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 society, which runs weekly poker tournaments for the university’s students as well as trips to national events and numerous socials, revealed on a Facebook event its plans to hold a future “black up” event themed around black poker player Phil Ivey.
The comments were later removed from the event but not before students approached The Yorker, concerned by the offence that such an event could cause.
The issue of ‘blacking up’ hit international headlines earlier this week when six students were suspended from the University of Southern Mississippi for blacking up as characters from The Cosby Show for a party. They are being investigated by the institution and could face disciplinary action.
About their proposed social, the Poker Society, whose YUSU page states that they wish to “reduce the negative connotations associated with the game”, said: “The Poker Society runs a few socials each term. People can come to join us wearing whatever they like. Dressing like Phil Ivey is strongly recommended.”
When asked about the offensive the event could cause, they added: “Of course we understand, thus why the suggestion was swiftly removed. No offence was intended. We remain confident that it will not affect membership numbers in our society.”
Basim Al-Ahmadi, Racial Equality Officer for YUSU, commented: “Clearly this event is not meant in a malicious manner. Obviously it is in tribute to a poker player but I believe paying tribute to someone doesn't need to involve even mentioning or basing the tribute on their race but rather their achievements.
“To ‘black up’ could be seen as belittling black culture as it is equating black culture and characteristics as being comical and not serious. It could make people uncomfortable as it is making a further statement that one can simply reflect oneself as black by applying makeup and a hair-do in five minutes... this is dangerously superficial and misleading."
“It seems a bit unnecessary,” he said. “If black people had a ‘white up’, white people would be offended. They have to think about things the other way around.”
Al-Ahmadi added that his role “is not to police society events” as there are “much more significant events for the racial equality officers to deal with” on campus but went on to say that “these little things have the potential to add up to bigger things and stir prejudices.”
It's 'The Cosby Show'.
A 'black up' social is totally inappropriate - end of argument. I would also hope that if the social did go ahead then places such as The Courtyard, Dusk and Vodka Revs would refuse entry to anyone who had 'blacked up' to reinforce the point that it isn't some kind of joke.
lighten up people...
Can we assume Anonymous #3 is Sepp Blatter?
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