The Independent Cambridge Student Newspaper since 1947 Get in line: the new Lifestyle section explains all CUSU in crisis Emotional Exec split over future of Union The CUSU Executive’s Sabbatical Officers: Vicki Mann, Zen Jelenje and Michelle Nuttall (left), angry at proposals made by Laura Walsh, Jennifer Cooper and Drew Livingston (right) have come about. posed by the Development responsibility lies with the “given that I work in the same n’t be an issue, and consulta- Rachel Divall The dissatisfaction centres and Planning Committee 18,000 students I represent, building as the two proposers tion would have taken place.” Bavishi on two motions. The first (DPC), a sub-committee of rather than with the Exec.” of this motion, I find it aston- The restructuring motion & Raj resolves to hold a referendum, CUSU chaired by Academic Walsh and Cooper argue ishing that I was not at any brought by DPC would be the posing the question of Affairs Officer Drew that the existence of a stage consulted, and was only first step towards significant whether the position of Livingston. Women’s Sabbatical Officer informed of the proposal reforms of the Executive. It THE CUSU EXECUTIVE has Women’s Officer should Both motions have been gives the impression that the shortly before the Council proposes to remove the major- been split in two over an remain a sabbatical one. The met with anger. At last night’s Women’s Union is more agenda was distributed.” ity of its voting members and apparent lack of consultation authors of the motion, CUSU highly-charged Exec meeting, important than the other Walsh justified the lack of replace them with Chairs of for plans to radically change President Laura Walsh and Vicki Mann, Welfare and Autonomous Campaigns communication, claiming “I new Standing Committees. the Student Union’s structure Services Officer Jennifer Graduates Officer, issued a (CUSU LBGT, CUSU genuinely didn’t know Walsh commented that at and funding. Cooper, believe CUSU’s warning to Walsh, threatening International, and the Black whether I would submit this present the Exec was too large Motions being brought to resources are currently “if it comes down to a motion Students’ Campaign). motion until the last minute, and its “unwieldiness” ren- next week’s CUSU Council focused disproportionately on of no confidence, then I’m Walsh added “this idea has but did so to ensure that the dered it ineffectual, “especially meeting propose a far-reach- the Women’s Union. happy to write it.” been floating around for ages question could be voted on at seeing as it is in fact Council ing reform of the Exec’s struc- The second motion resolves But Walsh told Varsity “it is and I genuinely believe that the time of the upcoming that is the policy-maker”. ture. Half of the Exec, howev- to hold another referendum, inevitable that the proposals it’s about time the entire stu- CUSU elections, allowing the There are just six members er, have made clear dissatisfac- which could reduce the exec- might be very unpopular with dent body had their say.” In change to take effect from on the DPC committee, and tion over both their content utive’s voting membership some Executive members at response, Michelle Nuttall, next year”. She conceded that Varsity has learnt that the and the process by which they from 25 to just 8. It was pro- this stage, but I feel my CUSU Women’s Officer, said “in an ideal world time would- >>continued on page 2 No. 631, 27th January, 2006 Special Report Features Tony Benn >> The Cambridgeshire Young Some students don’t wear The veteran campaigner talks about his growing pains People’s Service is under shoes. We follow in their foot- threat, despite public protest. steps to find out what it feels Varsity investigates the like. We especially like the Michael Haneke >> provision of mental health “dimpled” pink tiles that the Profiling the enfant terrible of French cinema care for students, and the government kindly puts at the possible consequences of edges of pedestrian crossings. NHS cutbacks. Groovy. Colin Montgomerie >> >>page 5 >>page 7 Gossiping on the golfing green 2 Varsity News 27.01.06 Homes for staff As house prices in the areas CUSU continued rise, both Oxford and JAMIE Cambridge Universities are >>continued from front page there would be little reason for motion was submitted to any college to disaffiliate, thus looking into reviving MARLAND employer-sponsored home Council for consideration ending the one meaningful tool building. Cambridge is plan- despite only three members at the College Union’s disposal ning to build 2500 homes in being in favour. The committee to put real pressure on CUSU. the north west of the city, of only keep handwritten min- An emergency Exec meeting which 1000 will be available utes, which are not circulated to has been called for January 30, exclusively to University members of the CUSU Exec. where the Chair, Rob Jeffreys, staff and postgraduate stu- Although positions are elected, will announce whether the pro- dents. The development they are rarely contested. This posed motions conflict with plan will include “necessary has led to fears that a worrying- current the CUSU and social amenities” including a ly small number of individuals Autonomous Campaigns’ con- school. Oxford’s plans are are able to propose the new stitutions. rather more modest, with direction for CUSU’s future. In All three proposals for change the university aiming to the light of allegations that the have been met by a uniform build 200 homes in the proposed changes are contrary criticism: a lack of consultation nearby village of to provisions in the constitu- by would-be reformers. Walsh Wolvercote. tions of both CUSU and the var- resolutely said, “people are ious Autonomous Campaigns, upset with me, but the need to DPC will reconsider their pro- get these questions asked out- Cancer drug posals at an emergency meeting weighs that consideration. This breakthrough on January 30. method was necessary in order Should the referendum be to secure actual change.” Cambridge based company The fraught CUSU Executive meeting, which took place last night Cellcentric are working with accepted, it will reduce the rep- The resulting stand-off is seri- Cancer Research resentation of minority interest A further cause of upset the massive financial and politi- fee. The situation is complicated ous, Mann admitted. “We have Technology, the commercial groups on the Exec. Under the stems from a bid by Walsh, cal implications the changes by the fact there seem to be no a situation now were the sabbs branch of Cancer Research proposed changes, a new stand- Cooper and Livingston to com- would have on College JCRs concrete rules requiring the are not talking to each other. UK, to develop a novel ing committee would be creat- pletely restructure the way indi- and MCRs, the authors of the University to distribute funds to We have three sabbs on one approach to combating can- ed, which would consist of the vidual College Unions pay for document should have consult- CUSU. side and three sabbs on the cer through so-called ‘epige- Officers representing specific affiliation to CUSU. At a meet- ed both the CUSU Exec and The aim of the paper on other. Its not very productive netic’ drugs. Epigenetic minority groups. Only the Chair ing of the Standing Advisory CUSU Council”. funding is to ensure CUSU’s for our union.” mechanisms determine of this committee would be Committee on Student Matters Rachel Price, Trinity Hall JCR financial security. Under the >> Editorial, page 13 which genes a particular cell given a vote on the CUSU Exec. held on December 6, the three President, told Varsity she was current situation there is a risk expresses via the actions of Shreyas Mukund, Black tabled a paper requesting CUSU “very unhappy with the sub- that CUSU could be expected to proteins and small mole- Students Officer, objects to the be centrally funded. Although stance of the proposal. Even maintain the present level of The Proposals cules. The drugs are anti- proposals for two reasons. presented in CUSU’s name, no more fundamentally though, services, but on a much lower bodies against the proteins Speaking to Varsity, he said “the other Sabbatical Officers, no there should have been much budget. Central funding would • CUSU WOMEN'S OFFICER involved in epigenetic lack of consultation on these members of the Exec and no wider consultation and the fact avoid this problem, but it would mechanisms, which are motions shows that even when Council members were that it has not and is not going render disaffiliation by College - Sabbatical position scrapped in often expressed in tumour Officers representing minority informed or consulted in the through Council is unaccept- Unions largely meaningless. favour of a part-time Officer students are on the exec, drafting of the proposal. able.” On their decision to act Walsh, Cooper and - Funds re-allocated to employ a cells. If successful, number of staff to support all researchers claim the devel- they're being excluded. When What has angered members without consultation on this Livingston’s request has precipi- the Autonomous Campaigns opment will prove invalu- they're on a sub-committee, I of the CUSU Exec and College matter, Walsh said, “we didn’t tated strong responses from able in the fight against can- can't imagine how much more Union Presidents most is that think the University would many JCR Presidents, who are • CUSU EXEC cer. severe the problem will be. On a Walsh, Cooper and Livingston accept our proposals and so did- angered that CUSU would be - Remove all part-time and co- more fundamental level, the acted unilaterally.