Students were left disappointed on Saturday evening after one of the Courtyard’s flagship events, CO2, was cut short by a fire alarm set off just before 0100 hours.

The event, which students had been charged £5 to enter, was not scheduled to end until 2am. After a second fire alarm was set off in nearby accommodation the fire safety officer present requested that the event remain closed. YUSU are still unsure as to why the two alarms were linked.

Despite attempts by students to crash nearby event Chav D, most were turned away by the door staff. Those few who managed to gain entrance were soon removed and the event was able to continue as normal.

YUSU spokesman Rory Shanks said “We’re really sorry to those that were present at the event, but unfortunately this matter was entirely out of our hands. We made an attempt to gather names of those at the event in order to guest-list them for the next CO2 which we look forward to next week.”

Competition for ‘York Come Dancing’ seems to be heating up after a special press conference today.

All contestants seemed eager to win, but there was a general consensus that campus ‘celebrity’ Sam McCormick is current favourite. Nouse Editor Henry James Foy and YUSU Academic and Welfare Officer Charlie Leyland were also popular choices.

Other campus ‘celebrities’ in the event include YUSU President Tom Scott, YUSU Services and Finance Officer Matt Burton and YUSU Student Development and Charities Officer Jamie Tyler. RAG President Helen Adams, Comedy Soc Secretary Miranda Thomas and GSA Treasurer Tom Flynn will also be competing alongside political activist Dan Taylor. Union Council member Alex Fink has stepped in at the last minute to replace Derwent Chair, Joe Rankin, who dropped out.

The final event will be taking place on the 8th of Feb, and will be hosted by Joey Ellis and Matt Cornock. Competitors will be judged by Joel and Sarah Chapman from the Rock Academy of Dance and all proceeds will go to RAG. Tickets will be available online at the YUSU website.

Nassri Bishara Lada is a normal 19-year-old. He goes to university and plays for a local football team. He hopes to turn professional one day. Nassri is a Christian in a Muslim world, but none of his friends care- they believe it is his choice. Sixty years ago Nassri would have lived a normal life and had the opportunity to follow his dreams, but then sixty years ago Nassri wouldn’t have been a Palestinian refugee living in Ramallah after Israeli settlers forced his family out of their home. He is painfully aware that wherever he goes people think he is a terrorist, and he knows there is nothing he can do about it. Nassri knows who the real terrorists are, what follows is his own account of Israeli terror.

“The danger of Israel is always there. We are far from Gaza but that does not matter, the case is miserable across Palestine. Israel shows no humanity and they crush us economically, they have stripped us of our national identity and continue to carry out a strategy to destroy our spirit. They do not even allow us our history; the world only knows their falsehoods. Our land and water is confiscated, our resources destroyed. Our olive trees are removed and we cannot communicate with each other. This is not new, this is sixty years, and still the world does not help us.

Today we talk about the situation in Gaza. The genocide of a nation. Where is the relief? Where is the help? This is worse than Hiroshima. The explosions scare everyone and the violence has burned away the electricity and water. The world must realise the image of Gaza is very different from the people that live in it. The world stands beside Israel and the Arabs can do nothing about it. You must realise that Palestine is Palestinians. We are not terrorists we are people. Israel shows itself as a victim, people must see the oppressor that it really is. The Palestinian must live in freedom and dignity, we just want Justice.”

Hanna Dawani wants to be a DJ. He is 19-years-old and he studies finance at Birzeit University. Hanna lives in and was born in Ramallah although his family does not come from there. Hanna does not understand how the atrocities of Israel are ignored and he wants to spread the word about the horrific situation his people are left in.

“We are living under an Israeli occupation which is fuelled by inhumane actions. We are in danger and innocent people are killed mercilessly. Our life is so restricted, we can’t move freely between cities without permission from Israel, even to enter Jerusalem. There are checkpoints between every city in the West Bank. If we want to travel we must go to Jordan, as we are not allowed airports. There is no way out.

I think the situation in Gaza is horrible and many innocent people are killed. Israel occupation is using very modern weapons, helicopters, F16, etc, while the people who are defending are using very simple weapons. We cannot even defend ourselves. The world should stand beside us as Israel carries out a massacre in Gaza, it must be stopped immediately.”

Both Nassri and Hanna may have put themselves in danger in order to share their stories. If the world continues to ignore the Israeli oppression of Palestine, voices like theirs will continue to be silenced. There is no excuse for this senseless loss of life.

Recently released financial statements for the year ending July 2008 report a 16% rise in the University’s total income, while Vice-Chancellor Brian Cantor saw his salary increase by almost 8% - twice the rate of inflation.

Cantor, who saw his pay increase to over £205,000 in the financial year 2006-07, received a further increase of 8% over the past year, bringing his 2007-08 salary to £221,242.

Defending the pay rise, University Press Officer David Garner stated that most staff in the University received a minimum 3% pay rise in May under a national agreement.

According to Garner, “the VCs of the top 22 research intensive universities, of which York is a member, have a median total remuneration of £214,000 per annum”.

Garner also stated that the decision to increase the salary was taken by the University’s remuneration committee, which “based [its] decision on as assessment of individual performance and on data from comparable universities.”

Dr Simon Parker, acting President of the University and Colleges Union points out that the University is a World Top 100 university “thanks not only to the efforts of the Vice-Chancellor, but to the talent and dedication of our academic and related staff.”

He went on to comment that the UCU “expects that the ACAS-brokered talks with the University Employers’ Association will lead to a pay agreement that reflects our members’ contribution.”
Total income, excluding donations, has increased 11%, leaving an operating surplus of £12.3 million, £10 million more than last year’s surplus of £2.7 million. The University’s core activities also recorded an overall surplus, with the increased total income of £217 million showing a £30 million increase on last year. The operating cash flow, which last year was the highest ever at £13.3 million, dropped by 8.13% to £12.3 million.

The University’s net assets dropped by nearly £1 million this year, but are still considerably higher than any recorded before 2007. Similarly the net cash inflow from operating activities has dropped by just under £1 million.

The University also spent £696,000 on grants for YUSU, and a further £143,000 on grants for the GSA. These figures are not greatly changed from last year but have both risen with inflation.

The land needed for the new project at Heslington East cost the University £6.1 million, an amount which was doubled by grants from the HEFCE specifically for the land purchase.
The Heslington East expansion is estimated to cost £500 million.

Report Facts

Income
Total income: £217 million
Council grants: £46.5 million
Research grants: £50.5 million
Tuition fees: £46.5 million
Donations: £6.1 million

Increase of almost £30 million on previous year
Third-highest research income per academic in England

Expenditure
Total expenditure: £204.6 million
Staff costs: £117.5 million
Depreciation: £14.3 million
Interest payable: £3.7 million

Increase of almost £20 million on previous year
Over £75 million invested in research facilities over past five years

Assets
Fixed assets: £203.2 million
Endowment assets: £9.4 million

Home students are “lazy”, “unhelpful” and “only interested in going to the bar” according to a welcome lecture given to overseas students by the University.

In the lecture, overseas students were told that home students “might make no effort to speak to you” and “might not give you time to reply.”

Students and student groups have united in condemnation of the perceived racial stereotyping, labelling it “inappropriate”, “unhelpful and grossly unfair.”

Adam Malik, President of the International Students Association, described the lecture as “trying to isolate international students and giving certain preconceptions about home students.”

He went on to say that he “could easily see it as racist”. Malik condemned the University for failing in its primary concern to “integrate and to meet new people”, saying that its actions “definitely deter integration between international students and home students.”

YUSU have also criticised the lecture, stating that it is “vehemently opposed to stereotyping, whether aimed at ethnic minority students, or home students.” John Apea and Nadia Aziz, YUSU Racial Equality Officers, commented that the content is “inappropriate in any context” and that “integration and cohesion should be primary aims of the University and International Office and unfortunately these statements may impede this process.”

The lecture concerned took place as part of a series of induction talks for overseas students in orientation week, and was organised and run by the Student Support Service.

In response to the accusations, Student Support Services Manager Steve Page, commented that he believes many home students “may not be sensitive to or interested in [cultural] differences”. He argues that professionals who “have undertaken extensive research into the experience of international students here at York” make these speeches and presentations and they are based on the experience of previous students.

Page added that some members of staff do not give “much consideration” to the needs of international students who are from “very different educational cultures to that in the UK”.

Pancee Shoukry, a first-year Media Technology student from Kuwait, was “made to feel uncomfortable” by the speeches, which gave her the impression that British people wouldn’t want to speak to her.

Other international students stated that they were told that “British people loved to drink” and warned that people “might try to pressure [them] into drinking”. One student was told; “don’t expect [home students] to be friendly towards you” although they may “eventually warm up towards you”.

The ISA stated that giving this sort of information to new students is not only irresponsible but also “has the adverse affect of isolating students from each other. It’s not helpful at all.”

For many international students orientation week will be their first experience of Britain. According to Malik the University is creating preconceptions that are “unfair to home students”.

One first-year international student said “many international students don’t know what to expect at first” and for many the speeches “could have been interpreted to be racist.”

In response to students’ accounts, Page stated: “I am saddened to be told that a number of students have said that they felt uncomfortable and in some cases scared of talking to home students because of this material.”

Students who require support regarding this issue have been asked to contact acwelf@yusu.org, or to comment or provide feedback on presentations contact international-support@york.ac.uk.

YUSU have revealed that the new Students’ Union venue in Langwith will be named ‘The Courtyard’ and will open on Saturday, Week 1.

YUSU announced this week that the bar will be opened with a VIP launch party on the Saturday of Week 1. The bar will be open both day and nights seven days a week, and the hours will be extended till 2am on Saturdays. The £500,000 refit, which has taken 8 months to complete, is now finished and the bar is finally ready to be opened.

The bar includes both indoor and outdoor areas, with a lit courtyard outside and plasma screens and wireless hotspots within. It will serve 3 meals, starting with breakfasts of pastries and bagels and changing to traditional pub food for lunch and dinner. The Courtyard will offer events throughout the week, as well as the new University of York club night on a Saturday from 9pm.

Matt Burton, YUSU Services and Finance Officer, and bar project leader, said that YUSU is “really happy that after months of hard work, the build part of this project is finally coming to an end.” Burton remains confident that the new venue will offer an atmosphere that “both students and staff alike will thoroughly enjoy.”

YUSU President, Tom Scott said that he is “really proud of all of the officers and staff that have worked so tirelessly over the past few months” and that after viewing the bar he “can definitely say that it has been worth it – and I’m sure other students will too.”

For more information about the bar and the launch including exclusive launch photos, see the next issue of Nouse, available Tuesday, Week 2.