23rd January
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Photo Diary app wins York prize

Friday, 20th January 2012

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.

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Students warned about loans scam

Thursday, 19th January 2012

YUSU Welfare officer Bob Hughes has warned students to be vigilant after a student loans phishing scam has been revealed.

Her Most Gracious Majesty

Queen Comes to York

Wednesday, 18th January 2012

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.

Berrick Saul

Flooding Triggers Network Outage On Eve Of Exams

Saturday, 14th January 2012

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.

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Hare today, gone tomorrow: deadly virus hits campus rabbits

Rabbit dead
'Mixy' deaths have increased
Thursday, 8th November 2007
An outbreak of a lethal disease has struck rabbits on campus.

Myxomatosis, nicknamed "myxy", is contagious, incurable and fatal. Symptoms include swelling of the genitals and head, which causes the eyes and nose to stream and bulge, as well as conjunctivitis leading to blindness. Infected rabbits usually die within 2 weeks of contracting the disease.

The virus is spread by fleas and direct contact but cannot harm humans and other animals. Officials do not expect the rabbit population to be wiped out as they have developed resistance to the disease since its arrival in Britain in the 1950s.

Students and porters have noticed an increase in the number of afflicted rabbits over the last week. The pictured animal (right) was found outside Alcuin porters lodge and the porter who dealt with it pointed out more cases in nearby bushes.

Grounds maintenance manager Gordon Eastham said: "The effect of myxomatosis on the rabbit population is very much cyclical, that is to say in some years it has virtually no effect whatsoever, but in other years it can affect the rabbit population quite severely. Rabbits being rabbits however, numbers soon recover."

Although the university has no responsibility for them, the rabbits are a student favourite.

A second year student and animal lover said: " I was a little distraught when I found one. It makes their eyes pop out and swells their throat up so it was a bit upsetting, anything like that is horrible but nature should take its own course."

Asked if the university could do anything to stem the epidemic, Eastham added: "Being wild creatures, they are very capable of looking after themselves. There is nothing we could do about myxy in any case."

Quote If a student does see a rabbit in distress the best thing to do is report it on the estates helpline (2181) . Quote
Estates manager Gordon Eastham

"If a student does see a rabbit that looks as though it is in distress, for whatever reason, then the best thing to do is report it on the estates helpline (2181) and a member of the grounds staff will deal with the situation as quickly as possible."

The infection first hit Britain in 1953 and up to 99% of the country's wild rabbit population died within a few years. The virus had previously been used to devastating effect in Australia and France to control infestations.

European rabbits, the species seen on campus, have developed resistance over time but experts estimate there are still only half as many in the UK as there were before the disease arrived.

Rabbits are sociable creatures but have short memories, forgetting companions and even sexual partners within a few hours. They are also fussy eaters, with a diet of 90% grass.

Amazingly, they won't cry out if attacked: they have evolved to hide signs of weakness as it alerts predators. Students are unlikely to catch one as they can run at speeds of up to 40 mph.

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#1 Henry Aylett
Thu, 8th Nov 2007 3:44pm

Obviously it's very bad news about the bunnies but i have to commend you on your headline Mr.Dolan, classic stuff!

#2 Anonymous
Fri, 9th Nov 2007 6:47am

I enjoyed the rabbit facts towards the end.

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