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.
A meeting that was due to be a question-and-answer session for the new campus development collapsed tonight when Cantor decided not to turn up.
Around 100 students donned white dust suits and masks with various slogans written across their backs.
They had been given suits and masks by YUSU, as well as cards marked with questions to ask Cantor, who was expected to take questions at the briefing of campus developments.
Brian Cantor has decided not to turn up and talk to you all.
Shortly before the group entered V/045, a call was taken by one of the Communications Office Staff who told Cantor that a group had indeed formed.
YUSU President Anne-Marie Canning told the gathered group: "Brian Cantor has decided not to turn up and talk to you all."
Canning expressed her disappointment that he had decided not to turn up as he would have not only discussed Langwith Bar, but also other developments such as Heslington East.
She added: "This has to be the most captive group of students he would have got to listen to him. I'm distraught he's decided not to come."
In a rousing speech she said: "This is about making it clear what students want; what students need.
"Halifax has no bar, it was closed mid-term, no bar, no common room and 2000 students. That's not fair."
Langwith Chair Zach Pepper then spoke to the group, and, with Policy and Campaigns Officers Michael Batula and Tom Langrish, led a march to Heslington Hall, where Cantor's office is based. They were joined by current and future YUSU Sabbaticals including Anne-Marie Canning, Tom Scott, Charlie Leyland and Rory Shanks .
The group initially gathered at the front of Heslington Hall where doors had been locked. Their chants included: "Listen to your students."
Pepper, having successfully got Academic Registrar Sue Hardman's attention, said: "Please, come meet us, we'll be nice."
A statement prepared by the University Registrar read: "It is regrettable that it had to be cancelled. In the mean time the strength of students' feeling has been noted."
Canning told the group: "You've made me very proud. Go home now, and have some tea."
Pepper said it was important to realise that, "the meeting wasn't cancelled, he just got in a car to go to Oxford."
Simon Wood, a first year Langwith student, said of Cantor's lack of appearance: "I think it's a bit cowardly." Asked whether the protest would influence Cantor's decision he said: "I doubt it to be honest."
After the group dispersed Langrish said: "He's noticed the strong opinions of the students and he'd be a fool not to come on Tuesday."
Asked if he thought the no-show was a cop out, Langrish said: "Anne-Marie says it's just the way he lives his life. It's a bit dubious though to say the least. I don't think he'd dare do it again, or he'll have us to argue with."
The re-scheduled meeting will take place on Tuesday, Week 10 at Noon. A second protest is thought to be planned.
If he was a college chair and didn't turn up to meetings he'd be no confidenced...
If students could no confidence the VC I think it'd have been tried by now 
When was the last time any sort of direct action protest worked at York? A waste of time and money.
The 'Save The Bars' campaign 2 years ago worked to some extent: http://www.nouse.co.uk/2006/05/04/moderate-success-declared-for-yusu-save-the-bars-campaign/. At least one positive result was convincing management to invest money in B Henry's and re-open it as a cocktail bar, which completely turned around the fortune of the bar.
I’m sorry but we have to fight these things.
Surely you aren’t prepared to allow the University to tread all over the students once again?
The protest has already yielded some results. They're meeting us on Tuesday.
thank you #3.
When was the last time anyone paid any attention to any comment on the yorker?
Waste of time.
At least nearly 200 people care enough to get up off their arses, why not just lie down and let the world trample all over you - after all, if you stand up, it might not make a difference!
Is there an official reason from Cantor as to why he did not turn up? If it was in regards to the planned protest I suggest he "man up". The salary he is paid should surely cover appearing in front of 100 students, a number I'm quite proud of in a small university like York where apathy is rife (even within myself if I must be honest). And if this is "the way he lives his life", dropping meetings at short notice when he promised his attendance, how on earth did he ever get to vice-chancellor?
Sorry for the rant. I guess I just don't like flakes :p
This is shocking, it's like students don't exist to Brian Cantor. What a terrible Vice Chancellor. No conidence from me.
I love Brian.
Its even worse considering it was a public meeting for anyone interested in campus development. That ranges from current students and staff to local businesses, heslington residents, potential employers, york council, green groups, potential students and sponsors.
Someone should have at least gone to talk in his place. Very unprofessional to let people down because of a protest.
I echo the feelings of #8. Absolutely shameful that the VC doesn't have the guts to face the students given what he is paid.
Just shows that he must have no real justification for what is going on and inflames the situation further
pretty generous headline... 'backs away' implies some kind of approach. Cantor wont show himself anywhere near students. What a ****.
I agree with #10, I think its outrageous that Cantor didn't even put in a phone call to APOLOGISE for or explain his absence from a scheduled public appearance.
How can he (and the university in general) be so disrespectful, contemptuous and indifferent to students?
I think I'd have had the same reaction was I to be confronted by a load of sign-wielding, over-reacting hippie students.
sometimes a loud and eye-catching protest is the only way to get the attention of those who seem determined to ignore us at every possible opportunity
I would hardly say that we are "over-reacting hippie students." We were there to prove a point, that we have wants and needs, and that the university ignores us. I see no reason why Brian Cantor should not have shown up. To me, its just rude.
Brian is my hero
Do you ever get the feeling that the people who are trying to improve the university and look at the bigger picture don't care what 200 students want to say. God knows you could get 200 students to demand anything. 200 students out of 12000 of whom probably 100 will be gone next year -seriously if that is people power you're haveing a laugh.
Right you are #17. There's clearly issues behind the scenes that are stopping the bar project. It's not a case of the VC personally pulling the plug on the project. It just means there are more necessary things to do.
Giving in to protesting on the bar will undermine the university. It'll appear they give in to a mob.
As previously said, there's a bigger picture here. Not every improvement here is measured in a useable new building or facility.
If you want to make the uni listen, dont bother protesting. Just put an accurate business proposal outlining how opening 3 months earlier will make the university a significant amount of money.
3 months' difference guys. Do you not think this is a concession enough? At least they've given you the space which could have easily become just an extension to the common room or even more offices.
This isn't us vs. them politics. It's not even politics at all. And all you'll get from making a protest is the same press release they've already given about, to be frank, having better things to do first over the summer.
18, that's a very good point. I completely agree with it. So why couldn't BC have made it? A quick 2-3 minute address of the issues of the protestors, then calmly but firmly moving on to the main event. He hasn't got the guts.
19 is right - the reason students are pissed are not the specific decisions BC makes, its his whole attitude to dealing with students. Not turning up and giving no notice or excuse or apology is an insult, typical of this man's contempt (or should that be fear?) for dealing with or addressing students directly
You must log in to submit a comment.
Report