ing students with services and Swain, calling for the with- since the introduction of top- expert in charitiy law, told Var- Lizzie Sharples, Pembroke www.varsity.co.uk Doris Lessing >20 PD James >16 Andrew Motion >19 Tony Underwood >Pullout Suzy Menkes >11 2 Varsity News 25.11.05 news in brief Ten arrested in drugs swoop JAMIE MARLAND Elliott truckalready lined up to admitted four charges of sup- Fry praises ARU Steve remove property recovered in plying cocaine, having on Stephen Fry spoke of a the raids, it was felt that more each occasion sold about six "ridiculous sense of elitism" Ten people were in police vehicles were needed. grams to undercover police at Cambridge when he custody last weekend after Three men and one woman officers. A 38-year old moth- accepted an honoury doctor- Cambridge Police's biggest- appeared before Cambridge er of three from Pearmain ate degree at Anglia Ruskin ever anti-drugs sting, code- Court pleaded guilty to five University last week. He said named Operation Arkwright. charges of supplying cocaine, it was an honour to receive This breakthrough comes two cannabis and amphetamines, the award. He denounced weeks after Varsity exposed and a 30-year old man of the "ineffably stupid" people Cambridge’s thriving drugs Leete Road was charged with he had been at Cambridge Tragic death industry. Five properties were supplying a Class C drug and with and said that the best raided at 8am on Sunday possession of cannabis resin. thing about ARU was that Tom, who was from Harrogate, morning, with eight further He has not yet entered a plea. they got to enjoy the architec- Rachel Divall was described by his college as "a raids soon after. The raids and Also arrested on Sunday ture and facilities without highly talented student who had subsequent arrests were the were one man from Cherry being "surrounded by idiots A Cambridge student was killed made many friends at Girton." A culmination of 12 months of Hinton, and three men from who think they are in in a road accident on the morn- short service attended by his par- planning and involved the co- Willingham, two of whom Brideshead Revisited". The ing of November 18. Thomas ents was held on Friday evening. operation of 300 police offi- were released with no further actor and comedian, 48, Mansfield, a 19 year old Natural A statement released by the col- cers, including 40 dectectives. action. graduated in English from Scientist from Girton, suffered lege said: "The chapel was packed Operation Arkwright sought Further arrests are expected Queens' College before ris- fatal injuries as a result of a colli- with students, an indication of to target those “thought to be in December as the police will ing to fame. sion with a lorry just yards from the enormous impact Tom had at the head of Cambridge's interview these initial sus- the college entrance. Andrew made in his short time at Girton." drug scene, including suppli- pects and gather more intelli- Misplaced identity Jefferies, the college's Senior Andrew Jefferies told Varsity he ers of heroin, cocaine and gence. The investigation is An ARU student has become Tutor, told Varsity the whole col- had been "impressed and grateful ecstasy, as well as those who being led by Detective a victim of identity theft. He lege had been "extremely for the care and support which all benefit from the proceeds of Inspector Tony Ixer, who has first realised when his bank shocked by the tragic events". members of the college have drug crime.” described drug dealers and sent him a statement showing The emergency services were given each other" and said "the Battering rams and body handlers as "parasites at the he had spent hundreds of called at around 8.45 on Friday sympathy of the whole college armour had to be used to gain top of the chain". pounds on a credit card he morning and told of a collision at community goes to Tom's fami- access to some properties The police have warned knew he didn't own. Lloyd the junction of Girton Road and ly." A second year Girton student although the level of force that this is not the end of the Mann, 25, has now been sum- Huntingdon Road between a said “Everyone in the college was required varied. The raids operation and other drug moned to court for failing to cyclist and a lorry. The driver, a 41 devastated by Tom's death. included armed police support dealers and handlers in the pay a £150 fine which he year old man from Grantham, However, everyone has pulled units, officers from Essex area should be aware of ongo- claims he knows nothing Lincolnsire, was uninjured. The together in this difficult time.” Police and specialist search Cambridge Police in action in ing investigation. about. The Internet accident is currently the subject of Anyone with any information dogs from Suffolk and Cherry Hinton Technology student thinks an inquest and police have asked should contact Cambridgeshire Lincolnshire. magistrates on Monday. A 27- some tenants of his parents for anyone in the area at the time Police on 0845 4564564. Despite the three vans and year old man who lives at the stole a letter with his details of the collision to contact them.