Friday February 27th 2009 e Independent Cambridge Student Newspaper since 1947 Issue no 692 | varsity.co.uk »p9 Comment »Centrefold Special pull-out »p17 Arts Orwell’s The Dial: exclusive four-page Patrick Wolf: a overrated preview issue inside very odd man Sidney’s vomit ZING TSJENG bug spreads Students warned as other Colleges hit by norovirus Caedmon Tunstall-Behens open. Following a closure as punishment for non-Sidney students vomiting in the e outbreak of a vomiting bug in Sid- toilets, one bar worker commented, “ is ney Sussex has spread to other colleges, week it’s been the Sidney-ites themselves the University has con rmed. who have been having vomit problems, Although the University declined to albeit of quite a di erent nature.” say which Colleges have been a ected, e viral infection induces projectile Varsity understands that cases have also vomiting, fever, nausea, fever and diar- been reported at Queens’, Clare, Newn- rhoea. It can be incubated for 48 hours ham and Homerton. before its symptoms becoming appar- A spokesman said: “ ere are a few ent, and ends 48 hours a er the last isolated cases in other Colleges. It has vomit or bout. been con rmed that most of the indi- Transmission occurs through contact viduals a ected had had contact with with contaminated surfaces, body-to- Sidney people over the last few days.” body contact, orally or from inhalation e news comes a er Sidney was in of infected particles. lockdown for over a week with just over Sidney called in the city council’s en- 80 students, Fellows and catering sta vironmental health o cers at noon last debilitated by a suspected outbreak of Friday. ey directed sta on a range of norovirus, also known as the ‘winter measures to prevent the spread of the vomiting virus’. virus and a team of external cleaners e race is on for CUSU Access Students at Sidney with the virus were fought to bring the virus under control ordered to stay in their rooms until the through thorough and regular cleaning Access beneficiary, CUSU insider and JCR president go head to head bug was contained, with friends being of communal areas. instructed to avoid contact with them. Max Beber, Senior Tutor at Sidney, Three serious contenders in this year’s tightest election contest Formal Hall was cancelled for a week to his access background. He was one of looks set to cruise to an easy victory told Varsity that contract cleaners are Andrew Bellis amid fears that the virus would be spread providing an overnight service. only 135 students in the whole country against his only opponent, Guolong Li, further in a large gathering of people “It’s di cult to know exactly how A charismatic JCR president, an outreach receiving free school meals to get three a second-year from Churchill. and during food preparation. many are a ected because we’re asking success story and a CUSU insider are bat- As at A-level. He is a carer for his par- e contest for Education O cer is e College bar, however, remained all people with u-like symptoms or tling to be Access O cer in 2009’s most ents, on a full bursary and was the rst this year’s largest eld, with four candi- worse to report them. ere hasn’t been hotly contested CUSU election ght. in his family to go to university. He has dates running for the post. Ed Maltby, a much change since earlier in the week,” Joe Farish (right), Andy McGowan since been a JCR access o cer and has prominent student activist who helped he said. (le ) and Ben Henriques (centre) are in been involved with various CUSU out- organise last month’s law faculty occupa- “ e boat club dinner on Saturday the running for the £16,550-a-year post. reach schemes. tion, is advocating a reading week as part 80 will go ahead as planned,” he contin- e three candidates all claim sig- Whilst the election for access o cer of a nine-week term. His call for rents to The number of people at Sidney hit ued, “but without outside guests so as ni cant experience. Farish was Trinity’s looks set to be a close ght, the race for remain the same despite the extra week by the winter vomiting virus to restrict spreading.” JCR president and formerly the JCR’s CUSU President is barely even a tus- has been attacked by his opponents, Sam E-mails have been sent to all students access o cer. He has also worked as a sle. Tom Chigbo, John’s JCR president Wake eld, Dan Chapman and Nina by College nurses. Advice on how to researcher for the Cambridge Admis- and this term’s Union Society treasurer, Walters. e only other contested post is avoid contracting the virus includes sions O ce, analysing intake gures. Welfare, with two candidates. thorough and frequent hand washing Henriques has spent a year working FOLLOW THE RACE ONLINE Candidates will take part in 14 hustings with anti-bacterial soap, as well as en- with CUSU, another two on Robinson’s Updates every day at over the next ve days. Students can vote 48 suring that surfaces are kept clean. JCR and has three years of experience online on Monday and Tuesday, and in The incubation period of the virus in Additional reporting by Ben Watts and with the shadowing scheme. blog.varsity.co.uk their College on Wednesday. hours before symptoms are seen Michael Hornsey McGowan attributes his motivation Candidate pro les on page 5 Man charged and two arrested over series of muggings Varsity News In a spate of violent incidents, vic- istrates Court yesterday. by two o enders wearing homemade lent incidents, police increased patrols tims reported being approached dur- The first three robberies, all in balaclavas and being forced to hand in the area. ree suspects have since A man has been charged following ing the early evening and forced to the west of Cambridge, took place over valuables, including mobile been arrested: Sandford, a 16-year-old a series of muggings in the west of hand over valuables to two youths between 11.20pm and 11.35pm on phones and cash. boy and a 36-year-old man. Cambridge over the weekend. wearing balaclavas. Saturday night in Queen’s Road, Two further robberies, in Storey’s e 16-year-old has been bailed to e spate of connected attacks oc- Shaun Sandford, 19, of Queens Grange Road and Madingley Road Way and Queen’s Road, took place reappear at Parkside Police Station on curred between Saturday and Monday Close, Over, was charged with ten of- at 11.35pm. late on Sunday night. March 11th. earlier this week. fences of robbery at Cambridge Mag- Victims reported being approached Following reports of these o en vio- Continued on page 4 Something to say? [email protected] Friday February 27th 2009 2 Editorial Call the Editors directly on 01223 761541 varsity.co.uk A special preview issue of e Dial, a literary magazine based at Queens’, can be found inside the centrefold. It is the fourth in a series of magazine previews in Varsity. Contents Vote, but don’t get too excited he CUSU elections are shaping up to be a (moderately) interesting race. e battles for Education, Welfare and Access TO cers will be hard fought, and are awash with committed candidates. All the candidates will all do an important job, News p1-8 representing us in dealings with the University and outside bodies. ey all deserve for us read their manifestos, give it a little thought, and cast a vote on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. CUSU election coverage p5 Our only caveat would be to ensure that students elect o cers who will do their job of running a students’ union and Who are the candidates, and why should representing us in the University, not those who intend to use their position as a political soapbox. For better or for worse, CUSU is an administrative organisation, not an activist one, and that is what it will remain for the time being. you vote for them? ere is only one serious candidate for President, despite Guolong Li’s endearing attempts. is is perhaps a little anti- democratic, but it does, happily, mean the almost certain election of Tom Chigbo of St John’s. Chigbo has wide-ranging Varsity Pro le p6 experience and good ideas, and should make an exceptional CUSU President. Despite big talk from the candidates about changing our lives through CUSU, it is worth pointing out that there is only We speak to Blues rugby captain Dan so much it can do. e big news this week has been the norovirus outbreak and a spate of muggings in Cambridge; these Vickerman. are things which directly and materially a ect large numbers of students in a way that motions at CUSU Council never will. Perhaps this is all obvious. However, it is always useful to remember that CUSU is not going to change the world – even if it Comment p9-11 gets its own ‘Ethical A airs’ sabbatical o cer. e Essay p9 Ben Slingo on why Orwell was a Varsity Drugs Survey 2009 bad writer with worse politics. Varsity is conducting an online survey on academic performance-enhancing drugs. It is anonymous and very brief. Please visit www.varsity.co.uk/drugs Blame the journalists p10 e self-ful lling prophecy of doom-mongering hacks. CUSU elections blog Visit blog.varsity.co.uk for comprehensive coverage of the CUSU race.