Artsp13-14 Featuresp20-21 Sportp32 Terry Eagleton: the Skint? Here’s the ultimate cheapskate’s guide. Vaulting ambitions formidable critic talks All the fun of the fair for free. Almost. at college cuppers. about the crisis of The first sporting capitalism and the silverware of the need for realism. year is handed out. Friday October 23rd 2009 The Independent Student Newspaper since 1947 Issue no 703 | varsity.co.uk Peterhouse Blues GEOFF ROBINSON » JCR will hold referendum on CUSU disaffiliation in two weeks R COLLEGE External Officers, Welfare Officers, wished to remain anonymous, told Gemma Oke Academic Affairs Officers, Women’s Varsity, “Tom Chigbo came to the Senior Reporter Officers, Ents Officers and Treasur- Freshers’ Squash to publicise what ers.” According to the Guide, the CUSU do for students, but I think President of CUSU also arranges it backfired. People at the back ... TheWESTMINSTE Peterhouse JCR will hold an fortnightly meetings for Presidents were just looking at their watches.” open meeting and referendum on and External Officers. Joe Ruiz told Varsity, “I don’t November 4th on a motion to disaffil- A speech made by CUSU Presi- think realistically that there is a iate from the Cambridge University dent Tom Chigbo at the Peterhouse great danger that Peterhouse will Students’ Union (CUSU). Freshers’ Squash outlined what disaffiliate.” He confirmed that the JCR President Joe Ruiz told CUSU does and encouraged stu- stance of the JCR itself is “neutral” Varsity, “Within Peterhouse the dents to see CUSU as a useful and – neither in support or opposition of debate about affiliation began last relevant body for students. How- a move to disaffiliate. year when the JCR, for reasons now ever, Varsity understands that JCR “Any decision taken will be the resolved, didn’t have enough funds officials, keen to keep the Squash result of an open meeting of the to pay the affiliation fees. We have a ‘College’ event, were initially JCR on the November 4th where now paid those fees but it is a good reluctant to allow Chigbo to speak, all undergraduates can discuss and idea for democracy in College to still and subsequently frustrated when vote on the issue. A major issue such have a vote on the issue.” the CUSU President’s speech sub- as this would always be put to an A draft agenda for the meeting is stantially overran its allotted five open meeting.” due to be released shortly. minutes. Tom Chigbo said, “We are always “The JCR Committee ... will Varsity believes Joe Ruiz initially happy to speak to Peterhouse stu- explain the CUSU services that we refused to allow Chigbo to speak on dents about how CUSU will help do currently make use of. The aim is the grounds that the CUSU Presi- them and their JCR this year.” to let people know what we get for dent would be invited to make his The last JCR disaffiliation dispute our affiliation fees each year and let case for the College’s continued occurred in March 2006, when Trin- them decide whether it is a good use CUSU affiliation at the open meet- ity College Student Union (TCSU) of our funds.” ing on November 4th, to be followed voted by a margin of only six votes Varsity understands that there by a JCR vote. Chigbo then sought to disaffiliate itself from the Stu- have been tensions between Peter- approval for his appearance at dents’ Union. The vote came on the house and CUSU dating from the Freshers’ Squash from other same day as the CUSU General before the summer, instigated by members of the JCR Committee, Election at which Mark Ferguson the Peterhouse JCR’s initial difficul- who also refused. Finally, Chigbo was elected CUSU President. That ties in paying the £1,500-per-year approached the JCR Freshers’ election saw a memorably low voting CUSU affiliation fee and ongoing Rep, who agreed that the CUSU turnout of 16 per cent. indecision as to the fee’s value for President could speak. Perhaps TCSU reaffiliated with CUSU on Who’s gonna ride your wild horses? money. understandably, the roundabout January 28th 2007, after a referen- According to the online ver- way in which Chigbo organised his dum based on only 20 votes. hese wild konik horses are some of the first in Britain since the ldis- sion of the “Guide to CUSU”, last appearance at the Squash seems to Emmanuel, Jesus, and St John’s appearance of wild horse breeds 4,000 years ago. They have been updated in 2007, the CUSU affili- have annoyed some members of the also held referenda on CUSU dis- T imported from Holland to live in Wicken Fen, just two miles outside of ation fee funds services such as JCR committee. affiliation in 2006, but none of them Cambridge city centre. “specific training for Presidents, A Peterhouse student, who ultimately chose to disaffiliate. Blue Bins are coming to Cambridge City Recycling households from October 26th is about to get Look out for your new recycling bin arriving soon. For more information visit our website and read the leaflet with your Blue Bin. www.cambridge.gov.uk/bluebin easier! [email protected]. 01223 458628 2 Friday October 23rd 2009 News Editors: Avantika Chilkoti, Emma Mustich and Beth Staton News www.varsity.co.uk [email protected] TAMSYN HYATT In Brief Churchill’s daughter plants 50th anniversary tree On Saturday, Lady Soames, youngest and only surviving daughter of Sir Winston and Lady Clementine Churchill, visited Churchill College in celebration of the College’s 50th anniversary. Lady Soames, 87, planted a weeping mulberry tree in the College grounds. The tree-planting ceremony occurred 50 years to the day after a similar ceremony in which Sir Winston planted a tree in Churchill to mark its foundation. Churchill College is the national monument to the former Prime Minister, whose papers are kept on the premises in the Churchill Archives Centre. Watch video of the 1959 tree-planting ceremony at www.vimeo.com/7079248. Cancer Research UK hosts charity run Members of Cambridge University Amnesty International (CUAI) campaigned last weekend for the release of Burmese political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi. Members of Sunday saw Cancer Research CUAI, some sporting paper masks with Suu Kyi’s face, occupied a wooden cage on King’s College’s front lawn continuously from 6pm on Friday 16 until 6pm on Sunday 18th . UK’s first ‘Run 10k’ event in Cambridge. The charity is organising 41 similar runs throughout the country this Cyclists riding without lights this week will face £30 fines season. Over 1,600 runners, aided by 65 volunteer marshals, and 2008. disregard for bike lights by Council, as part of the campaign. raised as much as £70,000 for Jennie Baker Cllr Howell told Varsity, “I try to Cambridge cyclists. Sergeant Gordon Morgenthaler cancer research. Cambridge’s Reporter stick up for the cyclists – but it is a Police have welcomed the Conser- of Cambridgeshire police said: “This Sarah Juggins, 41, was first to lot easier if the anti-bike lobby don’t vative Action Team’s study, claiming is not a reward for doing something cross the finish line, finishing have such obvious open goals as that combating dangerous cycling wrong, but a real step forward, the 10km run in 36 minutes. In the week approaching seeing the law on bike lights being was currently a priority. However, offering some of the most vulnerable Running lanes were marked off Cambridgeshire police’s annual widely flouted.” Cllr Howell claims: “ The police need road users expert help to improve throughout the city, including road safety campaign, a survey has Although the data was collected to tackle this problem year round, their cycling skills and reduce the in central areas such as Trinity revealed staggering results on the in one location, Cllr Howell claims not in a once a year crackdown, and risk of accidents.” Street. number of cyclists riding without that his results reflect a broader only after some good publicity.” During the 2008 campaign, police lights in the city. For the week begin- BEATRICE RAMSAY Cambridgeshire police will launch issued over 200 tickets to cyclists, New club to open on ning Monday 26th, all cyclists riding their week-long campaign on Monday and around 170 sets of lights were Jesus Lane without bike lights will be fined £30. 26. The operation will take enforce- fitted to bikes. Shortly after this, Andrew Bower and City Cllr ment action against those failing to a independent study found that An alternative student drinking Chris Howell of the Conservative use lights, and also educate cyclists Cambridge cyclists topped national experience can now be found on Action Team conducted a survey and motorists on the importance of tables, with 80 per cent of the cyclists Jesus Lane after the opening of on the number of cyclists using having a working set for their own using lights. a new club, Hidden Rooms, last their lights on a recent Sunday and and others’ safety. Paul Griffin, Cambridge City week. The club enjoyed a hugely Monday night from 11pm on Mill Cambridge City Council is working Council’s Community Safety successful first student night, Road bridge. From their sample of in partnership with the Cambridge Strategy officer said: “Last year’s outselling other student venues 89 cyclists, 50 per cent were found to Constabulary to offer a free set campaign was very well received with specific acts playing. have both their front and back lights of bike lights to every cyclist who and made a big contribution to Student drinks deals will now on, however 43 per cent were using receives a ticket during the week.