Student hospitalised after RAG event
A MEMBER of the Students Union’s RAG committee was violently assaulted on campus and hospitalised after the pre-Woodstock warm up party, Woodstock’s Little Stock.
Rod James, a 1st year English student who also sits on the RAG committee was attacked by a lone male at around 1am last Friday, 23 June. The incident occurred outside Grimston House, adjacent to Vanburgh College where the event was held.
James’s attacker approached in a drunkard state to demand a taxi. “He just kept saying get me a taxi, get me a taxi” said James. The assailant who is not thought to be a student and was described by James as “looking just like a normal guy” punched him in the face before running off towards University Road.
The victim described how he was trying to help the man get a taxi “when he hit me in the face and knocked me to the ground. It’s a bit of a blur but he may have hit me two or three more times.”
After being taken to York Hospital Accident and Emergency by friends, the student had to receive stitches for a split lip and be treated for heavy bruising on his face and ribs sustained when he hit the pavement.
The assault was not reported to the police or campus security: “I didn’t see the point in wasting the police’s time. I know it was assault but I try to take these things in my stride”.
In two unrelated incidents a student was allegedly head butted by a fellow student and the police were called to Goodricke College after a reported stabbing.
Both incidents occurred during the England and Trinidad and Tobago football match on the 15 June.
In Derwent College an off duty member of Doorsafe separated two students after an alleged head butting. David Garner the University Press Officer said “an incident did take place and was dealt with by Security Services but it is now a police matter”.
Whilst in Goodricke College police were called after a reported stabbing. However Garner has confirmed that there was no stabbing, “six police officers attended but it was a false alarm, the victim had just had too much to drink”
