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.
It has happened to most of us; being refused entrance to clubs or bars in town. Whether because of excessive drunkenness or a bit too revealing fancy dress, negotiating your way past a bouncer can be quite tricky. However, for one group of students, there can be an extra hurdle in the way of a good night out.
On Thursday week one of this term, I set off for a long anticipated night out. Apart from it being my first night out since Christmas break, it also was the day I had finished my 36 hour open exam. After a cocktail in Dusk, the Lowther was the next step on our way to Gallery. Knowing that the majority of our fellow history students were already inside, we queued up, arrived at the door and showed our IDs. My British friends had no problem getting in, but I was refused.
I was told by the bouncer that my Dutch ID card was not valid and that I had to leave. I calmly explained him that it was valid and that it was the same document I use to get into the UK. I even asked if I could speak to his manager, but the bouncer was having none of it and told me to ‘piss off’.
Although cheap Jager bombs in Little John’s were not a bad alternative, it still annoyed me a lot, especially because my friends had to stick with me and could not go to the Lowther either.
This case was not an isolated one. The majority of international students encounter the same problem on a regular basis. Venues all around town seem to have a completely random policy towards non-British types of identification. European Union ID cards, foreign drivers licences and even passports from non-western countries are often classed as invalid.
This makes me wonder what motivates bouncers not to let internationals is. My Dutch ID card is clearly an official document. It has got a photo, date of birth, national security number and even a photograph of my face perforated in the plastic. Doubting its validity can hardly be a reason not to accept it. Racism would be an obvious call, but I think that is highly unlikely. Maybe the bouncers just want to exploit their position of power?
Whatever the reasons might be, I think it is time that something is done about it. When I asked Steve Page, the manager of student support services, about his view on this, he expressed his unawareness of the problem and said ‘this is very disappointing and we would be keen to be involved in discussions with the City Council and license holders about how to address it.’
Daria Pawlowska, president of the ISA agrees. ‘I would love to see the council taking measures. They could give the information about different IDs to the considered parties, so they know what they are dealing with.’ This seems to me like the most realistic solution to the problem. In such an international environment, getting rid of ignorance concerning foreign IDs seems only logical and may allow internationals to enjoy their nights out in the same way as British students.
comment deleted by the author " Doubting its validity can hardly be a reason not to accept it. "
Why?
"My Dutch ID card is clearly an official document. It has got a photo, date of birth, national security number and even a photograph of my face perforated in the plastic. Doubting its validity can hardly be a reason not to accept it. Racism would be an obvious call, but I think that is highly unlikely."
read the whole paragraph before you start trolling.
It's hardly trolling. At the end of the day it's an unfamiliar document, and just because it has some details on it (note, our Uni cards also have dates of birth, names, ID numbers and photos on it) doesn't necessarily mean it's valid!
Only ever had a problem with this at the Lowther (Swedish EU driving license) but the bouncer let me in after he realised it was my friend who had booked out the top floor for a party, laughing and telling me "you should have told me straight away." As if who I knew should make a difference to the validity of my ID.
Don't think the power trip theory is too far-fetched.
It can be quite difficult to recognise signs of authenticity until you're shown what to look for, so it may be a simple case of teaching bouncers what to expect in foreign IDs. Something that should have been done from the start. Seems like a simple thing to implement!
Does seem ridiculous that bouncers have the power to refuse ID cards as a form of ID without letting you speak to a manager. Bouncers can cause enough trouble in town as it is; ignorance about types of ID cards isn't an excuse not to ask with a superior, manager or double-check the issue. I can't imagine that University bouncers would tell students that international forms of ID aren't acceptable. It's shocking, frankly.
does it have 'valid until:' or at least time of issue?
the first two people are clearly not international or never encountered such situation. however, i was refused to buy a bottle of Porto's Wine with a valid Portuguese ID, and I am from Porto - my parents worked for a Porto's Wine family producers....anyway, one bouncer at an establishment in york - no names involved- before I went in and even showed my ID asked me if i spoke english, the second one, now at the door of the establishment, asked for my ID, while all my friends that followed me didn't have to prove that they spoke english nor they were 18 or older!
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