Nominated for Guardian and NUS Student Newspaper of the Year 2006 Spring Term Week Six Tuesday 13 February 07 www.nouse.co.uk NOUSE Est. 1964 YORK’S SEX TRADE UNCOVERED In Muse M8-M10 Nouse’s open letter unites 1200 voices in a single demand: Bring back our porters NOUSE 13th February 2007 To Brian Cantor, The current situation concerning the porters at the University of York is unaccept- able. This letter seeks to unify the voices of students, academics, staff and support- ers into one single message which carries the full force of our numbers and stand- ings. We recognise the inherent value of our porters as individuals and for the vital role they play within the University as a cornerstone of the collegiate system. Porters' knowledge of the habits and needs of students, academics and staff; their contribu- tion to security and welfare and the vital administrative services they provide with- in colleges make them invaluable to the life of the University. Thus, we firmly believe that the closure of porters lodges in either the short or the long-term is dam- aging to all aspects of University life; academic, residential and commercial. On the strength of this conviction, we demand a concrete assurance from the Directorate of Facilities Management that the situation concerning porters will be restored to its state as of October 2006 by a pre-specified date. Anything short of such an assurance, and any attempt to settle for an ongoing reduction of service, is unacceptable. The current situation demands that all available time and energy be devoted to seeking a swift resolution. However, once full levels of service have been restored, an investigation into the causes of the lodge closures must take place in order to avoid the recurrence of this situation. Should such an inquiry reveal shortcomings on the part of any individual or organisation, then that individual or organisation must be held accountable. This message is a singular and unified expression of will. Signed by academics, staff, students and alumni >> 4-5 Sponsored by NOUSE :THE UNIVERSITY OF YORK STUDENT NEWSPAPER 2 News Snappy Snaps Tuesday February 13 2007 Student trapped in Amnesty International Society flooding Dusk toilet DUSK BAR WAS FLOODED on 31 January after a University of York stu- dent who got stuck in the bar toilets was stage Palestinian ‘check-point’ asked by staff to climb out through the window. This damaged the cistern and By Anjli Raval caused water to burst from the exposed pipes. The student was rescued from NEWS CORRESPONDENT the toilet 30 minutes later when bar staff kicked the door down, despite hav- THE UNIVERSITY of ing refused to do so at the start of the York's Amnesty event. The student involved has not International Society been charged for the damage. Dusk staged a demonstration on management has refused to comment Saturday 3 February in on the event. Parliament Square to raise awareness of the existing situation in Palestine. JCR budgets decided A group of students ON MONDAY 5 FEBRUARY the distri- led by Nina Gora, Co-Chair bution of the remaining fund provided of Amnesty International by the University for its Junior Common Society, together with the Room Committees was decided by Palestine Solidarity YUSU Finance Committee. The total Campaign (PSC), staged a monetary amount available for colle- 'checkpoint' aiming to alert giate bids for 2007 was £2,177, and bids the people of York to the for this year totalled £6,746.84. Alcuin problems in the occupied received the most money, claiming territories of the West £887.73 of the available total, £740 of Bank. The ‘checkpoint’ which is allocated to the provision of a imitates a system of con- marquee. Goodricke College received crete walls and wire fenc- £323.98 to be assigned to various caus- ing scattered throughout es, including the provision of a new the West Bank to curtail Actors simulated the alleged brutality of Israeli soldiers at the checkpoints. Photo: Ally Carmichael karaoke machine and publicity for the movement of Goodricke events. James and Langwith Palestinians. An attending member military costumes, armed person. The two ‘soldiers’ join in. Gora said, "this is Colleges receieved £163.79 and £122.50 Florence Perrett, a of the PSC said, "in the with imitation guns, stood simulated the alleged bru- an everyday reality for respectively. £679 was split equally third year student said: "I West, we have no idea; in front of the barrier pos- tality of Israeli soldiers at Palestinians. In the West between the sports rep teams of all feel very passionately normal Palestinians can- ing as Israeli soldiers. times by making people we completely take free- seven colleges. about the situation in not go to school, the shops, Members of the group wait for long periods with dom of movement for Palestine. People do not even go to hospital to have queued up in a line and their hands in the air, or on granted. The international know enough to do some- a baby because of these then walked up to the pair, the floor with their hands boycott is on the oppressed UGM motions fail again thing about it, and this checkpoints." who asked them for their behind them. The public not the oppressor, which is visualises it for the public." Two campaigners in permit and searched every were also encouraged to absolutely ridiculous." ON MONDAY 30 JANUARY 13 motions were proposed at the UGM. All of these failed to meet the threshold of numbers needed to ratify them as Archbishop speaks out against Reid YUSU policy, with the exception of the motion regarding Portering. Topics By Raf Sanchez He said "If you detain peo- limit of 28 days. dealing with a unique distract the public from included ending the lack of ‘real’ abor- NEWS EDITOR ple, you must have good The comments come threat in this country and troubling acts of the tion on demand, proposed by Women’s enough reason for detain- in the wake of raids by it is not relevant to Idi Government. Officer Erin McAlister, the scrapping of THE ARCHBISHOP of ing them and have a West Midlands Police that Amin's Uganda.” During the interview Top-up Fees, proposed by Grace York has spoken out chance for there being a resulted in the arrest and However, the the Archbishop also urged Fletcher-Hall, and the ending of dis- against the Government successful prosecution... detention of nine people Archbishop’s views have people moving to the UK to crimination based on age, race, gender for bringing Britain “close [the Home Secretary] has in connection with a plot received support in some accept and “really cherish or sexuality when donating blood, again to a police state.” not produced the evidence to kidnap and murder a quarters. Lord Ahmed the traditions that are here.” proposed by Grace Fletcher-Hall. These Speaking on ITV that shows that in 90 days Muslim soldier. expressed similar views by This is not the first stances on emotive issues have failed to News on 5 February, the you're capable of getting The Archbishop has saying that “There is fear time the Archbishop has become YUSU policy due to a lack of Rt. Rev John Sentamu somebody prosecuted.” been criticised by Labour in the community. The taken a public political the required turnout, calling into ques- compared Government The Home Secretary John MP Shahid Malik who British public is genuinely stance. During the summer tion the validity of UGM meetings. plans for 90 day deten- Reid is currently looking claimed the comparison to frightened about what is he camped out in the York tions of terror suspects to to make a fresh attempt to Uganda in the 1970s was happening.” He went on to Minster for a week in Reporting by Rachel Guest, measures in place in increase the detention “churlish and rather silly.” say that anti-terrorist protest of the Israel- Hannah O’Shea, Catherine Moore Uganda under Idi Amin. period from its current He went on to say “We are action was merely used to Lebanon War. and Jenny O’Mahony MANAGING DIRECTORS: FEATURES EDITOR: CARTOONISTS: February 13 2007 Jonathan McCarthy Jo Shelley Chris Turner www.nouse.co.uk NOUSE Laura Nicol Sam Waddington In this edition FEATURES DEPUTY: Grimston House (V/X/010) SUBEDITORS: Venetia Rainey B & R EDITORS: News 1-9 Vanbrugh College Niamh Walsh Vicky Hallam Harriet Wray ARTS EDITORS: Lucy Peden University of York Amy Milka Comment 10-12 Heslington NEWS EDITOR: Amy Scott B & R DEPUTIES: York Raf Sanchez Lauren Menzies Letters 13 ARTS DEPUTY: YO10 5DD NEWS DEPUTIES: Sarah Jeffries SPORTS EDITOR: Politics 14-16 Email: [email protected] Milda Sabunaite Simon Lickley Nicky Woolf MUSIC EDITOR: Sport EDITOR: Sara Sayeed WEB EDITOR: 17-20 Heidi Blake STAFF REPORTERS: Emma Gawen Hannah O’Shea MUSIC DEPUTY: DEPUTY EDITORS: Alex Stevens Ben Rackstraw WEB DEPUTY: Derek Acorah M4 Jenny O’Mahony Natasha Woodward This edition of Muse, your essential sup- Daniel Whitehead POLITICS EDITOR: FILM EDITOR: Jimmy Carr M7 Claire Yeo Dave Coates PHOTO EDITOR: plement, features this year’s talent in the MUSE EDITOR: Georgi Mabee Prostitution in York M8 Battle of the Bands heats, as well as an Ellen Carpenter POLITICS DEPUTY: FILM DEPUTY: Alberto Furlan James Fanning PRODUCTION MANAGER: in-depth look at the sex-industry in The opinions expressed in Battle of the Bands M12 Toby Green COMMENT EDITOR: LAST WORD EDITOR: York, a cynic’s guide to Valentine’s Day Sam Thomas Andreas Masoura this publication are not Listings M24 and an exclusive interview with Derek ADVERTISING MANAGER: necessarily those of the Chris Cowan COMMENT DEPUTY: LISTINGS EDITOR: editors,writers,or advertisers Acorah, the UK’s leading ‘spirit medium’.