Palsoc Prepares to Protest City Council
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e Independent Student Newspaper Issue 800 Friday 27th November 2015 Published in Cambridge since 1947 www.varsity.co.uk Bumper 800th Edition Special Edition: an exploration into the famous faces, changing attitudes and biggest stories in the pages of Cambridge’s oldest student newspaper, from page 17 City Council PalSoc prepares to protest spends to tackle homeless rise Event featuring Israeli Embassy spokesman sparks anger among pro-Palestinian activists Anna Menn News Correspondent Ker Baker with Professor Manuel Hassassian, the and suggested.” Several open letters signed by Palestinian Authority’s Representative Union Press Offi cers Matteo Violet- Cambridge academics, on both sides Homelessness in Cambridge is con- Senor News Correspondent to the United Kingdom, was initially Vianello and Timothy Adelani further of the boycott debate, have been re- tinuing to increase at an startling rate, planned to be a single event featuring explained that “the Palestinian Society leased over the last year. with Cambridge City Council’s spend- e Cambridge University Palestine both men. However, the email goes on were consulted in advance of these In October last year, Daniel Taub, ing on the issue almost doubling rela- Society (PalSoc) is planning to host a to describe how that proposed event negotiations, and were asked to be in- the Israeli ambassador to the UK, was tive to last year. demonstration against Yiftah Curiel, was “prematurely suspended due to volved in these events as joint partners greeted by around 50 protesters in the A recent Freedom of Information re- the head spokesman for the Israeli external pressure faced by the Union”. as a gesture of good faith ... as a neutral wake of Operation Protective Edge, quest has revealed that from January to embassy, when he arrives to speak at is is disputed by the Union, party, the Union organised the events the Israel Defence Forces’ military July 2015, the Council spent £518,850 the Union on Monday night. which claims that “over the course that were agreeable to both speak- action in Gaza. At the time, PalSoc on temporary accommodation. is e executive committee is inviting of our negotiations with various po- ers’ representatives. Both Embassies told members that “the Cambridge dramatic increase nearly matches the members to bring “placards, banners tential speakers to represent both made requests regarding the format University Palestine Society considers total spend for the entirety of 2014 was and any other noise making equip- sides, PalSoc withdrew their support.” of any potential events, which the visit of such [Israeli] speak- £540,329. ment (tin pans and spoons, mega- A statement from the Union Press were respected.” ers a tacit endorsement of war Jake Beech, chair of the student-run phones, whistles etc.)” Offi ce in response to the Palestinian e Israel-Palestine con- crimes committed by their project Streetbite, which distributes e planned protest, mirroring the Society’s grievances reads: “[the] two fl ict has long been promi- government, and a dis- food and drinks to homeless people in reaction to Curiel’s appearance at a events are the result of months of ne- nent in Cambridge de- tasteful decision given the Cambridge, told Varsity that the soci- similar event at UCL on Tuesday, fol- gotiation with representatives from bate. In October last year, current situation in the ety has noticed “a signifi cant increase lows PalSoc’s release of a statement the Palestinian and Israeli Embassies, the Union passed a mo- West Bank. in the number of people of no fi xed expressing “outrage” at the Union’s de- and were both hosted in the interests tion that described Israel “As students of abode living in Cambridge over the last cision “to give the stage solely to a rep- of balance and fairness in regard to the as a “rogue state”, with Cambridge University, we few years”. resentative of the Israeli government, sensitive subject matter involved.” 51 per cent of attendees should stop such individu- “Speaking with members of the rather than host a proper debate.” e Union claims that it had at- voting for the propo- als pertaining to an apart- homeless community during our work, e details of the speaker event tempted to organise “a collaborative s i t i o n . heid government from we tend to fi nd they also believe the were not initially released by the event for Michaelmas 2015... to fea- using our univer- number of people sleeping rough has Union, prompting PalSoc to criti- ture both a Palestinian and Israeli rep- sity to whitewash increased”, he said, adding that some of cise in an email to members seen by resentative, thus giving members an their crimes, the homeless people Streetbite works Varsity what they saw as “an attempt opportunity to hear both sides of the and be resilient with have “expressed concern” for those to minimise the opportunity for or- story.” against pro- who fi nd themselves homeless for the ganised protest”. While wary to comment in too viding them fi rst time, and “lack of experience” with is follows the protest held against much detail “in order to avoid com- with a plat- issues such as survival outdoors during Daniel Taub, the Israeli Ambassador, promising agreements reached in pri- form to do the winter. who appeared in Cambridge in vate between two Embassies and the so.” In the past year, Streetbite has in- October last year. Union”, the Union was keen to “clarify creased the number of daily rounds Monday’s appearance from Curiel, that multiple options for the confi gu- “due to increased demand”. Beech notes which will follow a speaker’s event ration of these events were considered that “it has become apparent that.... Continued on page 2 CARDIFF UNION TV INSIDE: TERROR ALERT, UNION ELECTION, SCIENCE FUNDING, ZERO CARBON VOTE 2 Editorial Friday 27th November 2015 A storied history Sometimes it feels as if the university is creaking un- ticians to account when they visit the city. Remarks produce the newspaper you want to read. If ever this der the weight of its own history. made in Cambridge, like those of Tristram Hunt, can is not the case, like your predecessors, let us know. be relevant nationally. he same can be said of this newspaper, which Mistakes have been made, and continue to get bears a signiicant legacy. Signiicant too is the rela- his is what makes the sheer number of letters made. Our history is not an untroubled one – the pa- tionship between the university and its oldest surviv- written in by students so striking – not only do we per went bankrupt shortly after Jeremy Paxman’s time ing student newspaper; over the years, the focus for hold institutions to account, but our readers aford at the helm in 1972, as circulation dropped under his the latter has been, and remains, holding this ancient us the same courtesy. Even today, eagle-eyed readers successors. Varsity did not return in its original form institution to account. are quick to point out mistakes like the misnaming until 1987. In 2012, under increasing inancial pres- of Cambridge Universities Labour Club as the body sures, the paper was forced to reduce its print run to Varsity has scrutinised the university and those in for a singular university, and to criticise the way this fortnightly, only returning to weekly publication this positions of authority since its inception. In its irst excludes Anglia Ruskin University. Forgive us if, like term after inances improved. edition of 19th April 1947, reporting on the planned all Cambridge students, we become at times a little construction of a “huge” science centre on Lensield closed-minded. he term’s successful return to weekly publication Road, the paper noted the “storm of protest” raised means that this edition, our inal of the term, is also by the university Syndicate’s report, and carried an Student journalists have acquired a bad reputation the newspaper’s 800th. With applications to become article on pay rises for dons. hat style of report- for being an insular, self-involved clique; something a section editor closing on Monday, there has never ing continues today, with stories about the diicul- Varsity might itself have been guilty of, as when it been a better time to get involved, regardless of prior ties at the North West Cambridge development site, used to announce the appointment of the next term’s experience. EDITORIAL our exclusive on the sudden closure of the University editor on its front page. But we exist only for our Visit our website at www.varsity.co.uk/get-involved, Library’s bindery, and pieces holding national poli- readers across the city and the university. We aim to or email me at [email protected] to ind out more. Continued from front page people of previously able means are inding themselves in desperate posi- A good day for Good Night Out tions [due to] changes in employment and social welfare structures that have come about over the last few years.” Tom Wilson and LGBT+ people on nights out.” customers have a good night out. It “Customer Care Ambassadors” and He also opined that Cambridge “he goal is to clamp down on sex- Senior News Editor is crucial to note that the Good Night the provision of free phone charging acts as an “alternative” to London, ism, racism, homophobia, transpho- Out pledge is not comprehensive in stations in cloakrooms. Under the where “street living may be signii- bia, ableism and any other kind of covering all types of harassment faced scheme, vulnerable clients can be es- cantly more dangerous”, and there is he Good Night Out campaign re- harassment and oppression in our by diferent groups, and as such, I will corted home in a taxi.