Greatest Cantabrigian: Vote Now Today we launch our poll to decide who was the greatest Cantabrigian. See page 15 for the shortlist and vote online at www.varsity.co.uk Friday November 13th 2009 The Independent Student Newspaper since 1947 Issue no 706 | varsity.co.uk Single featuring University Library could be renamed after benefactor Stephen Hawking ALASTAIR APPLETON released Tilly Wilding-Coulson Reporter This week, Third Man Records, released its newest project, single ‘A Glorious Dawn’, which features Professor Stephen Hawking, Fellow of Gonville and Caius College. Third Man is the label of break- through acts The White Stripes, Whirlwind Heat and Jack White’s spin off venture, The Raconteurs. The single is made up of excerpts from Carl Sagan’s award-winning 80s television show, ‘Cosmos: A Per- sonal Voyage’, mixed with samples of Hawking’s synthetic speech and various instruments. It was created by composer John Boswell. Sagan earned his worldwide fame through publication of popu- lar science books in addition to the renowned television show. The single is a tribute to Sagan, R COLLEGE who died in 1996 at 62. November find it turned into a branch of Tesco it can enhance its collections and often depends on getting fund- 9th would have been Sagan’s 75th Claire Gatzen with an internet cafe, if the Gen- develop the services provided to its ing but it is very important that birthday. Senior Reporter eral Board fancied that idea. What users. the funder can’t control the ques- Hawking, author of A Brief History is there to stop someone literally “This proposal is no different to tions that are asked or suppress of Time, suffers from amyotrophic buying the library? What sort of those already undertaken by most the results if he doesn’t like them. lateral sclerosis (a variant of motor AWESTMINSTE row has erupted following a uni- message would be sent out?” major research libraries. If Bill Gates did want to name the neurone disease), and communicates lateral decision to sell the right She also suggested that the “External donations are about Library after himself mightn’t he by way of a speech synthesiser. He to name Cambridge University Library might have breached helping the Library maintain its want to press for more IT resources has been in the news most recently Library after the highest bidder. University protocol, telling Var- global position and enhancing the and fewer books? for stepping down from the position of The Library is offering what sity, “There is a code under which services provided, not detracting “I’m sure Anne Jarvis is sincere Lucasian Professor of Mathematics. it describes as “the ultimate com- benefactions are supposed to be from them.” in what she says but when deals The single’s accompanying video memorative naming opportunity” considered. It was created while I Evans, Emeritus Professor of have to be done to get huge sums of can be viewed on YouTube. to raise funds in exchange for exter- was on the University Council. Did Medieval Theology and Intellec- money, how confident can we be that nal sponsorship. anyone even glance at this before tual History, also told Varsity that the University will stick to its guns? But Professor Gillian Evans, a agreeing this ‘offer’? We’d all like she was concerned about the conse- It took money from GKN [a global Simon Blackburn member of the University’s Regent to know.” quences of the rebranding plans for automotive and aerospace manu- House governing body, attacked the University Librarian Anne academic research. facturing company] and allowed Co-operation should be move, arguing that a commercial Jarvis defended the move as a valid She explained, “Cambridge has a GKN representative to join the at the heart of human tie-up would damage the Library’s attempt to boost fundraising. She accepted benefactions for cen- committee that chose the new GKN relations reputation and adversely influence stated, “it is completely normal turies but in recent years it has professor.” academic activities. for an institution of this calibre to recognised that it is important to Opinion amongst students Evans expressed anger that Uni- explore the full range of fundraising check that the money is ‘clean’ and appears to be divided. A third- versity staff had not been consulted options open to it. The University that the benefactor does not want year Historian supported Professor about the renaming plans, telling Library is home to some of the most to attach strings to it, which could Evans’ stance, telling Varsity she p9 a Regent House meeting, “At this important collections of books and compromise the University’s proper thought the move was “ridiculous”. rate, one might set off for the Uni- manuscripts in the world. It contin- academic activities. versity Library one morning to ues to seek external support so that “Academic research these days Continued on page 3. 2 Friday November 13th 2009 News Editors: Avantika Chilkoti, Emma Mustich and Beth Staton News www.varsity.co.uk [email protected] EMMA MUSTICH In Brief CUR1350 nominated for two Student Radio Awards CUR1350, which broadcasts student radio from its studio in Churchill College, was nominated for two Student Radio Awards, for Best Student Radio Chart Show and Best Outside Broadcast (for its coverage of May Bumps this year). The Awards ceremony will be held on November 24th. CUR1350, which features programmes by students from the Univer- sity of Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin, has been successful at the awards before, winning four awards in 2004, and receiving nine nominations (the most of any station in the country) and three awards in 2007. May Ball regulations released by Council Cambridge City Council released their annual guide to running May Balls this week, provoking concerns that nglia Ruskin University held its graduation ceremonies at the Corn Exchange on Wednesday and Thursday this week. Graduates crowded Bene’t running such events may be Astreet in dark blue and gold graduation gowns, with relatives and friends. The university was founded in 1858 when Victorian writer and critic John subject to further restrictions in Ruskin opened a School of Art in Sidney Street. It was not until 2005 that the enormously expanded institution was given its current title. the future. The guide reasserts much of last year’s stipulation for running May Week effec- tively, including sections on Cambridge MP David Howarth to stand down at general election noise pollution, drug restric- tion and hypnotists. Despite complaints after last year’s to earth, David has proven to be Jesus May Ball, however, it is Gemma Oke the perfect MP for our city and our not thought that the restrictions Senior Reporter University” he said. will mean enormous changes for Howarth entered local politics in planning events. 1987 as a councillor for the Castle The MP for Cambridge, David ward in Cambridge City, becom- Department of Howarth, has announced he will ing the leader of the City Council stand down at the next General in 2000. Architecture building Election to focus on his career as an As well as serving as the Liberal sold academic. Democrat Shadow Secretary of State A building on Chaucer Road, Howarth announced last Thursday for Justice, Howarth has also played home of the Department of that he will not contest his seat, won a significant role in formulating Architecture’s Martin Centre in 2005 with a 10% majority over the Liberal Democrat economic policy, for more than three decades, second-placed Labour candidate. and in environmental committees. is being sold by the Univer- A Fellow of Clare College since Recently he has campaigned sity. The asking price for the 1985, Mr Howarth lectured on Land against the introduction of tuition 10,000-square-foot Victorian Economy, Law and Economics fees and ID cards, and voted very building, which has an exten- between 1988 and 2005. He stressed David Howarth (right) with members of the Cambridge Student Liberal Democrats strongly for an investigation into sive garden and is close to the that he would continue to serve the Iraq War. Botanic Garden, is £3.5 million. constituents until the next General to support the Liberal Democrats Clegg praised Howarth as “a politi- Howarth was one of few to escape The building and its accompany- Election is called. and Nick Clegg and I wish the cian of huge integrity and intellectual the expenses scandal, as the only ing cottage are not listed, but “After nearly 22 years of elected party all success in the future. I also ability”, while Dom Weldon, chair Liberal Democrat MP outside “they are within a conservation public office, the time has come for look forward to continuing to play of the Cambridge Student Liberal Greater London to commute from area and the main residence is me to concentrate on my other life, a role in the party’s policy-making Democrats expressed “a heartfelt his constituency for Parliamentary recorded as a building of local as an academic” he said. process.” sadness” at David’s departure. sessions, rather than claim a second interest.” “I will continue enthusiastically Liberal Democrat leader Nick “A wise thinker, yet very down home allowance. Varsity has been Cambridge’s independent student newspaper since 1947 and distributes 10,000 free copies to every Cambridge College, to ARU and around Cambridge each week. Get involved EDITORS Robert Peal & Anna Trench [email protected] ASSOCIATE EDITORS Jenny Morgan [email protected] & Laurie Tuffrey [email protected] NEWS EDITORS Avantika Chilkoti, Emma Mustich & Beth Staton [email protected] COMMENT EDITOR Dan Hitchens [email protected] SPORT EDITORS Will Caiger-Smith & Olly West [email protected] FEATURES EDITOR Zing Tsjeng [email protected] ARTS EDITOR Laura If you would like to find out how Freeman [email protected] THEATRE EDITOR Lauren Cooney [email protected] REVIEWS & LISTINGS EDITOR Paul Smith [email protected] FASHION EDITORS Charlie Lyons, Joe Pitt-Rashid & Lara Prendergast to write for Varsity, come to one [email protected] of our weekly meetings.