A group of York students has won the opportunity to have their very own I-phone application developed after winning The App Challenge final, held at the Ron Cooke Hub on Wednesday, January 18.
YUSU Welfare officer Bob Hughes has warned students to be vigilant after a student loans phishing scam has been revealed.
Her Majesty the Queen will be visiting York on Maundy Thursday, 5th April, as part of the 800th anniversary of York’s Charter for the traditional “Royal Maundy” ceremony.
A flood caused by a heating system “failure” forced the university IT services to shut down many essential systems on Sunday night, causing problems for many students on the eve of their exams and assignment due-dates.
The Take Back Parliament campaign was organised primarily by students from the University of York. Featured were speeches from the likes of Baroness Afshar, a march through the streets of York and a ballot box for people to cast their vote on their preferred voting system.
There was a mixture of intrigue and bewilderment as people witnessed the marching take place. One can only wonder whether the demand for “FREE VOTES...NOW” resonated with the people of York or whether instead it fell on deaf, disinterested ears.
Those involved in the event were upbeat about how it went. Protester Tom Ruane said it was the “first thing of this sort to happen in York” and a “good start” to an ongoing campaign. His sentiments were echoed by fellow protester Jonny Bolton – “hopefully this [electoral reform] will remain in the public eye”.
The protest is part of a nationwide campaign, with protests taking place across England, Scotland and Wales over the coming days. Here in York the campaign is set to continue, with the organisers hoping to maintain the momentum created by Saturday’s rally.
Electoral reform is proving to be one of the hottest topics in Westminster at present. Plans are currently on the table, as part of the Con-Lib coalition deal for a referendum on the AV voting system. Critics of this system claim it is not far enough and it is unlikely to appease many campaigners; with the Take Back Parliament website describing it as a “small step in the right direction”.
However small a step it may or not be, there are those who have expressed their concern over its realisation. York Central’s Labour MP, who was also present and speaking at the event stressed that any movement would need to be mobilised in order to counter the opposition that voting reform would encounter.
It is uncertain and perhaps unlikely that the campaign will succeed in convincing parliament or even the public that Proportional Representation is needed. However, yesterday’s demonstration and the movement for electoral reform itself seem to signify that the electorate are engaging with politics, even after the elections are over.
Even if there was bewilderment on the faces of some in York yesterday, among those wearing purple there was a sense of solidarity. Young and old, student or pensioner – people were united under a common cause, determined for their voices to be heard. Successful or not, any such campaign can only prove positive for British Civil Society.
comment deleted by a moderator I appear to be doing television's most ridiculous wave in this.
In slow motion.
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