Now here’s something else to add to the list. Over the next few days YUSU Academic Officer, Charlie Leyland, will be running for the position of National University of Students’ Vice-President for Higher Education. This is, I think, a far bigger deal than any of us have realised. Whilst normal students don’t have a vote in the NUS election (we elect representatives to do that for us), that doesn’t mean that the elections have no impact on us.

I’m not going to lay out Charlie’s policies here. They can all be found at www.votecharlie.co.uk. What I will say is this; the NUS constantly campaigns on student issues. It is our own Union and we are all members of it. We know and trust Charlie, she’s our Officer, we’ve elected her twice and we know how well she has represented the interests of York students. For that reason, although we cannot vote, we should actively support Charlie. Post something in a comment here, on her website, or on twitter (http://twitter.com/leylandforvphe) and make sure you follow the election. Whilst we can’t make much of a difference, we can show the rest of the country that Charlie has York’s support.

I hope some of that emotive stuff hit home! Please do support Charlie and take a minute to check out her website. Nouse‘s lovely Deputy Editor Laura Connor and the equally lovely, if somewhat hairier, Comment Editor Ben Gascoyne (Oh, and Chris Young) will be at the conference, blogging hard so that you can stay on top of what’s going on.

Alas, dear reader, this was not an isolated incident. Only last week I was forced to abandon the £10 I had just got out of that Halifax cash machine by Marks & Spencers so as to flee from an approaching horde, 1000s strong, which loomed round the corner by the Disney store carrying placards that read “5 months is too long. Where are we meant to get our completely useless and largely unready analysis of campus goings on from”. As such, due to this outrageously fictional demand, and in fear for my own safety, Campus Bulley is back. With a vengeance.

So what, you might ask, is the earth-shatteringly important issue that has brought my fingers back to his hallowed keyboard? It must be something big, you think to yourself, as you frantically read on. Have I, finally, cured cancer? Maybe I’ve in fact brought peace to the Middle East. Could it even be that I’ve proven, once and for all, that you CAN stop once you’ve popped? No no, dear reader. I am back to talk about something far far more important. I’m here to talk about student participation.

Now I’ve written about participation before. Twice in fact. That shows just how important I think it is. Last week we saw one of the most impressive turnouts in a student election anywhere in the country, and yet at the same time we saw another pitifully low turnout at the UGM, with only four motions actually making quoracy. That means that in every other motion, not even enough people bothered to vote to make them count. That is shocking.

Were the motions boring? Well yes. A lot of them were. But they still applied to a large chunk of campus. What about the Entertainments Review, which didn’t make quoracy – at least 80% of this University care about what the events are like, and if they don’t they almost definitely would if the events were different – get involved. There was a change to York Sports Committee – if only half of York’s 59 sports clubs had turned out to vote then it would have passed. Every society knows how hard it is to run their own elections, and yet none os us turned out to vote for the Society Elections motion. Why not? Because we don’t know or we don’t care?

Now in the past I’ve blamed YUSU for this rubbish participation. I’ve blamed the student population for not caring enough. I even once blamed my housemate (see Where are all the tree huggers? it’s rather a good read). This time round I’m going to be a bit more realistic. I blame myself. I blame Luke Malkin, Cesca Dessain, Charlotte Hogarth-jones, Charlotte Potter and Miranda Fay Thomas. I blame Sam Asfahani, Rachel Fernley, Rob Newton and Hamish MacIver. In fact, I blame every society chair and sports team president. What should have happened is that every one of us should have emailed our society/club and been like “hey look, there’s a UGM that affects us, why don’t you head on over and vote.” But we didn’t, so those motions failed.

Maybe this is the way to save UGMs though. Maybe Rhianna should email the societies and Emily the clubs, and then maybe we, the heads of those organisations, should email our members. Maybe if we use these existing networks we might get somewhere in University politics, and we might, for a change, get some motions passed. Every single student at York, whether they like it or not, benefits from student politics and I think, once again, it’s time we all got a bit more involved. And that, dear reader, is why I’m back.

If World War II comedy performed by a jazz quartet is your sort of thing, you might be on to a winner with Spike Milligan’s Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall. If, as I expect is true of many of you, you have never considered the advantages of this style of theatre, you are certainly in for a pleasant surprise.

Presented in the style of a concert show – ably and often inappropriately compared by D Battery’s Major Chater Jack – Milligan and his friends moved effortlessly between sketches loosely documenting his war experience and popular and often recognisable 1940s jazz numbers. Accused of joining his unit three months late in 1940, Milligan announces: “I’ll make up for it – I’ll fight nights, as well.” The audience then follows him as he fights in North Africa and Italy, is promoted to lance bombardier, and then stripped of his rank and winds up in a psychiatric hospital.

Ben Power and Tim Carroll’s stage adaptation perfectly represents Milligan’s mad war, with Sholto Morgan’s performance as Spike perfectly combining the character’s mischievous disregard for authority with his increasing craziness and the pain of the experiences he is living through.

Although the production has some surprisingly dark undertones – the death of one of Milligan’s closest friends and his favourite officer provide some very sobering moments – it is Milligan’s recognition of the insanity of the characters’ situation that keeps the audience laughing in their seats. One scene, in which Milligan is left alone to guard a hole in the ground, is completely subverted as he demonstrates the variety of ways that soldiers would keep themselves amused, including making friends with your own weapon, standing facing every point of the compass, and talking to yourself.

Well known jazz numbers included Chattanooga Choo Choo, Ain’t Misbehavin’, In the Mood and Honeysuckle Rose, as well as a rather impressive jazz version of the Last Post, which perfectly represented the shift from serious to jovial which Milligan’s work so brilliantly encompasses.

Power and Carroll’s adaptation of Milligan’s autobiography was certainly not what I was expecting. The contrast between the emotional deaths of some of the leading characters, and the continuously joyful antics of Milligan and the other members of D Battery provides for a thoroughly enjoyable two hours, with the only actual reference to the Nazis being the characters of Hitler and Goebbels, played by cardboard cut-outs with face holes and ridiculous accents.

The final product is a hilarious and thoroughly enjoyable performance that acknowledges the darker sides of war, and then confidently ignores them to concentrate on the insanity of war and the soldiers Milligan remembers fondly.

The charity event, organised by York Dancesport and RAG, saw eleven campus ‘celebrities’ pair up with a member of York Dancesport to perform one unique piece. Upon their victory Warner-Medley, YUSU LGBT Officer, and Wilson were presented with a signed copy of Craig Revel Horwood’s biography each.

The pair, who came joint third in the judges vote with Lewis Bretts, YUSU Democracy and Services Officer, and partner Emily Sargeant, were victorious after audience donations were counted and added to the scores.

Bretts and Sargeant came second in the overall rankings, followed by judges’ favourites Ed Lewis-Smith and Sarah Cook.

Warner-Medley and Wilson, whose Jive was greeted with a standing ovation by the audience, were tearful when accepting their award and thanked “everyone for everything”.

The event raised £1,298.95 for RAG from audience donations alone. Money raised from the sale of programs will also be donated.

Supporters in The Courtyard were also able to take part in the voting, with RAG assistants and the friends of contestants collecting donations throughout the University.

Internet viewers, who were able to view the competition through Nouse’s live blog and YSTV’s live stream, were also able to vote in a special ‘Online Winner’ category. Anna Bucks, YUM Chair, was declared victorious online.

Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to York Come Dancing 2009, live from Central Hall. Jim Bulley and myself will be providing the words to begin with, and we’re expecting some crack reporters and some star bloggers to join us as the event progresses. Stay with us for all the action, with minute-by-minute coverage of all the moves, groves, trips and falls of what is set to be one of the best nights of the year.

http://ystv.york.ac.uk/watch/York-Come-Dancing/09-10/

http://ystv.york.ac.uk/watch/York-Come-Dancing/09-10/

http://ystv.york.ac.uk/watch/York-Come-Dancing/09-10/

http://ystv.york.ac.uk/watch/York-Come-Dancing/09-10/

All contestants seemed eager to win, but there was a general consensus that Mr York 2009 Gruff Jones is current favourite. YUSU President Tim Ngwena and YUSU LGBT Officer Peter Warner-Medley were also popular choices.

Other campus celebrities in the event include YUSU Democracy and Services Officer Lewis Bretts, York Sport President Emily Scott, YUSU Campaigns Officer Jason Rose and YUSU RAG Officer Zoe Stones. YUM Chair Anna Bucks, Door Safe Head Steve Miller and Alcuin Chair Ollie Hutchings will also be competing alongside popular campus showman Ed Lewis-Smith.

The final event will be taking place this Sunday, and will be hosted by Luke Malkin and Fionna Tod. Competitors will be judged by Joel and Sarah Chapman and Sarah Magill from the Rock Academy of Dance and last year’s winner Tom Flynn. RAG will be collecting on the night. Tickets are available online at the YUSU website.

More footage and video diaries are available on the York Dancesport website.

So, a little update from the final Sunday night rehearsal. The bulk of practice time was taken up by a run through, which was, surprisingly, really good. Every couple did depressingly well, meaning there was unfortunately very little ‘funny’ to be found. BtD is most impressed with the progress of Mr Steve Miller, who was a lot less soldier and a lot more dancer this week. Jason Rose also did surprisingly well. In a frantic search for something funny BtD did a little poll of the contestants to find out who they thought was:

a. most likely to win:
Gruff Jones – 9
Tim Ngwena – 5
Peter Warner-Medley – 5

b. most likely to fall over:
Emily Scott – 10
Ollie Hutchings – 2
Peter Warner-Medley – 2
Tim Ngwena – 1
Jason Rose – 1
Steve Miller – 1

and c. most likely to drop their partner:
Ollie Hutchings – 5
Lewis Bretts – 4
Jason Rose – 2
Peter Warner-Medley – 2
Gruff Jones – 1

The thing that excites BtD about this year’s York Come Dancing is the size of the event. It is going to be Off The Chain. Better than a whole freshers week. Now you’re excited. It really is going to be huge. Massive. Ginormous. Colossal. A whole list of campus icons are lying their necks on the line in the name of charity, causing potential embarrassment for themselves. It’s something anyone should want to see. It’s one of the reasons why York Come Dancing is going to be so brilliant. BtD has watched every couple grow from taking it as a joke to getting their head in the game and focusing on pleasing you, the University of York. So York, in the words of the once great (and apparently not *actually* engaged) Robbie Williams – let [them] entertain you!

Nathan Burles – 1 button – it’s getting hot in here!!!

And now for some pictures, courtesy of your friendly neighborhood photographer, Mr Sam Newsome..

..we may be too emotionally involved:

Check out the other YCD blog at www.yorkdancesport.com/yorkcomedancing

Jason Rose, YUSU Campaigns officer, figure head of the portering campaign, and just generally a surplus committee member, is dancing the Viennese Waltz with his partner Claire Cornock. Unfortunately this immediately puts them at a disadvantage as the dance isn’t very exciting to watch. Even Jason conceded that it simply “looks unimpressive”. “Hopefully we look like we know what we’re doing though” he continued. The couple do seem to know the routine, but Jason’s technique leaves a lot to be desired, in the opinion of BtD. In his defence, Jason says that the “spinning doesn’t help”. The couple have a nice dance – they look fine. But that’s it. Sorry Jase, but BtD isn’t tipping you for victory.

As for Gruffudd Jones, BtD is very excited by him (Chris “I’ve got a girlfriend, I swear” Young thinks he’s dishy – “in a heterosexual way, if I was a woman, I would” he argues) and Abigail Fenton’s, his partner, dance. The Mr York 2009 is quite a man. Chizzled jaw and bursting gunz at the ready, Gruff is looking like a potential winner of this year’s competition. The routine looks very smooth and confident (as, apparently, does Gruff). Furthermore, to Gruff’s credit he looks in control of the dance, leading Abigail through the steps, giving the dance a nice polished finish. The two have been working hard to the extent that they’re “sick of the song”. Despite being the man of campus, Gruff admitted to BtD that he is “enjoying himself massively” and that he “loves to dance”. “Who would turn down the opportunity to learn to ball room dance?” he asked BtD (we won’t tell the rugby team, promise!). BtD is very excited about this routine though.

Our last focus couple is Zoe Stones, YUSU RAG Officer, and her partner Philip Sellers dancing the Waltz. In BtD’s expert opinion, Zoe had a nice posture. However she was being led a lot, which at this stage of proceedings, where so many of the couples are looking so polished, is slightly worrying. But Zoe thinks things are “going well”, conceding though that they had a “slow start”. “We just don’t want to be humiliated” the couple told BtD, “but everyone’s really good!”. For Phil, the judges scores matter the most, but Zoe’s RAG focused mind is thinking about all the money that could be raised for charity. BtD recommends Zoe gets her head in the game. Wildcats.

Finally, time for BtD’s favourite; The Nathan Burles Button Countdown, counting down the number of buttons left done-up on Nathan Burles, dancing with Anna Bucks, shirt. This week we are down to 2. It’s getting hot & heavy!!

piccies to follow.

Why not start with the most important person on campus. The campus celebrity of campus celebrities. Tim Ngwena. YUSU President Tim Ngwena. We’ve been to London with him you know – sat in his car. However, after seeing him in today’s practice we’re slightly concerned. He was constantly filming his partner, Harriet Waghorn. Tim claims it’s so he can watch how to dance when he’s at home, but BtD thinks there’s something more fishy going on. He could be right though – Tim looks like he’s been putting in lots of practice. “There’s a lot of technical stuff in the Samba” he told BtD, but he seems to be coping. He also said he’s been dancing in front of the mirror in his room.

Steve Miller was looking impressive too. For those who don’t know Steve Miller, BtD’s gossip queen Rhianna Kinchin described him as a “puppy in a big dog’s body”. His steps were certainly of pedigree class, and he looked very focused on the job. Steve does seem to be enjoying himself, although BtD thinks there is still a certain of air of ‘escorting out of a club’ that Miller might want to work on. “We’ve done the choreography” he told us, “so I’m confident I won’t make a fool of myself”. He also commented that he prefers Nouse to Vision, as you “get something out of it”. BtD believes that Miller certainly isn’t making a fool of himself with that decision.

Lastly, this week we focus on Ollie Hutchings, Alcuin College Chair. In previous weeks, Ollie’s dress sense has been extravagant to say the least. However, this week we were greeted by Ollie wearing the shortest short shorts we have ever seen (maybe he’s been shopping at the same place as this guy!). BtD thinks they show off his waxed legs and perfectly formed calf muscles nicely though. In his defence, Hutchings claimed that he was “worried about his sexual powers”. We’re yet to decide if we approve. As for Ollie’s dance, we did approve. His partner, Sarah Naylor, described the dance as “fit”. When practicing on his own, BtD would agree with Sarah’s analysis of the dance. We’d even describe him as dainty. However, when the music came on and the pressure of keeping time kicked in, he looked confused and lacking in quality. Ollie confessed that he “doesn’t know his routine as well as the other dancers”, and BtD agrees.

Finally, BtD would like to introduce a new mini-feature called “The Nathan Burles Button Countdown”, which will countdown the number of buttons left done-up on Nathan Burles, dancing with Anna Bucks, shirt. This week we are down to 3. The tension mounts..

Check out the other YCD blog at www.yorkdancesport.com/yorkcomedancing

I (Young) first walked into the second week’s practice to find Ed Lewis-Someone doing nothing but standing and talking. What else would a “campus showman” do. His moves, however, looked sleek and, although Ed couldn’t stop looking at his feet, he seemed confident and knew what he was doing. “Competent” is how I described it in my notes. There is a bigger question though – WHO IS ED LEWIS-SMITH. Mr Bulley and myself asked Rhianna Kinchin, who seemed to think he was in “pantos and stuff.” He did (Lewis-Smith, not Rhianna) also mention that he’s currently performing in a one man rock musical transvestite transexual german rock star production at the moment though. His partner Sarah described a part of the dance. “At one point, he pushes me to the floor and I’m meant to crawl back cos I need him.” Should be fun to watch. If you’re into that sort of thing..

It was equally as ominous for Anna Bucks. “Whilst learning new moves, I look confused” she said to me. Still ambitious though, Anna says she wants to change to tap dance. “Neither of us can tap dance though. I can’t spin or wiggle hips either.” As I said, ominous. Digging her never ending hole, she continued, “I don’t really know what I’m doing”. Sensing things were going from bad to worse, Bucks handed me a love heart. ‘Hunk’. Cheers Anna. “I’m hungover you know.” Things can only go up can’t they? If you still somehow want to vote for her, Anna does say that she “loves charity”. To sum up, there’s work to be done in the Bucks camp. She, however, remains her normal feisty self, proclaiming “Foy (ex-campus somebody and second place last year) should look, I’m gonna rumba his ass off.” Ehem. BtD recommends that Mr Foy stay firmly seated.

And now on to our early favorite, Lewis Bretts. His dedication is there, no one can doubt that. He was totally focused throughout practice, as shown by the sweat dripping off his brow, back, crotch and pits. You could tell he was tired. He’s “enjoying a lot more than I thought I would”, with his partner Emily Sargeant saying that he’s “picking it up”. Enthusiastically, they wanted me to see their lift. “Have you seen our lift? Have you seen it?!!”. “No I haven’t! Show me! Show me!” This is the sort of investigative stuff that wins Guardian Media Awards. However, the lift was actually quite impressive. Lewis picked Emily up with ease, gently placing her horizontally on his shoulder, her on her front. Emily then put her hand out as if copying that famous Titanic scene. Rhianna mentioned that we probably shouldn’t talk about the bruises on Miss Sargeant’s feet. Ooops…

Messrs Bulley and Young will be back next week to bring you the latest news from the world of dance.

(from left to right) Sarah Cook, Ed Lewis-Someone’s far more attractive (and in BtD’s opinion, much more likely to be a campus celebrity) dance partner; Ed Lewis-Someone

(from left to right) Nathan Burles; Bucks

(from top to bottom) Kate Winslet; Leonardo DiCaprio

Check out the other YCD blog at www.yorkdancesport.com/yorkcomedancing

Goldacre publically states on his website that he will happily to do lectures for free provided that the institutions pay his travel expenses, and provided that he doesn’t have to fill out any forms to receive the money.

Goldacre released a statement on his website, saying that “if I have to find an envelope, fill out a form, find your address, write it on the envelope, find a stamp, find the right taxi receipts in the pockets of whatever jacket I was wearing that day, and then the train tickets, and then post them, all to get back the £80 or so that I paid to come to you” then he will refuse to give the lecture.

Nouse understands that the University of York is the first and only institute where Goldacre has cancelled a lecture due to an insistence that he fill out some type of expenses claim form.

The lecture, which was due to take place next Monday November 16, was fully booked at the time that Goldacre withdrew.

Goldacre asserts that “you don’t need my postcode. If I want you to have my home telephone number I’ll ask you on a date. I don’t get it. Ask me to do a talk. I’ll do a talk.”

A fourth year Biochemistry student, who had booked a place at the lecture, commented that “the University have missed out on a great opportunity for a notable speaker to appear on campus. Insisting that he fills in an expenses form is petty and it has cost us, the students, this unique chance. I do not think his request is unreasonable at all.”

Goldacre’s website also includes a statement to any institution that insists on an expenses form: “I’m genuinely sorry if your administrative systems can’t manage it, what can I say, you’re asking me to take time out of my life to come and do a talk and then you want me to fill out a bunch of forms and envelopes.

“Seriously, I love giving talks, I’m happy to do it, I am a zealot for evidence based thinking and science, I would take a train to the end of the universe to talk about it, but you guys seriously need to think about reciprocation.”

Goldacre also attacked the University’s position, saying “everybody knows that a form is the lowest expression of contempt, you use a form to express the fact that you don’t have time for someone, that your time is more important than theirs, and that’s often true”.

University of York Press Officer James Reed stated that; “the University was looking forward to welcoming Dr Goldacre and was keen to accommodate his wishes in relation to his expenses. Dr Goldacre took the decision to cancel the lecture and we have informed ticket holders that this event will not be taking place.”

The week of demonstrations was organised by Derwent College JCRC and YUSU to protest against the removal of 24-hour portering from both Derwent and Vanbrugh colleges.

The first protest was organised anonymously and saw the complete removal of all furniture from Derwent Bar. The action was designed to highlight the time it took campus Security Services to respond to the situation, in comparison with regular 24-hour portering.

In practice it was over one hour before Security Services noticed the removal of the furniture, and a further half an hour before they were able to return the items to the bar from the grounds of Heslington Hall, where the protesters had left them.

Posters left throughout the bar area carried slogans such as “Real welfare, not just lip service”, “Safe & Secure: 24 Hour Portering”, “Preventative: 24 Hour Portering”, “Wouldn’t have happened with 24 hour porters” and “24 Hour Porters Please”.

A leading member of the demonstration commented that “if drastic measures are needed to keep student safety a priority then we are more than willing to keep this up.”

Derwent College Chair Joe Rankin commented on the protest, saying “in no way can it be said that students, and indeed the University, are as well looked after as it has previously been under 24-hour portering.”

Protesters have been widely commended for the action, although one member of Security Services anonymously commented on the Nouse website, explaining that; “all you [the protesters] created was extra workload for myself and colleagues who attended that night to move the furniture back.”

On the day following the Derwent Bar protest, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Students Jane Grenville released a statement warning students that, whilst the University is trying to improve the portering system, “it will be more difficult to make it work in the face of ill-informed and poorly directed protest.”

Derwent JCRC planned a party in the Porters Lodge for their second day of protests, but this was shut down by campus security. Students arriving for the late night protest on Tuesday were turned away by security and not allowed to continue with their planned protest.

Rankin commented on the University response, stating that “having two security cars and four men on the scene before the expressed start time was a waste of resourses and an overreaction, showing firstly how sensitive the University must be about this student campaign and also how out of touch the management must be.”

Student action on Wednesday night was supported by Derwent College and YUSU, with sit-ins arranged throughout the night in Derwent, Langwith and Vanbrugh colleges.

Protesters set up ‘Student Porters’ Lodges’ to highlight the welfare needs which porters address throughout the night. Rankin outlined situations that protesters at Derwent dealt with: “we returned a phone, helped direct a huge amount of people to rooms around Derwent and generally offered that sorely missed welcome at 3.00am to students returning to the College.”

Students were also encouraged to sign a YUSU petition in favour of 24-hour portering.

Nouse understands that protests planned for Thursday and Friday were cancelled following pressure from the University, although the YUSU petition continues to be circulated amongst students.

The final protest, which took place yesterday morning, saw YUSU Campaigns Officer Jason Rose, Rankin and a small group of protests go to Heslington Hall to intercept University administrative staff on their way to Remuneration Committee, the committee that decides pay increases for senior administrative staff.

Protesters will then encourage committee members to refuse a pay rise and propose that the money saved be put towards funding the return of 24-hour portering throughout campus.

Online protests have continued this term, with students and parents emailing and sending to letters to Vice-Chancellor Brian Cantor complaining about the situation. Both Derwent College and YUSU also run succesful Facebook groups which encourage students to get involved with protests.

Student protests in the defence of porters have taken place in York since the University first attempted to cut hours in 2002. Student Action reached a high in 2007, when Colleges, the Students Union and Nouse led a sucessful campus wide campaign protesting a proposed cut to portering hours.

Speaking on the campaign in general, Rose commented: “It’s been going OK. It’s been gaining momentum and there’s been a change of tactics in favour of actually making changes and talking to the people who make the decisions, which will hopefully lead to longer lasting changes.”

Rose also admitted that he suspects the Union has only got “somewhere between 200 and 300” signatures on the petition.

In response to student protests the Unviersity have released a statement warning students that if changes have to be introduced “in the face of continued disruption, it will take longer.”

Speaking exclusively to Nouse, porters across campus revealed their acceptance that working hours will not be extended, regardless of the ongoing campus-wide protests. Portering hours throughout the University have been cut, with 24-hour portering removed from Derwent and Vanbrugh.

One porter, commented that there is a “sense of inevitability” about the situation, which he believes has “gone past the point of no return.” The same porter commented that he did not “want to appear pessimistic [but] nothing is going to change it now.”

This conclusion is one shared across the colleges, with one Langwith porter stating: “We’ve all seen the rotas. We’ve all started making new plans. Whatever happens, nothing is going to change this financial year.”

“It’s just lip service. They don’t care, they’re just not bothered. We’re being overworked but they say we’ve got nothing to do. In fact we’re trying to do like three people’s work,” another porter explained.

Student protests have continued over the past fortnight, with both YUSU and Derwent College JCRC arranging protests and events. A petition has also been passed out amongst the colleges.

“We all appreciate the protests, but there is nothing to be done. It may just be too little, too late,” said one porter. The opinion that student efforts are futile is common amongst the porters: “I applaud the student body for trying, but the management already made their mind up” said another.

The current pressure on the portering system is the third such attempted reduction since 2002, when students protested the move by occupying Heslington Hall. In 2007, strong pressure from YUSU and academics, and a high-profile Nouse campaign, forced the University to back down.

YUSU President Tim Ngwena commented on the porters’ resignation, stating; “I disagree because the environment hasn’t settled yet. Our campus is expanding, there’s no rigid plans for the current campuses, it hasn’t been put into action so we can’t tell if it’s going to work.”

One porter explained how Keith Lilley, Director of Facilities Management, offered the porters the opportunity to transfer internally to join the Security Services team. Of the nine that applied, Nouse understands that one was successful, and the jobs are now being advertised externally.

Responding to these accusations, University Press Officer James Reed stated the University was “looking forward to a constructive discussion on the matter.”

Nouse is exclusively bringing you the behind the scenes gossip, top-notch analysis and bitching from the student bodies favourite ‘celebrities’. More importantly, BtD will feature plenty of photographs and footage of these so-called ‘celebrities’ making mistakes, falling over and dropping their partners. Bring on the fun.

Last night BtD was joined by Rhianna Kinchin (too chicken to dance) at the first dance rehearsal. Together we analysed the contestants, using our advanced and sophisticated knowledge of ballroom and latin dance.

Rather than boring you with details of every candidate, although worry not, we will provide pictures of them all, BtD will focus on a few choice candidates a week.

This week’s favourite is YUSU LGBT Officer Peter Warner-Medley and his partner Abi Wilson. Dancing the Jive the couple emerged as a popular favourite from the start, much to the chagrin of contestant Ollie Hutchings, who commented “My dance is boring. My lifts aren’t as exciting. Unlike Peter and Lewis I don’t get to hump my partner.”

In other news, it turns out that YUSU Sports Supremo Emily Scott’s skills do not extend to the dance floor. Scott, who admitted that “I have lot’s of trouble with rhythm. I can count, but not in time” seemed to BtD to spend more time on the floor than anywhere else. Admittedly, Scott is dancing the Paso Doble, a notoriously hard one I’m told, so maybe she’ll improve in a few weeks time. BtD recommends that next time she tries shorts.

More York Come Dancing information and the YCD blog can be at http://www.yorkdancesport.com/yorkcomedancing

The group of students arrived in Derwent Bar at midnight, and proceeded to strip the bar of all tables and chairs, moving them to the pavement outside of Heslington Hall. All protesters wore hoods and scarves to mask their identity.

The protest was designed to highlight how there were no porters in Derwent, where 24-hour portering was removed this year, to stop the students’ actions. Posters left throughout the bar area carried slogans such as; “Real welfare, not just lip service”, “Safe & Secure: 24 Hour Portering”, “Preventative: 24 Hour Portering”, “Wouldn’t have happened with 24 hour porters” and “24 Hour Porters Please”.

One anonymous protester commented that “if drastic measures are needed to keep student safety a priority then we are more than willing to keep this up.”

It was not until 01:05 this morning that Security Services became aware of the situation, and not until 01:15 that a van of security personnel arrived at Derwent.

At the time of publication the majority of furniture remains outside Heslington Hall.

An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the recent closure of Derwent Bar has revealed that senior University officials have intended to close a number of campus bars for the past two years.

In a leaked email between Pro Vice-Chancellor for Students Jane Grenville and Derwent JCRC Chair Joe Rankin, Grenville stated that “two years ago after a long consultation, there was agreement to close two bars.” Further leaked emails reveal that Grenville and Director of Facilities Management Keith Lilley had specifically targeted Derwent and Alcuin bars, which Grenville describes as “the two most poorly performing bars.”

The closure of the bar was publically announced on August 17 when YUSU Democracy and Services Officer Lewis Bretts was briefed in a meeting with a number of senior University officials.

Derwent Bar has become the third bar to either be closed or face the threat of closure over the past two years. Halifax College bar JJs was closed in 2007 after Commercial Services found the bar to be no longer financially viable, while Alcuin College bar B Henry’s was also described as financially unsustainable in November 2008.

After an upswell in student support, B Henry’s was eventually kept open with the intention that its opening hours would better serve evening students.

Student commenters have speculated on the existence of a long-term bar closure scheme since the closure of Langwith College bar was announced in 2007.

While the University has not announced the process behind the decision to close Derwent Bar rather than the originally earmarked B Henry’s, Grenville stated that in her opinion “it is important to keep a light on the north side of the road. The University cannot, in my view, continue to expand outwards and yet concentrate all the services on the central spine.”

Derwent JCRC Chair Joe Rankin attacked the University’s blinkered approach to bar closures after seeing his college targeted. “It was heavily suggested to me that because of the politics behind the Alcuin bar, the previous campaigns etc, when their bar wasn’t closed, they looked at Derwent instead,” he claimed. The University is yet to comment on this accusation.

Rankin also condemned the University’s lack of discussion with students, claiming that the University have always been planning to close a number of bar and have completely “failed to communicate this to student explicitly.”

Responding to Grenville’s claims that she had consulted college representatives, Rankin stated, “I do not believe this was carried out sufficiently or appropriately.” Rankin also criticised the University for its behaviour, claiming that the University’s actions had “embarrassed” himself, his committee and his college.

According to Derwent Bar Rep Nathan Ratcliffe the decision to keep Alcuin open was unexpected: “I was in Alcuin when the Bar Manager of Alcuin and Derwent found out Alcuin was staying open. He was under the impression that Alcuin was set to close. He had already started making plans to move things down to Derwent, even moving the cocktail menu down to Derwent.”

He added: “They thought, we need to do something to cut our expenditure, and they closed Derwent instead.”

Ratcliffe emphasised that the mismanagement of the bars extended to the employed staff. According to Ratcliffe the Alcuin Bar Manager “was annoyed because they told the JCRC before the staff and the people who actually work at the bar.” Similarly he believes that “employed Derwent bar staff only found out about the closure through word of mouth.”

The decision to close Derwent Bar was attacked by YUSU, who described themselves as “extremely disappointed.” A YUSU proposal, introduced by Bretts on behalf of YUSU, detailed a five-week review process during which the bar would be managed by the Union. At the end of the five weeks the bar must have broken-even in order to continue trading for the following five weeks.

At a meeting on September 2 the University agreed to the five-week review period, but refused to allow YUSU to manage the bar. The bar will continue being managed by the University and will now also be closed on Mondays. Rankin commented; “There was no discussion in the meeting. They had already decided to take the plan and put it into action themselves.”

Defending herself against popular criticism Grenville stated that “I take no pleasure in this, but I am responsible, along with the rest of Senior Management Group, for keeping the whole show on the road, and if that means closing a bar, then so be it.”

In the same email Grenville conceded that “I’m charged with trying to maximise the student experience and it is not lost on me that this doesn’t look like a good way of doing it.”

Rankin responded to Grenville’s assertion, stating “They didn’t handle it well. They then didn’t handle the fallout well. They kind of played a game of denying responsibility and passing it off.”

“It shows you there isn’t really a commitment to college bars and I get the impression maybe there isn’t a commitment to the college system as a whole,” he added.
YUSU have released a statement warning the University to pay attention to the issue of student bars; “Political battles over this issue have continued for too long.

The University needs to understand the importance of campus bars to students and be open, honest and realistic about the historical lack of investment in them.”