The Independent Cambridge Student Newspaper since 1947 Light at the end of the Easter tunnel: the best of the summer festivals BEN JONES Report states black students underperform commented this “would have Rachel Cooper been a more revealing and open way of tackling the issue”. A REPORT has revealed that Livingston added the report Cambridge students of Black “didn’t seem to tackle the issue Caribbean, Bangladeshi or and its end recommendations Pakistani origin are “much less seem weak”. likely” to get a First or 2:1, but The small size of the sample student representatives have has also been criticised: only condemned the report, saying 133 students were identified as that it “fails to tackle the issue”. belonging to ethnic minority Researchers from the groups being studied and only Education Faculty discovered 79 completed a questionnaire. that only 60 per cent of In-depth interviews were students of Black Caribbean, carried out with 50 students. Bangladeshi or Pakistani origin Duncan McCallum, Deputy will gain a First or 2:1 compared Academic Secretary said “the to 74.5 per cent of White, size of the sample did not Chinese and Indian students. constrain the research particu- The number of Black larly,” adding that the response Caribbean, Bangladeshi and rate was relatively good. Flanked by her two sons, Alethea Foster enters court to hear charges of the attempted murder of Lucy Cavendish’s Julie Simpson Pakistani students being award- The Black Students’ ed 2:2s or Thirds is 20 per cent Campaign now intends to carry higher than for other groups of out its own survey in order to students. raise more solutions and The University’s Council and recommendations; Olatunde General Board welcomed the said she hoped it would gener- Lucy Cav trial begins findings of the research as ate “more accurate responses”. “generally positive” but Temi The report stressed “ethnicity Olatunde, Chair of CUSU’s itself is not a factor determining Alethea Foster denies attempted murder of student Black Students’ Campaign, has academic performance at voiced concerns about the Cambridge”, stating social and Simpson requesting to meet her to discuss report’s angle and scope, saying financial factors play a greater Raj Bavishi the situation. Before leaving her home in it focused “too much on the part. Bromley, Kent, Mrs Foster placed a kitchen background and external Of those students who said A 61 YEAR-OLD MOTHER of two is on trial knife in her purse. factors that may account for they worry a lot about money, at Cambridge Crown Court, accused of the In a police interview after the incident, undergraduate achievement only 51 per cent got a first or attempted murder of a Politics and History she claimed, “I thought if I talked to her and amongst the specified ethnic 2:1 compared with 89 per cent student at Lucy Cavendish College. could not see a solution I would just kill minority groups”. of those who said they ‘do The jury has heard how Alethea Foster, a myself there and then, because I would not Both Olatunde and Drew not worry about their retired clinical podiatrist, repeatedly stabbed care about anything again. I didn’t want to Livingston, CUSU financial situation’. Julie Simpson, 44, in the face, eye, back and The knife used by Foster to stab Simpson live without John.” Academic Affairs The report also discov- arms with a kitchen knife in Simpson’s But the final entry in Mrs Foster’s diary, Officer, ered that those from room, having learnt of Ms Simpson’s 16 numerous occasions before the two became dated October 3, contained no mention of condemned ethnic minorities were year affair with her husband, John Foster. lovers at the end of 1989. this claim, merely saying, “Now it’s 12.35 the report for more likely to rate One blow, to Ms Simpson’s right eye, led Mrs Foster learnt of her husband’s affair and I’m on the Cambridge Cruiser. I’m failing to ‘extrinsic’ motiva- to blindness and another, to her back, after he failed to shut down his Hotmail seeing her today.I feel very ill and confused directly ask tion as one of the collapsed her lung. Wearing sunglasses, Ms account in April 2005. In an email, he and very upset.” students how main reasons for Simpson told the court, “I thought I was bemoaned to Ms Simpson, “My denials that Ms Simpson told the court she met Mrs they felt their entering higher probably going to die in the corridor.” we had or are having a sexual relationship Foster at the Porters’ Lodge and took her to ethnicity education and The jury heard that Simpson and Mr are not believed.” her room. Mrs Foster asked her whether she affected their applying to Foster first met in 1985, both working for Subsequent investigation confirmed Mrs and her husband were still sleeping togeth- academic Cambridge, the BBC. They became close, with Ms Foster’s fears that the two had been lovers. er. Ms Simpson claimed she replied, “I don’t performance. >>continued Simpson visiting the Foster family house on On October 3, Mrs Foster contacted Ms >>continued on page 2 Olatunde on page 2 No. 638, 28th April, 2006 www.varsity.co.uk All Gone Googley Who ya gonna call? Your cheating hearts >> Vint Cerf is a self-proclaimed Cambridge Paranormal Read our guide and then definitely ignore it “founding father of the inter- Research Society hunt the net,” and now evangelises on county’s ghosts so you don’t it for Google. He defends have to. They show us their All about the Benjamin >> their Chinese censorship and ghost-hunting gear and The poetic Mr Zepheniah reveals all tells us why he wants to meet explain why the ghosts more Cambridge CompScis. disappear when the tape starts rolling. Water under the bridge >> page 9 >> pages 10 & 11 Light Blues lose out again in Boat Race >> 2 Varsity News 28.04.06 Bike theft halved Bike crime reported in JCAP findings continued Essays come at a price Cambridge has more than halved since police launched a >>continued from page 1 “the nature of the interviews findings but Livingston crackdown last year. Around meaning they choose their were felt appropriate, given the expressed concern that he had five bikes are now reported degree subjects on the basis of Project’s Terms of Reference”, “not heard any plans on how to stolen in the city every week, parental influence and benefits adding that it might possibly take it [the report] forward” but compared to a rate of 12 per of a degree for their career. The have been beneficial to explore he added that the “senior tutors week at the end of September report’s authors concluded that staff ethnicity but said that if are usually quite helpful”. He last year. Police have a close this could result in students this had been an issue, “the stressed that the university working relationship with taking the ‘wrong’ subject students would have made this “can’t be allowed to forget it”, cycle shops and a new link which could have a detrimen- clear in interviews”. adding that he will continue to force website which posts tal impact on their academic The report made recommen- put pressure on University pictures of recovered bikes has performance. dations on how the academic committees to implement the received more than 10,000 Concerns about ‘fitting in’ performance of certain minori- report’s recommendations. hits in March. Detective socially could also have a ty ethnic groups could be In light of the report, CUSU Inspector Martin Brunning, negative impact on academic improved, stating additional are formulating their own who is leading the initiative performance; almost all funding options could be policy on how to improve the said, “We are delighted Muslim students questioned explored for those worst off, as experience of ethnic minority Philip Malamatinas, co-founder of Oxbridge Essays Operation Cyclone is having said the predominance of alco- well as ways of offering accom- students; on Wednesday, an impact in Cambridge and hol-based events made college modation outside of Term to Livingston tabled a motion to would be useful for students in we hope it stresses the social life difficult and cited the allow students to supplement a CUSU exec meeting stating Matilda James preparation for their Oxbridge message cycle crime is being lack of halal food in Colleges their term-time studies. that better provision should be application and interview”. investigated.” as a problem. The Senior Tutors’ made for social activities for ONE MONTH after Professor The cost of such a service is But, Olatunde criticised the Committee and Bursars’ students who do not drink Alan Grafen, Oxford’s Senior substantial – an undergraduate AIDS day of action nature of the report, claiming Committee are considering the alcohol. Proctor, admitted that plagia- 2500-word essay of guaranteed Today, as part of the nation- “questions asked in interviews rism was “rife” among the 2:1 standard for next morning al day of action in the fight focused almost entirely on undergraduate population, delivery costs £600, whilst a against AIDS, Cambridge students’ backgrounds, their students from Cambridge and First-class 10,000 word disser- University’Stop Aids Society’ upbringing and parental back- Oxford Universities are being tation draft is £2000. Oxbridge are stepping up their ground”. She added it urged to sign up as writers of Essays defends its prices, argu- campaign agaisnt unscrupu- “seemingly tailored responses ‘bespoke’ essays for students at ing, “if you are willing to pay a lous pharmaceutical to come up with a conclusion other universities.