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.
This week has seen numerous students set up camp inside the Exhibition Centre, staging a sit in as the protests move into their final phases. So far, the students who have undertaken the action have succeeded in managing to keep the centre open 24hours a day so as to continue their actions. Similar sit-ins are happening across over 20 universities nationwide – with protestors at UCL being threatened with legal action if they do not leave. Given the central campus location, there has been a great deal of interest in the York event; which shows the students’ dedication to fair fees.
So far, the students have been in occupation one week, despite all adverse weather conditions. Cat Wayland, a protestor involved in the event, explained that the group “intend to be in the centre until Wednesday of week 10, and are eagerly awaiting the result this Thursday to see if further action need be taken”.
Wayland talked us through the activities that the group were undertaking over the period. “We have daily meetings at 6:15 and we talk through what we plan on doing and how the day has gone. We’ve got the York Protest Band around campus and they keep us entertained of an evening. Of course, there are regular discussion sessions between ourselves and students, increasing publicity and awareness. Also, the group have talks to demonstrate education should be for all – Qaisar Siddiqi held a popular talk on Einstein’s theory of relativity recently for example.” Diversity is key in regards to the way the sit-in is organised: there are many different activities, posters and display boards that change daily to provide students with information. The group has even set up an online blog, stating their demands and providing information on meetings.
Tim Ngwena reflected on the efforts: “The sit in highlights the varied ways in which students protest in York. Not only is it a protest but numerous events are being held to celebrate the value of higher education. The sit-in allows for more focussed attentions to specific details around the issue which will hopefully trigger more thought within the student body but also within University Management.”
University officials have been extremely helpful over the course of the event; demonstrating solidarity from all areas of the body. Extra security patrols the area at night and so far, there have been no major complaints as to the student presence in the building.
This Thursday sees not only the vote, but the latest stand of the students: ‘Shut down London’. Another day of protest, the actions will include a mass lobby of MPs and a candle-lit vigil in the evening. Never have our actions bared such responsibility for both our future and the future of our education system at large.
Before decisions are cast, there is an air of hope and nervous fervour amongst the students. Ngwena summed up the anticipation of many: “As for the vote, and the national debate, we are yet to see if this, alongside many other sit-ins and national demonstrations across the country, will sway the way in which MPs will vote.”
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