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.

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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.

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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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Friend defends Claudia against affair claims

Claudia Lawrence Poster
Wednesday, 24th June 2009
A friend of Claudia Lawrence, the missing Goodricke chef, has described claims that Claudia has had affairs with 30 to 40 married men as "wholly inaccurate".

An article in this week's Mail on Sunday quoted an unnamed man, who said: "She went for married men. She did it because she could. She was young and pretty and she got a kick out of it."

The man added: "When I looked back and thought about it, I realised there had been a lot of men. I reckon there must have been 30 or 40."

The article said the man has known Claudia for more than eight years and was one of her closest confidantes. He also expressed concern about Claudia's secrecy and texting, how she changed under the influence of alcohol and the amount of time she spent in her local pub, the Nag's Head in Heworth.

Another friend of Claudia's, Suzy Cooper, spoke out because Claudia is "unable to defend herself". Ms Cooper said: "She may have had a couple of affairs in her 35 years but this should not detract from the kind, loyal, and loving person she is. She is not interested in wealth and she certainly does not 'target' married men."

Ms Cooper criticised the media for inviting speculation about Claudia's life, and said Claudia "does not deserve to have her character judged and disrespected in this way".

Claudia's father, Peter Lawrence, has also defended her following the claims made in the Mail on Sunday. Mr Lawrence said: "She is a single 35-year-old girl. She is entitled to the relationships she wants to embark on - she can date whoever she wants."

He added that none of the things the police and the media have uncovered about his daughter have changed his feelings for her.

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#1 Anonymous
Wed, 24th Jun 2009 10:05am

Why has the The Yorker decided to involve itself in this idle tittle tattle about Claudia Lawrence's life that is irrelevant to the investigation? She may have been involved in some affairs which is obviously relevant (would probably have made her some enemies), but this kind of irresponsible reporting based on controversial reports from tabloids is nothing but gutter journalism.

#2 James Hogan
Wed, 24th Jun 2009 10:35am
  • Wed, 24th Jun 2009 11:33am - Edited by the author

To be fair #1, the yorker is reporting about her defence and the article looks to be based on statements from her family and friends.
Surely since her character has been attacked publicly, she deserves to be defended publicly.
(note: i am commenting personally, not on behalf of the yorker)

#3 Anonymous
Wed, 24th Jun 2009 10:38am

#2 - agreed.

#4 Anonymous
Wed, 24th Jun 2009 10:49am

But that was accomplished by an article you already posted: http://www.theyorker.co.uk/news/uninews/3272, why the need to post another, almost identical article?

"Ms Cooper criticised the media for inviting speculation about Claudia's life" - yet by publishing multiple articles about exactly the same thing, surely you're doing the same?

#5 Anonymous
Wed, 24th Jun 2009 12:50pm

I don't think the Yorker have been "inviting speculation". Because Claudia worked in Goodricke, and the search was led onto campus, it's an important issue for many people. Neither article "invited speculation". The original article reported did. These articles have been to let students know what is happening with the case - or, at least, information surrounding the case.

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