Winner of four Guardian Student Media Awards Spring Term Week Three Wednesday 23 January 08 www.nouse.co.uk NOUSE Est. 1964 ‘When you see what’s going on in the world, you’ve got this rage. My therapy for that is to write songs.’ Manu Chao >>M9 Ex-student pleads guilty to charge of conspiracy to defraud University Askerov and accomplice admit attempt to cheat in exam Judge refuses to rule out possibility of prison sentences Henry James Foy included charges of acquir- guilty” to the charges read ing a University of York iden- against them. Askervov was NEWS EDITOR tification card with intent to impassive throughout the defraud the University. hearing while Drean was vis- A FORMER York student Drean, who previously ibly agitated. and his accomplice have held senior positions in the The case now proceeds pleaded guilty to one charge investment teams of Credit to a further hearing in the of conspiracy to defraud the Suisse and Bank of America, week beginning February 25, University, and will return to was also charged with two at which the judge will deliv- court next month facing counts of possessing crimi- er a pre-sentencing report. potential jail terms. nal assets totalling £20,000, Both defendants had their Judge Stephen believed to have been paid to bail extended until that date. Ashcroft, who presided over him by Askerov, who now Cameron requested that the hearing at York Crown lives in London. Drean Judge Ashcroft sentence the Court, said: “All sentences, pleaded not guilty to both of pair during the hearing, and including custody, will be these additional charges. remove the need for the considered,” adding that it Both men were arrested adjournment. “Is it in the was “an unusual yet serious at the University on 11 May public interests and the case of dishonesty.” 2007, when it is alleged interests of the public purse Elnar Askerov, 22, from Drean was caught imperson- to adjourn to a pre-sentenc- Azerbaijan, and his French ating Askerov in his final ing report?” he asked the accomplice Jerome Drean, year Economics exam. court. 34, stood charged on University of York Press Cameron, who travelled Monday 11 January with 10 Officer David Garner from London for the hear- counts of fraud against the declined to comment before ing, said that it was difficult University of York, dating the case is formally closed. to fit accusations of cheating from January 2006 to May Defending Askerov, in a university exam into the 2007. Alexander Cameron QC criminal justice system, and The pair pleaded not notified the court that his urged Judge Ashcroft to guilty to the nine other client “did not conceive [his impose justice with a “finan- charges, relating to eight actions] to be a criminal cial penalty or unpaid work dates on which Drean is offence.” He added that the in the community.” VENETIA RAINEY accused of impersonating best outcome of the case Judge Ashcroft rejected Askerov in examinations. would be that the legal posi- this suggestion on the basis The men bear no physical tion on academic miscon- that it “would be eliminating resemblance to each other. duct would be clearer . certain sentencing options,” The fraud charge to Both men spoke only to which the pair pleaded guilty respond “guilty” or “not >> continued on page 2 Ex-student Elnar Askerov (right) and acommplice Jerome Drean leaving York Crown Court YUSU officer to face University cited in Finding a house Netball hat-trick win no confidence vote report on arms trade Nouse presents the over Varsity rivals YUSU Academic and Welfare The University of York has been definitive guide on how All three University netball teams Officer Grace Fletcher-Hackwood criticised in a report on the rela- to find not just a decent defeated rivals York St John to is set to face a no confidence vote tionship between UK universities secure an important psychological in the next UGM after a student and the arms industry. York took house, but a happy victory in the run up to the annual she assaulted submitted a motion £7.7m in funding from defence home. Our step-by-step Varsity tournament in February. against her. She has thus far companies to carry out 59 research The 1sts match was hard fought resisted calls for her resignation. projects between 2001 and 2006. guide will take the stress but strong shooting late in the out of house-hunting. NEWS >> Page 3 NEWS >> Pages 4 - 5 game secured a 32-30 win. COMMENT >> Pages 10-11 COMMENT >> Pages 10 - 11 MUSE >> M12 - 13 SPORTS >> Page 20 NOUSE :THE UNIVERSITY OF YORK STUDENT NEWSPAPER 2 News Wednesday January 23 2008 Hitch to Morrocco Rising Hes East prices spark fails ratification tests This year’s Hitch to Morocco will not take place with the backing of YUSU worries of campus inequality after it was deemed too great a risk to Union liability. The decision was made after YUSU Communications Sian Turner GEORGE LOWTHER and Societies Officer Sam Bayley STAFF REPORTER described the Hitch’s destination as “too much of a risk”, and it was revealed that the Union’s insurance GOODRICKE STUDENTS mov- does not cover the kind of risks ing to the Heslington East develop- undertaken by participants. Despite ment in 2009 look set to face the decision, YUSU continues to sup- higher accommodation fees to port the initiative, providing them compensate for rising construction with free advertising and use of uni- costs. versity rooms. “We don’t have any The campus expansion proj- problem with their aims and objec- ect, which began in 2007 at a cost tives,” said Bayley, “and they’re work- of £500 million, will become the ing for a worthy cause.” new home of Goodricke College by next year. However, the cost of the Derwent kitchens hit build looks set to disadvantage stu- by microwave arson dents financially. Speaking at Senate last week, Residents of Derwent C and D YUSU President Anne-Marie blocks face discipinary action after a Canning revealed that “the rents series of explosive incidents involv- on Heslington East would be high- ing foodstuffs in their microwaves. er than anywhere on Heslington During the early hours of Friday West.” January 18, a can, a bottle of gin and “This build has cost a lot of a variety of foods were exploded in money and it has to, basically, wash Rising costs of the Heslington East development could push up accommodation charges in the near future microwaves in the block kitchens, its own face,” she added. causing extensive damage. Derwent In order to maximise the prof- and for a reason,” said YUSU people in ghettos according to lower, the pressure is on the uni- Provost Ron Weir warned: “If the itability of accommodation in Services and Finance Officer Matt what they can and cannot afford.” versity to keep refurbishing and facilities continue to be used inap- Heslington East, plans have been Burton, “and that was to prevent Canning also expressed con- improving other colleges,” he said. propriately, they will be removed,” put forward to make all rooms en different colleges becoming differ- cern the divide could grow. “It “The issue is that some colleges, while Administrator Chris Unwin suite, or to charge an equal fee for ent classes. I think that by differen- poses the question about having like Derwent, may fall behind on told residents that “these incidents both standard and en suite rooms. tiating rents it would become a sit- two campuses,” she said. “which is their maintenance in comparison are highly dangerous and whoever is The move has sparked great uation of the rich and the poor.” a real worry actually, creating an to Hes East.” responsible is putting the lives of debate within the Union, creating YUSU Environment and old and a new campus, a rich and a The suggestion of the univer- their fellow residents, at risk.” A culprit is yet to be identified. fears that a situation of ‘C Ethics Officer Tom Langley echoed poor campus.” sity abolishing the 33 week let on ollegeopoly’ will develop, with only Burton’s comments, saying: “You’re YUSU Societies and Hes East was also criticised, with the wealthiest students able to looking at a university where you Communications Officer Sam some claming that it would cause a University bridges to afford the newer, ‘Mayfair-style’ have segregation according to abil- Bayley believes that the divide decline in the cultural diversity of accommodation. ity to pay. I personally find it a real- could lead to falling standards of Goodricke College. remain closed “We went through this cam- ly horrifying thought and I don’t maintenance in existing colleges. Two major bridges on campus have LEADER >> page 10 paign for differential rent years ago like the idea of basically having “If rents on Campus West are been closed following a structural survey which revealed “concerns about their loading.” University Press Officer Dave Garner said that “the University decided to err on the side Cheating student pleads guilty to fraud charge of caution and close them. We will << Continued from front £16,000 to the court within 56 Zhang. They were convicted and Officer Grace Fletcher-Hackwood, either refurbish the bridges or adopt days. Drean had previously forfeit- sentenced for fraud after being commenting on the guilty plea, some other approach.” However, a and that he wanted to be confident ed £4,000. arrested at the same exam in May. said: “We are pleased that this has notice on the Vanbrugh to Goodricke he had read and considered all the Few details of the pair’s rela- The two Chinese students, been uncovered.