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.
Around 200 students attended Friday’s demonstration, 150 of whom made it to Heslington Hall. Campaigners had a variety of colourful signs and banners, and made lots of noise thanks to their megaphones, drums and pots and pans.
Graham Martin, one of the organisers, told The Yorker: "We’re here because we believe that an institution that teaches understanding and believes that knowledge should be the real power in the world should not be investing in a company that is so tied up to the killing of people."
Freddy Vanson, another key organiser, added: "We want to make as much noise as possible. We want to let this uni know that we won’t stand for unethical investment, we want ethical investment."
A number of societies were involved, including Amnesty, the Democratic Socialists’ Assocation, People & Planet and Juggle Soc. As well as the campus media, the demonstration was covered by BBC York and Minster FM.
The protesters met on Vanbrugh Paradise, then marched around campus before gathering outside Heslington Hall. They sang a number of songs en route, including "hear our song, disarm York, bin the bomb," "teaching not killing, drop beats, not bombs!" and "Rolls Royce, BAE, you can’t teach a thing to me!"
University security watched the demonstration, but there was no trouble. The staff at Heslington Hall were supportive, and Registrar and Secretary David Duncan and Director of Finance Graham Gilbert met Vanson and other organisers John Nicholls and Therese Herrmann.
Vanson, Nicholls and Herrmann handed over the petition, which had almost 2,000 signatures. They then discussed their concerns, specifically about BAE, with Duncan and Gilbert.
Duncan confirmed an ethical investment policy is being taken to University Council for approval on Friday, and that students’ concerns will be highlighted to the council when the petition is presented.
After the council meeting, a representative from the campaign will meet Duncan to discuss further input into the policy, should it be adopted.
Nicholls, who is the YUSU Environment and Ethics Officer along with Joe Thwaites, praised the university's cooperation.
He added: "This will hopefully lay the foundation for a long-term and broad policy on ethical investment that will fully reflect their commitment to socially responsible actions and investments, and include avoidance of investment in damaging industries such as the arms trade."
On Saturday, the campaigners held Disarm at Ziggy’s, which was hosted by HomeGrownSounds and RAG. The music event featured a range of artists and groups from York and elsewhere.
As a result of the gig, they raised £100 for RAG and the Kings World Trust for Children, an organisation that provides caring homes and education and skills training for orphans and homeless children in developing countries.
Nicholls said: "This was important to the organisers of the gig, who wanted it to promote the values expressed within the campaign, including peace and education for all."
Vanson, who organised the gig, added: "There was a great atmosphere and a feeling of unity amongst everyone supporting the cause. I want to thank everyone who came down and made it a great night."
comment deleted by the author I shit £100. Disappointing.
The article over-emphasizes the amount of money raised for RAG. The point of the demonstration and the gig was not to raise money, this was just an extra.
#2 (how appropriate)
If you shit £100, why not do something useful and shit it into a rag collection bucket rather than being cynical towards other peoples' efforts?
The money raised wasn't important - the demonstration was the main point and raising £100 without much effort is impressive. I agree with #3 and #4.
If we don't trade arms someone else will so we might as well take the money. Can people start living in the real world now please...
Expansive comment on this type of moral dilemma can be found here - including the "if I don't do it, somebody else will" argument.
"we might as well take the money"
The university lost £260,000 as a result of these shares. We're not taking any money.
No one cares about ethical investment!! Haven't these people got anything better to do... like have a wash
the UGM passed with a clear majority, the debate was won by a clear majority, 2000 people signed the petition (and many others would if we could reach everyone) and so many more are very sympathetic to the cause.
"Haven't these people got anything better to do... like have a wash"
Haven't you got anything better to do? Like get a sense of humour.
Defense shares are an attractive investment to charities (which the University is) because under the Trustee Investment Act, they don't have to seek financial advice before investing in that sector (amongst others). Essentially their investment is unregulated.
How many of those 2000 people actually care or just stuck their name down on a sheet of paper when it was thrust in front of their face whilst trying to have some lunch.
Enjoy your moral crusade while the rest of us live in the real world
It's very amusing to see the same people who wanted GFH to resign because of a UGM with an 8 vote difference complain about the validity of a UGM that passed with a 3:1 majority and also trying to challenge the legitimacy of a 2000-strong petition.
Nice try, but fail. Enjoy 'living in the real world' while we try to improve it.
"It's very amusing to see the same people who wanted GFH to resign because of a UGM with an 8 vote difference complain about the validity of a UGM that passed with a 3:1 majority and also trying to challenge the legitimacy of a 2000-strong petition"
That's actually an absurd thing to say for at least two reasons. First of all, many people who voted against Hackwood were not necessarily opponents to the anti-arms trade campaigns occurring now. There is no evidence empirical or anecdotal to suggest otherwise. Secondly, it isn't ironic - the UGM rules only require a majority of one. The comparison between the two UGM votes does demonstrate however, the effect of widescale publicity. You only have to look at the numbers who voted in the UGM to tell you that the Hackwood affair reflected the student body better proportionally than the ethical investment vote. While the vote was certainly legimitate, it should not perhaps be used as a litmus test for student opinion on the arms trade. The large numbers of people who have joined the campaign against DISARM demonstrates that there is significant opposition in fact.
"The large numbers of people who have joined the campaign against DISARM demonstrates that there is significant opposition in fact."
Judging by the number of people who joined just to argue against it, I would not say so.
That group does not even have the correct information on the issue...
You must log in to submit a comment.
Report