Dean to Bless Gay Couples for Larger Drop in Emma Chapel First in C of E to Endorse Civil Partnerships UCAS Applications
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The Independent Cambridge Student Newspaper since 1947 Come fly with us as we test out the new Oxbridge shuttle - then win yourself tickets Top-up fees blamed Dean to bless gay couples for larger drop in Emma chapel first in C of E to endorse civil partnerships UCAS applications the number of applicants, Rachel Divall Raj Bavishi but the following year it Worsley went up again and has & Amelia continued with steady THE DEAN of Emmanuel College has said he growth until 2005. We see will consider offering blessings to same sex FIGURES PUBLISHED by no reason why that should- couples’ civil partnerships. UCAS yesterday show that n’t continue.” In defiance of the Church of England’s ban university appli- Applications to on clergy offering such services, Rev Jeremy cations Cambridge have fallen Caddick has written to the Bishop of Ely, fell by for the second year telling him, “we would not wish to close the almost 4 running. They are door to having services for members of the per cent down from 14,684 College community who requested them.” following applications for Mr Caddick is able to bless officially the intro- entry in 2004 to because Cambridge colleges are not under duction of 14,080 applica- the formal jurisdiction of the Diocese of Ely. top-up fees – tions for entry in They are one of the few institutions unaffect- twice the 2006 – a fall of 4.1 ed by the House of Bishops’ announcement government’s per cent. last year prohibiting such services. prediction – A University Mr Caddick’s letter follows discussion of and the first spokesperson the matter by both Emmanuel College drop in applica- suggested it was Council and Chapel Committee. His stance tions for six too early to could pave the way for other institutions not years. This read anything into the under the bishops’ direct control to conduct announcement fall. “It follows a similar dip similar services. comes as fears that the cap last year and a record high The House of Bishops’ statement on homo- on top-up fees may rise to in 2004, so we suspect that sexual unions was criticised for giving a £5000 and a warning from we are probably losing spec- mixed message, as it said clergy would be free Universities UK that inter- ulative applications from the to enter into civil partnerships because this national applications are long tail of weaker appli- was not “intrinsically incompatible” with falling. cants.” CUSU President holy orders. The government had Laura Walsh gave a different Mr Caddick admitted there have as yet predicted applications view. “We’re very, very been no requests for same sex blessings, but would only drop by 2 per concerned, but it doesn’t said he was unhappy with “not offering a cent: last year there was an come as a surprise. It is the blessing on the one hand and encouraging 8.9 per cent surge in appli- same with universities clergy to respond sensitively to requests for cations as English students nationally, but it doesn’t prayer on the other.” His letter describes rushed to avoid the £3000 help that Cambridge already “dismay” at the House of Bishops’ stance, top-up fees, affecting those has high living costs.” asking “to put it bluntly, what planet is the starting in September 2006. Kat Fletcher, NUS House on? We shoot ourselves in the foot if But UCAS’ statistics show a President, said the drop in the we get sidetracked into picking over which 3.4 per cent decrease in the national figures was extreme- adult relationships are acceptable.” number of teenagers apply- ly worrying and “suggests that Jordan Holland, CUSU LBGT President, ing to UK higher education top-up fees and the debt they said “This sounds like a really positive step courses by the January 15 represent are deterring poten- and I’m really pleased that the impetus is closing date. tial students.” She coming from within the University.” The Department for emphasised, “Our standpoint, Canon Spencer-Thomas, spokesman for Education and Skills that debt puts off students - the Diocese of Ely, told Varsity “There is a responded, saying, “given particularly those from poorer wide range of views in any community. the big increase in figures or less traditional backgrounds Dialogue between Jeremy and the bishop will last year there was bound to - has been backed up over and continue in a spirit of friendship”. be a decrease this year.” A over again by research and Members and alumni of Emmanuel will MICHAEL DERRINGER DfES spokeswoman suggest- statistics from both the pro- now enjoy the unique position of being the ed this year’s decline was an and anti-fee lobbies.” only people in the country currently able to anomaly, “Something simi- Worried that current fund- receive an official church blessing of their civil lar happened in 1998 when ing structures are partnership. tuition fees were intro- unsustainable, >>Editorial, page 13 duced. There was a dip in >>continued on page 2 No. 634, 17th February, 2006 www.varsity.co.uk Interview Feature The Dark Side >> Only 11 MPs vote less in In a small church off King’s A Chinese musical extravaganza. With subtitles Parliament than George Parade, they’re having a Galloway does. Three of them special Valentine’s Day service are ineligible, five refuse to to celebrate the Goth Sophie Dahl >> take their seats, and another Eucharist. We join in tram- The opium of the people speaks of her youth two are dead. We ask him if pling red roses round a he’s doing his job properly. cross-shaped candle cluster. Then he gets angry. The Goths are quite friendly. Park Chan-Wook >> page 9 >> page 10 The Asian Tarantino on sympathy and vengeance >> 2 Varsity News 17.02.06 Kissing risk for students Stabbing on Being a student and kissing UCAS applications different partners can quadruple the risk of >>continued from front page government for not investing Universities, only Cambridge meningitis, according to a the former head of the higher enough money in widening and York registered a substan- Parker’s Piece new study. Researchers education funding council, Sir participation among poorer tial drop in applications, with BEN JONES questioned 144 teenagers Howard Newby, announced last students in Britain. But Bill London-based King’s, UCL, LSE aged 15 to 19 diagnosed week that the cap on annual Rammell, Higher Education and Imperial all recording with meningitis at English tuition fees could rise to £5,000 Minister countered, “Crucially, increases compared to last year. hospitals and compared by 2010. today’s figures show that there The figures also show that each with a teenager of the This crisis of funding has has been no reduction in the universities who have set their same age from their GP's caused universities to rely on proportion of students from fees lower than the maximum list. The team investigated money from international lower socio-economic groups.” £3000 in an effort to attract factors that might affect the students, who contribute about Rammell insisted young applications, such as Greenwich teenagers’ risk of catching £4bn a year to British universi- people were not deterred when and Leeds Metropolitan, have the disease. They found ties and £10bn to the economy they knew all the facts about had mixed results. Leeds Met being a student and kissing as a whole. Evidence of this the new funding regime - such gained by more than 8 per cent, lots of people were associ- dependence comes at the same as the extra bursaries and grants but Greenwich suffered a 7 per ated with an increased risk time as a Universities UK survey available - and the fact that they cent drop in applications. of meningitis, while warned that applications by only pay fees after graduating. By contrast, in Scotland and attending religious events international students also In December the Times Higher Wales, where different fee was linked to a reduced declined last year. reported the Russell Group of arrangements apply, applica- The YMCA on Parker’s Piece where the victim stayed risk. It was suggested that One of the main concerns research-led universities had tions increased over the same home on Abbey Road last this is because religious among opponents of tuition suffered the largest drop in period. As requests to English Joe Gosden week. Two teenagers were young people are less likely fees was that it would put off applications. universities fell by 4.5 per cent, arrested and charged with to kiss multiple partners. people from poorer families. Birmingham and Sheffield those to all other UK universi- A TEENAGER is in hospital attempted murder. Consequently, they have a But the UCAS figures reveal both registered a fall of more ties rose by nearly 2.5 per cent. after sustaining life-threatening A spokesperson for smaller chance of exposure that although there was a than 5 per cent, while applica- When presented with this injuries following a knife attack Cambridgeshire Constabulary to the meningococcal decrease in applicants from tions to Nottingham were 14 information, many students on Parker’s Piece on Saturday highlighted that violent crime bacteria that can lead to poorer backgrounds, it was no per cent lower. Although appli- told Varsity of their concerns night. This is the second assault was falling in the city and knife meningitis. Linda Glennie more pronounced than for cations to Russell Group that this suggested English in Cambridge with a bladed attacks remain extremely rare. from the Meningitis other social groups. universities in general fell, of students were applying to weapon in 10 days. Jonothan Martin, Cambridge Research Foundation said, Sir Howard also criticised the The Sunday Times’ Top 10 universities in Scotland and The 18 year-old male had YMCA Chief Executive, told “I don’t expect teenagers to JAMIE MARLAND Wales to avoid fees.