Winter, however, does have its benefits in the form of the full bodied, hearty reds which warm the cockles and help you momentarily forgot the avaricious spectre of the 25th waiting in the wings to sink its claws deep into your bank balance. This is the time of year to turn to sturdy, highly alcoholic numbers which complement robust cuisine and help drown out bothersome requests from significant others to go ice skating and such like.

Asda Extra Special Primitivo, 2006, Italy (Asda, £5.88) – Great little jammy winter wine from the south of Italy to inject some sunshine into you life. Drink alongside hearty dishes.

Casillero Del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon, Various Vintages, Chile ( Tesco, £4.99, Sainsbury’s, £6.97) – Concha Y Toro may be a big, nasty, blood sucking corporation but, to their credit, they do produce consistently good quality wine. Casillero, their mid-range and most recognisable brand, is a lovely wine for everyday occasions and will never disappoint.

Terrazas De Los Andes Reserva Malbec, Various vintages, Argentina (Field & Fawcett, £11.80) – An absolutely first class Malbec from Mendoza which is, incidentally, this week’s Decanter wine of the week. Expect big – but not flabby – dark fruit with a hint of spice.

Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Primitivo, Various Vintages, Italy (Sainsbury’s, £5.99) – This wine comes from a respected producer – the Cantine Due Palme co-operative in Puglia – who’s more upmarket wines can be sampled at L’antica Locanda, an intimate Italian restaurant on the Shambles.

Oddbins Own Red, Various Vintages, France (Oddbins, £4.49 or 3 for £10) – Everyday but eminently gluggable Southern French red from notable producer Paul Mas. Drink in any watertight receptacle, as an accompaniment to anything and everything or even nothing. I really can’t recommend this enough especially at this price.

Whisky: Winter is the season when even the most metrosexual of men feel a deep seated carnal desire to drink what is universally renowned as a ‘proper’ drink. Here are a few recommendations.
Monkey Shoulder Vatted Malt, Scotland, Speyside (Oddbins, £21.99 down to £19.99, Sainsbury’s, £20.39) – A vatted malt is simply a blend of single malts; a blended whisky without the horrible, hydrochloric acidy grain whisky which has a nasty tendency to burn holes through your oesophagus. This whisky is a steal for the price and should be drunk straight or in a rusty nail (with equal measures of Drambuie) if you can handle it.

Royal Lochnagar 12 year old, Scotland, Highlands (Oddbins, £23.99 down from £27.99) – The prefix is not merely a cheap gimmick; Lochnagar is the official royal tipple when it comes to malt. This beautiful scotch has a nose consisting of “fruitcake” and “burnt currants” according to Michael Jackson (whisky legend not ‘living in Cuba’ popstar) and is well worth the money.

Penderyn, Malt Whisky, Wales (Sainsbury’s, £30.49, Oddbins, £33.99) – Feel like you got a bit of a bum deal in devolution? Drink Welsh instead with this excellent single malt whisky from the Brecon Beacons National Park. Have not tried the stuff myself but it comes highly recommended from many gentlemen in the know and at 46% abv who could possibly complain?

I watch transfixed as the girl pours herself a ‘generous’ measure and happily glugs away at the foul broth. It is a scene comparable to the vilest of internet freak-fests, those which occupy the attention of adolescent boys for hours on end while keeping them off the streets and ASBO free. I dare not let the liquid pass my lips but I muster up the courage to smell the bottle top. The pungent aroma of the spirit seeps through my nostrils and I fight the temptation to retch. It is the liquid incarnation of the plague, a heavy viscous potation most probably derived from the distilled by-products of the Chernobyl disaster.

In order to try and counter these worrying consumer trends, I have compiled a list of what I take to be acceptable pre-drinking fair.

Vodka
Spending 30 odd quid on Belvedere is quite understandably hard to justify for the average student, those pesky gas bills certainly don’t pay themselves (though it must be noted that it is every students patriotic right not to pay water until the notification of an impending court appearance). Instead, opt for the mid range classics Stolichnaya (Tesco, 15.29) or Wyborowa (Oddbins, 12.99 down from £15.99).

Gin
Mother’s ruin, or gin as it is commonly known, is as quintessentially English as the monarchy and a deep seated distrust of class mobility. Though Gordon’s makes for a perfectly acceptable G&T, try the classic Plymouth (Tesco, £15.13) – the only gin with an appellation – if you’re of the martini persuasion. If you have a few of quid more to spend and prefer a more delicate gin, look into purchasing a bottle of Miller’s (Oddbins, £19.99)

Rum
Dark rum and apple juice is quickly becoming a modern classic for those that would traditionally order vodka cranberry’s but want to avoid being judged. The entry level Mount Gay (Tesco, £14.48) from Barbados is a great choice but make sure to use real, fresh apple juice unless you find the rank, boiled-sweet flavour of its synthetic counterparts particularly appealing.

Whisky
Toast the absence of the iron lady with Thatcher’s favourite tipple scotch and soda. This drink makes for an excellent aperitif and perfectly complements pre dinner nibbles, illicit arms dealing and attempted coups. Bailie Nicol Jarvie (Oddbins, £14.99) is a great value blended scotch with a significantly higher malt content than the majority of its competitors.

Tequila
Just so long as you’re not toasting to an evening at York’s ‘Tequila’ night at the Dutchess, do as the Mexicans do and take it straight. Try Sauza Blanco Tequila (Tesco, £15.39) over ice. Lime and salt only if you must.

This week I wish I’d been drinking …
Chateau Musar (various vintages and retailers, Circa £18) – A famous red from what is probably the most conflict ridden region in the world, the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon. The wine is a full bodied blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault and Grenache with a few obscure varietals complementing the mix. Decant and serve with Lebanese Mezze.

It is with this in mind that I offer a kind parting gift for those due to escape the monotony of Heslington life. What follows is a few precious slithers of wine world wisdom which, while potentially not proving particularly useful in helping you land that 35 grand a year starting salary, will undoubtedly enhance your quality of life if you do manage to find a pastime other than sitting on a bench drinking white lightning whilst debating the impact of American Hegemony in the Middle East.

1. A little Extra Spending is well rewarded. As the lions share of the price of a £5 bottle of wine is tax and transport, a few extra pounds significantly increases the actual value of the wine.

2. Ignore the second and third least expensive bottles on the wine list:
As a general rule – and especially if you are unfamiliar with the restaurant – try to ignore the second and third least expensive bottles on a restaurant’s wine list. This is the area of the list where the restaurateur attempts to maximise profit and often does not represent good value for money.

3. Look to the South of France:
Lax rules and regulations renders the south of France a hotbed for vinuous creativity that should be embraced by those looking for something a bit out of the ordinary. In the cheaper end of the market, the warmer climate lends itself to the production of affable reds perfect for everyday drinking.

4. Chile when on a budget:
Chilean wine, while often not the most exciting, is eminently affordable and almost universally approachable. Though generally associated with reds, Chile also produces a growing quantity of Sauvignon Blanc which is often very good value for money.

5. Invest in some decent glassware:
Drinking a decent wine from Tesco Value wine glasses is tantamount to personally slapping its producer in the face. If like the majority of the population you would rather pay your mortgage than shell out on the Riedel, opt for a few thin stemmed and generously sized glasses for special occasions

6. Avoid America:
Steer clear of American wines as they do not offer value for money in the £10-20 bracket when purchased in the UK.

7. Experiment with Alsace:
With a good dose of residual sweetness and acidity, Alsatian wines are the perfect accompaniment to Asian cuisine.

8. Give sparkling wine a chance:
Rising demand from Asia has added to Champagnes already over inflated prices. Try an interesting sparkling wine at a fraction of the price.

9. Get into the Old World:
When one tires of big fruity monsters, look to old world favourites for refined elegance. Though the tannin might initially put people off, the structure and finesse of a good Bordeaux can never be underestimated

Recommendations

Les Douze 2007 Fitou, South of France (Majestic, £7.99, Buy 2 for £6.49 each)
Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2005/06, Chile (Majestic, £10.99, 2 for £8.79)
Chateau Amarande 2005, Bordeaux (Oddbins, £8.99)
Errazuriz Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Chile (Oddbins, £6.99, Majestic, £6.24, Buy 2 for £4.99 each)
Vin D’Alsace Gewurztraminer 2007, Alsace (Marks & Spencer, £7.99)
Janz Premium NV Sparkling, New Zealand (Oddbins, £11.99)

Labour

Labour in 2009 is the political equivalent of Thai Fusion cuisine; desperately outdated and utterly spineless. Even the spin doctors have realised the Sisyphean extent of their task; a Gary Glitter comeback tour would undoubtedly be far easier to orchestrate than a Labour party victory at the polls.

One name in particular springs to mind when thinking about spin in the wine world, the over-priced and over hype Cloudy Bay, Sauvignon Blanc, 2008 (various suppliers, circa £17.95).

The new vintage reportedly delivers “deliciously vibrant aromatics that infuse the tropical fragrance of fresh passion fruit and juicy pineapples with garden-fresh basil and the spiciness of crushed tomato leaves.” Upon tasting, I was unable to discern any of these subtle aromas and was left with nothing but a rather unpleasant – albeit expensive – taste in my mouth.
Save the money and opt for the dry yet gooseberry packed Wither Hills, Sauvignon Blanc, 2008 (Oddbins, £9.99).

Conservatives

What is the essence of the Conservatives? Cameron is little more than Blair repackaged to suit current trends; he loves the environment, he’s cool – albeit with a hint of immigration sharpness. The beating heart of the party is to be found elsewhere in the Tory hereditary peer. Perpetually inebriated, asleep or outrageously inappropriate, this dying breed serves up a veritable smorgasbord of political hilarity on a daily basis. What do they drink? Claret, of course.

As we all too often find ourselves in the unfortunate predicament of not being able to fit the Cheval Blanc into the confines of the weekly budget, the lovely Chateau Charron ‘Les Gruppes’ 2007, Bordeaux (Oddbins, £9.99) is more than sufficient to satisfy those right bank cravings at a fraction of the price

Lib Dems

Only one thing springs to mind with the Liberal Democrats: high alcohol. Maybe this is the reason why the party fosters such high levels of support amongst students; God knows it can’t have anything to do with their policies.

Try the behemoth Aussie Chalk Hill, 2007, Sangiovese (Oddbins, £12.99). At 15.5% ABV this spicy little number would give even Kennedy a run for his money.

Green

Try the charming Fair Trade and organic Bodega Furlotti, Soluna Malbec, 2008 (Everywine.co.uk, £9.99 in a case of 12). Though the natural accompaniment would be a great chunk of Bife De Chorizo (Sirloin Steak), the Fair Trade and organic factors render it a perfect accompaniment to a carbon tax debate and a couscous salad in your North London venue of choice.

Just be a good green and swallow down the hypocrisy – the carbon footprint on a bottle of this Argentinean would even make the Range Rover set balk.

BNP/UKIP

When thinking of English wines, one thinks Chapel Down. English vineyard, English workers and English owners. If you can temporarily subdue your rabid sense of jingoism and ignore the decidedly non-English grape varietals, celebrate the election results with the excellent Chapel Down NV Brut (Waitrose, £12.74).

If you can’t bear to let those immigrant grapes anywhere near you, opt for Carling Lager NV (Tesco, £3.64 for 4x500ml Cans), a drink which serves as the perfect aperitif for those planning to commit GBH.

Christian Party

If you’ve plumped for this lot, which proposes an end to secularism, and a return to Christian values, you’re probably best sticking with the only soft drink to be seen with: San Pellegrino (Tesco, 87p). Room temperature, of course – anything else would be a sin.

Though the part played by those involved in student politics should not be undervalued, the majority of ensuring accountability rests on campus media’s shoulders. This is not to say that it is a burden accepted grudgingly. It would be ridiculous to suggest that, just like their national equivalents, campus media is not motivated by desires which occasionally result in relatively minor issues being blown out of proportion.
Though campus media does make mistakes, the service it provides is invaluable. If plans discussed by the University and the Union to further restrict the media come to fruition, campus media will be rendered effectively impotent.

The welfare argument advanced by the University holds no weight. University employees must be accountable to student consumers. Moreover, they are fundamentally distinct from the average student who is effectively, through the indirect route of YUSU funding, a stakeholder in all Union funded media.

The choice made by individuals to occupy elected positions also renders them fair game for campus media. This does not mean the individual forgoes their welfare entirely, just that they can be legitimately criticised on occasions which bear relevance to their job role.
Regrettably – as in the case of a former Welfare Sabbatical Officer – spill-over between work and personal life is sometimes inevitable.

Though the internet extenuates the matter, suggestions that the Nouse website should require a university log-in are farcical. The website has become a victim of its own success; the sheer number of hits has publicised the transgressions of York’s political sphere to a national audience. For the Union and the University to vindicate this accomplishment in order to hide their own shortcomings would be inexcusable. As well as damaging the reputation of York as a media university, it would constitute the coup de grace for the relative financial autonomy of Nouse as advertising revenues plummet. The issue will become even more pressing when Vision’s new website starts amassing equally contentious content.

This debate should not be conducted behind closed doors. Maybe there are tweaks that could be made to the media charter but nothing viable has emerged to date. Those involved in campus politics must recognise their commitment and the consequences should they renege on it.

Media scrutiny is a necessary reality of the job. If the black card and CV points don’t seem worth it in the face of this, sit down and enjoy immunity. If you do get involved, do so in the knowledge that the position you occupy can be legitimately and fairly criticised, and will be available for the whole world to see. Freedom of speech cannot be separated from the right to be heard; an attack on either constitutes an attack on both.

The lower end of the British market is regrettably plagued with this sort of mediocrity. This is predominately due to the high post production costs per bottle; the price of a cheap bottle of plonk is primarily government duty, transport and bottling without even considering the supplier’s profit margin. This means a slight budgetary increase is well rewarded – a few more pounds can double the value of the wine you’re actually drinking. Though the tendency to drink the cheapest filth available is understandably prevalent amongst the university community, it seems a shame to entirely dismiss the possibility of spending a few pounds extra for pre-drinks when a night out to any York ‘nightspot’ will inevitably set you back at least ten times more.

Though wines in the ‘under £10’ category might not blow you away, Chile remains a very cost effective choice where – unlike Mr Madoff’s trusting investors – you certainly get out what you put in. For something a bit more adventurous I would advise a jump over the Andes to Argentina, billed by Steven Spurrier of Decanter fame as the new world one to watch. With some interesting new varietals appearing alongside the traditional Malbec and some exciting new regions rapidly emerging in the north, it’s an assertion I thoroughly endorse. In European terms, Portugal is an excellent bet; a lot of varietals at competitive prices make it definitely worth a dabble.

Worth A Try:

Cono Sur Pinot Noir, 2007, £6.99 (Oddbins, Tesco) – Despite bearing little resemblance to its Burgundian cousins, this new world expression of the temperamental grape is always a joy to drink and very easy to get your hands on. Fruit in abundance and light enough to enjoy with or without food.

Carmin De Peumo Carmenere, Various Vintages, Chile, £49.99 (Oddbins) – A friend’s grandfather once told me “life’s too short for cheap wine”. Take his advice and decimate the student loan with a few bottles of this Iconic Concha Y Toro Carmenere. Rent and heating are overrated anyway.

Masi ‘Passo Doble’, 2007, Argentina, £10.99 (Oddbins) – A new world excursion courtesy of one of Italy’s most famous names which flawlessly applies the Ripasso method in a new world setting. A big, racy red which is certainly worth the little bit extra.

Norton Malbec/Torrontes, 2008, Argentina, £5.99 (Oddbins) – Extremely affordable red and white for everyday quaffing. Perfect with
or without food.

Portal Da Aguia Branco, 2008, Portugal, £5.99 (Oddbins) – Lovely floral Portuguese white perfect for the upcoming summer. Drink chilled with something with a hint of spice.

Santa Julia Organic Sparkling Chardonnay, 2007, Argentina, £9.49 (Oddbins) – Perfect for individuals wishing to celebrate with a touch of fizz but nevertheless unwilling to spend vast amounts on Champagne.

Jonathan is Drinking … La Copita Dry Oloroso Sherry, £7.99, Spain (Oddbins) – with high profile advocates ranging from Heston to Fergus Henderson of St. John’s fame, this drink is no longer the reserve of those nearing the top of the escalator of life. Chuck a bottle in the fridge and enjoy with tapas or as an aperatif.

Premiered in the Minster last Friday, Standing Stones is the latest outing of the renowned Ascendance REP and is designed specifically for cathedral spaces. The performance must therefore be judged partially on its relevance to the setting, something which I felt was notably absent.

The second and third movements were the highlight of the performance and effectively showcased the skill and competence of the individual dancers. At one point, one of the dancers entered on stilts and acted as an unusual prop with the materials her costume factoring in to the choreography which was thoroughly entertaining and evidently well received. Unfortunately, a few tiresome clichés subtracted from the quality of the performance. I fought the urge to roll my eyes when selected audience members were given apples by one of the performers imitating a court jester.

Despite a few high notes, however, the performance in its entirety was decidedly lacklustre. The production aimed to celebrate the “magnificence” and “timeless continuity” of the setting but fell disappointingly short of its target. The choreography failed to capture the scale and grandeur of the setting and felt decidedly unrelated to what was the core inspiration of the project. Standing Stones was entertaining but instead of “celebrating” its surroundings, it appeared embarrassingly inferior in comparison to the architecture which undoubtedly stole the show.

Many students believe that the Heslington East expansion will be detrimental for the University. These commonly held fears are quite unfounded. York needs to grow in size in order to receive greater funding per student and, if academic standards can be at least maintained if not improved, attract fee paying non EU students who provide impoverished British universities with a financial life line that enable them to remain in the same league as their stateside counterparts. Additional factors to support the enlargement include benefits for the local economy (albeit a steep decline in Heslington house prices) and more places for applicants, allowing higher levels of participation in higher education and vocational training.

This is all well and good. The decision to create a Theatre, Film and Television department, however, is a grave misjudgement. I am not going to go on a rant about the worthlessness of “soft subjects” – subjects like English literature were once ridiculed by mainstream academia ? and I firmly believe that the critique and analysis of the media is vital when attempting to understand how modern society functions. I would personally go so far as to say that the university should feel compelled to pioneer leftfield subjects such as this which, despite their brilliant potential, are all too often shunned by conservative and rigid academic institutions so commonly associated with the British Higher Education system.

My disagreement stems from a simple opportunity cost consideration. I wholeheartedly believe that a media course would benefit the university but there are other subjects that should take priority. For me, a good example is Classics.

The university is – and hopefully will continue to be – blessed with an excellent record in the arts and social sciences. Classical studies represent a vital feature of any university’s departmental offerings and the fact that York doesn’t provide it reflects unfavourably on the university as a whole.

It’s almost impossible to think of a subject that doesn’t have foundations in the classical period. Ancient Greece was the birthplace of democracy and without Oedipus modern psychology would be but a fragment of what it is now.

There is also an abundance of excellent, young academics in the field that are eager to find teaching placements. An ambitious and innovative department would make for a refreshing alternative to the courses offered by other universities and would be perfectly placed to compliment other subjects. The same is true of other potential subjects in the social sciences such as anthropology.

What concerns me about the expansion is that the university, in a reckless wish to expand, might pass over the opportunity to strengthen existing areas ? such as the social sciences – in the desire to become a top end but catch-all establishment. This strategy is not only risky but could possibly result in complete failure. Only time will tell whether the large, Berkley style campus the planners wish to emulate will more accurately resemble a second rate establishment in the midst of decline.

The first of many problems comes from the consideration of the institution as a totality. When we ask if we are satisfied with our time spent here, we are in reality assessing so many different institutions weakly (perhaps ineffectively) linked under the umbrella that is our university. We must comment on our department and our course separately from the University because the former has surprisingly little influence on the latter.

But what does that mean for the consumer? It shouldn’t be that we must scrutinise each individual component of the University in isolation.

Another factor which must be taken into account is a personal bias which we all have when considering this question. When I criticise and praise my department, the Students’ Union and the college system, am I not doing so heavy handedly without stepping back considering the situation objectively?

So far I have raised more questions than I could ever hope to answer but I do believe that if we are really dissatisfied, there are some things we can do.

Firstly, people really need to start thinking about how satisfied they are with the current state of affairs. Then, they need to do something about it. On the ground there are some serious problems that need addressed as quickly as possible as they won’t go away and indeed will only fester and grow in time if ignored.

League tables, for example, are just a tiny example of what we really need to work on. How can a university that comes in the top five for research in the Times league table and second only to Cambridge in teaching in the Sunday Times’ be so low? We can blame graduate recruiters from failing to look beyond the generic tables but tomorrow’s graduates will suffer when they fail to find the employment they want and deserve. Student satisfaction directly influences these poor league table results too.

There is also now the greatest need ever to leave behind the pettiness traditionally associated with campus politics and work hard to move forward and offer constructive advice as opposed to, for want of a better term, cut off one’s nose to spite the face.

Criticism must be made and in cases where it holds some truth, those involved should accept it graciously. On the other hand we must be careful when making our complaints that we don’t drag the whole process, at a Union or a University level, to a grinding halt. Complaining with out a view to eventually moving forward benefits no one.

Finally, we must start implementing these changes now. If we are dissatisfied then we must take action immediately. If we don’t, we only have ourselves to blame. If things don’t change for the better at least we can be safe in the knowledge that we tried to our full capacity. I however, being an abhorrent eternal optimist, believe that we really can change things and even if we make only marginal progress, none of it will have been in vain.

Following the ‘Media Circus’ event held in week one of the summer term, event organiser Matt Oliver expressed concerns regarding the reluctance of graduate recruiters to advertise at the University of York. After contacting 60 of The Times Newspaper’s Top 100 graduate recruiters, Oliver found that 40 of the companies declined his offer, and claimed that “York is not one of the universities [they] target for recruitment”.

“At the end of the day our graduate prospects are very, very low in comparison to other universities around us. That’s not good enough” said Oliver.

When questioned as to whether York’s falling position in national university league tables had contributed towards this, Oliver stated: “The fact that companies didn’t want to invest or didn’t see us as a target for graduate recruitment reflects not so much our position in the league table but our position in graduate prospects in those league tables”.

Oliver asserted: “If you take out graduate prospects and student facilities spend (from league table calculations) we would probably be about 5th [in the league tables].”

“I think they’re losing out on some of the best graduates in the country,” commented YUSU President, Anne Marie Canning when confronted with the allegations. “I don’t know why they don’t see us as a good potential for recruitment, but you have to think about geographical reasoning as well – I know that doesn’t sound like much of a factor but many of these recruitment companies are based down in London, coming up to York is not a very attractive prospect. Also, we have a relatively small university community compared to the big hitters in the university market,” she added.

One explanation of York’s relatively poor performance in regards to graduate prospects is that many students are involved with further education after the completion of their degrees, a factor which is not taken into account in league table employability calculations.
“If you took the figure of where University of York students are three years after the end of their degree we would be a lot higher up [the league tables],” said Oliver.

A study conducted at British universities has revealed that the average annual library fine for University of York students was the fifth highest out of the sixteen universities that responded.
The average library fine for a University of York student in the 2006/07 period was £7.63, compared to £5.86 at Bristol and £1.90 at Cambridge. Students at the London School of Economics paid the highest average at £10.61.

YUSU President Anne-Marie Canning said “I don’t think that library fines are obscene, but if you forget to return a key text, then you are screwed. I sympathise with students who make mistakes and get big, heavy fines.”

Overdue key texts are currently charged at £1.00 for every hour, or part of an hour, while other books are charged at 30p per day.

In the 2006/07 academic year, the University library amassed just under £84,000 in fines, an £8,000 increase on the previous year. “Maybe students here can afford to pay fines, so they take the chance with the books,” suggested Canning.

Recent changes to the lending procedure may assist students who are consistently being hit by fines. A recent Library Committee meeting has decided to lend key texts for ‘dynamic times’ different from the rigid system currently in place, to allow students to borrow journals overnight, and has increased the lending time for photocopies to 4 hours.

It has also been decided to change the lending limit from 10 ordinary loans and 10 non-standard loans to 20 loans of any type, and an increased 60p per day overdue charges if the book in question has been requested.

The study was conducted by Exeter student newspaper Exeposé.

“We are very keen to avoid the NUS syndrome” admitted YUSU Societies and Communications Officer Sam Bayley, before adding that he is keen to “avoid the problems of the past by speaking to everyone that is interested”.

The Union sabbatical team has already held an open session on the proposed governance changes in Week 3 and a number of focus group meetings with internal affiliates such as JCRCs, the Overseas Students Assocation, RAG and societies. Specific sessions have also been held with individual Union committees. However, turnouts at the open meeting and the societies meeting, the two most likely to involve typical students, were both poor.

“Basically, from day one we have started off with the aim of consulting people, from the top all the way down,” said Bayley, who wants students to fill in feedback forms and give their views on the changes. “We are keen for everyone to have their say, and feel that they have had their say,” he added.

Previous constitutional amen­d­ments are thought to have failed due to limited consultation and involvement of interested parties. Following the controversial move by the Union to pass constitutional amendments in 2006, Neil Barnes, then Academic and Welfare Officer, said: “It still makes me shudder to think about how seriously dodgy the process became.”

Already, JCRC chairs have spoken out with indignation due to not having been consulted with respect to the proposed constitutional changes. Bayley, however, claims the initial plan was to approach them when the constitution has reached a less formative state, stating: “[JCR chairs] have not been left out of the process and are coming into it later”

Bayley is hoping to avoid the events of the recent NUS National Conference in Blackpool that saw motions submitted for a reform of the NUS constitution defeated. The necessary two-thirds majority of representatives from Student Unions across the country had not been met by a margin of 25 votes.

The motions for reform followed a mandate for change to make the NUS more accessible and relevant in the light of recent disillusionment with the organisation.

Rashta Yaqoob, the landlord, stated that the court case could have been altogether avoided if there “had been someone from the University to come out at the time and look themselves and mediated at the time”.

Hannah Welsh, one of Yaqoob’s former tenants , claimed that the whole experience was stressful and that it had appeared to them as if the university had been “in support of her [Yaqoob]”.

University Accommodation Manager Phillip Prosser, responded to the accusation by stating that “we as a general rule offer information or advice and then where need be refer them on to a more specialist worker” and that the remit of the department did not include “case work” where the department would actively attempt to settle disputes of these nature. Prosser also mentioned that cases of non-compliance with the code of best practice would be investigated further but that cases of this nature were “different from just giving general welfare advice”.

The court case emerged following the tenants of 63 Heslington Road withholding a proportion of rent to which they believed they were entitled due to ongoing building work.

The contract contained an agreement for half rent to be paid during the time that building work was undertaken and the dispute arose when further work occured outside the time frame provided. The tenants refused to pay full rent for the period and Yaqoob, claiming that the work was remedial and not essential according housing to and council regulations, decided to initiate legal proceedings.

YUSU Academic and Welfare Officer Grace Fletcher-Hackwood is set to face a vote of no confidence at the next UGM after admitting assaulting a student. A member of YUSU Senate has broken ranks to call for her resignation. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the officer said they thought Fletcher-Hackwood would not survive the vote. “I don’t think she’ll make it and she should resign. I think it’s quite serious and it undermines her position, it undermines the Union and her position is untenable,” they said.

Fletcher-Hackwood has said repeatedly that she will not resign over the incident, saying: “‘inappropriate is the most serious word you could use to describe it. As far as I’m concerned the matter is now over.” The assaulted individual, second year History and Politics student Dan Taylor, said that Fletcher-Hackwood must “seriously consider her position.” Taylor said he plans to submit the motion of no confidence to the next UGM, which will take place on January 30.

YUSU President Anne-Marie Canning has thus far stood behind her, saying: “I have full confidence that Grace can fulfil her academic and welfare role, and I think she is doing a great job for students. However, if Dan wants to take the matter any further, I will go through the whole complaints procedure with him and investigate the incident fully.”
JCRC Chairs have also spoken out on the issue. Derwent Chair Oliver Lester described Fletcher-Hackwood’s actions as “disgraceful” and said: “people should actually consider whether she can continue in her role. If a lecturer or a tutor actually hit a student, I expect they would be asked to leave the University, and in this sense it’s kind of the same. If a YUSU employee punched a student it’s completely unacceptable.”

Halifax President Dave Sharpe, said that “there definitely needs to be some action taken,” and that Fletcher-Hackwood will “have to do a lot of work to get students’ trust back”. This view was echoed by James Chair Chet Khatu who said that Fletcher-Hackwood had “let the University down as a role model.” Vanbrugh Chair Matt Oliver said: “There should be serious consideration as to whether the Union feels she is able to continue in her role.” He added that he felt it was important for the JCRC chairs to present a “united front” on the issues in the event of formal action being taken against Fletcher-Hackwood.

All students will have the opportunity to vote on the motion in the UGM. If passed Fletcher-Hackwood would be removed from her post. Current constitutional arrangements mean that it is unlikely the post would be filled until the beginning of next academic year.

According to second year Derwent student Adam Clark, who was with Taylor at the time, the incident occurred at roughly 1.30am outside Derwent bar during the Chav-D event. Taylor and a friend had been ejected from the event by doorstaff earlier, and met Fletcher-Hackwood after she followed them out of the venue.
Taylor said Fletcher-Hackwood taunted him for being thrown out and he responded by pointing out she had been carried out of the last Club-D event for excessive drunkenness.

By both Taylor’s and Clark’s account, the argument escalated, and on making a comment regarding ethical merchandise, Fletcher-Hackwood punched Taylor in the ear.
Fletcher-Hackwood maintains that “there is absolutely no way that I would try to hurt anyone” and that she did not intend to injure Taylor. When questioned with regards to the details of the incident, Fletcher-Hackwood admitted she did not remember the event. By her own admittance, Fletcher-Hackwood was extremely inebriated during the Chav-D event.

Fletcher-Hackwood said her and Taylor’s relationship “should be taken into account” although “it should not be considered less of an incident because of who it is”. She admitted that they have a relationship of “mutual disagreement”. Facebook groups have appeared supporting and condemning Fletcher-Hackwood.

The University of York has received just under £8m in funding from British arms companies, according to a recent report. The report, entitled ‘Study War No More’, was produced in 2007 by Campaign Against The Arms Trade (CAAT) and the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FoR), and details the funding of military research and development projects at 26 UK universities between 2001-06.

The report claims York accepted over £7.7m for carrying out 59 military projects based primarily at the Computer Science and Electronics departments. The money provided by research comes from BAE systems, QineitQ and EPSRC – all of which are involved in weapons production.

Symon Hill, a spokesperson for CAAT, said: “it is appalling that the University of York allows arms companies this level of influence into what should be an independent academic establishment.” He said he believed “[York] students and staff will be horrified to discover the level of military involvement at UK universities.” David Garner, a spokesman for the University, rejected Hill’s assertion saying “We do not accept the assumption that any contact with the defence sector is reproachable. The University’s research in conjunction with defence companies or government departments does not involve weapons.” Garner went on to defend the University’s academic autonomy saying “Our research grants in this area operate in exactly the same way as any other research agreement- with academic independence and authority guaranteed. No research funder has ‘influence’ in the University in the way that Symon Hill implies.”

Garner also said the University did not believe an issue existed on ethical grounds saying: “Research at York in this area includes safety critical aircraft computer systems to make sure that planes are unlikely to crash – systems that are used in civilian aircraft. Other research looks at radio communication systems and computer security. There is nothing reprehensible about this research. On the contrary, it is extremely beneficial to society. It is patent nonsense to suggest that there is any inappropriate military influence in this University.” Garner said that the University was not currently carrying out any weapons research.

York People & Planet Chair Robyn Heather said: “Even if the research does not directly contribute to the creation of actual weaponry, it is still irresponsible for an influential university to be affiliated with arms companies such as these, who do develop weapons.”

The report showed that the University of York conducted 59 separate projects funded by arms companies, ranking 13th out of the 26 institutions covered in the study in terms of the number of projects. The University also participated in the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Defence Technology Centres project in 2004. The project was entitled “Systems Engineering for Autonomous Systems” (SEAS-DTC) and was conducted in conjunction with 11 other British universities including UCL, St Andrew’s and Bristol.
According to the report, “Defence Technology Centres were introduced by the Ministry of Defence in 2002 so that military, industry and universities can collaborate closely in the developing new military technology”. The MoD claims to utilise the centres in order to produce “innovative, cutting edge research for enhanced UK defence capability.” The centres are jointly funded by the MoD and private arms companies, in the case of the SEAS-DTC project including BAE systems, MBDA missile systems and Rolls Royce.
YUSU President Anne-Marie Canning said: “Research investments are a growing area within the University. Investments are judged on an ethical basis by a mixture of academics and student reps at departemntal ethics committees. If students are concerned about such issues they can submit a motion to our next UGM and I will lobby upon their behalf.”

The University of Cambridge conducted 283 projects from 2001 to 2006 making it the institution with the largest number of arms company projects in the UK. Below Cambridge ranks Loughborough with 126 followed by Oxford with 124. York ranks 13 of the 26 in terms of numbers of projects accepted.

Cranfield University received the most money from arms companies with a minimum amount received for research projects amounting to just under £383m. It is followed by the Southampton which received a minimum of £43.2m. York ranks 14 in terms of research money accepted.

Briefing: York and the Arms Trade

OCTOBER 2005
A Nouse investigation discovered that the University held 115,000 direct shares in BAE Systems in addition to shares held through investment funds which are managed externally. The University Payroll and Pensions Manager, Bill Hemmingway, admitted that there were problems with the current situation and that the ethical investment policy had left the “trustees in a catch 22 situation”. “They [the University trustees] felt that their first duty was to the Scheme members and they would not be fulfiling their duties if they did not secure the best investment possible for the fund.

MAY 2006
Student activists staged a ‘die-in’ occupation of Heslingon Hall as part of a campus wide ‘No Share in Killing Day’ to protest against the University’s investment in arms companies. The University agreed to develop a more stringent ethical policy as a result.

NOVEMBER 2006
Members of York Amnesty International and FreeSoc dressed in white boiler suits (pictured) and occupied the lobby of Heslington Hall in protest against the presence of representatives from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) who were giving a presentation. The students aimed to disrupt the presentation by DSTL, which produces a range of aerial, naval and land-based weaponry.

MAY 2007
Nouse uncovered evidence that the University holds indirect shares in Petrochina, a major Chinese oil firm which is thought to have links to the Sudanese government. A number of insitutions, including Harvard University had sold their shares for ethical reasons. The investigation also discovered the University still held 147,100 shares in the arms company BAE Systems. Between May 2006 and May 2007, the University benefited from a £25,448 increase in value of its shares in BAE Systems, bringing their value to a total of £644,371.

Company Profiles:

BAE Systems – 439 university projects
It is thought that 80% of BAE’s products are exported abroad, where it seeks new markets experiencing military build-ups or recently discontined from arms embargoes. The company was thrust into the media spotlight in 2006 after the Serious Fraud Office began investigating charges of corruption related to a BAE deal with Saudi regime. In December of that year Attorney General Lord Goldsmith ordered a halt to the investigation, citing “national security” reasons.

Rolls-Royce – 495 university projects
Rolls-Royce is the world’s second largest manufacturer of turbine engines, used from military transport aircraft and helicopters to combat, tactical aircraft and unmanned air vehicle. It is currently the world’s 16th largest defence contractor. University of York Vice-Chancellor Brian Cantor worked for the company in a consultant role before coming entering academia full time.

QinetiQ – 394 university projects
QuinetiQ is a leading international defence and security technology company. It acts as the leading supplier of defence research to the British government which provides half its turnover. It also provides technological and security solutions to clients from both the civil and public sectors. The government recently sold a majority stake in the firm to a US private equity firm.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the officer said they thought Fletcher-Hackwood would not survive the vote. “I don’t think she’ll make it and she should resign. I think it’s quite serious and it undermines her position, it undermines the Union and her position is untenable,” they said.

Fletcher-Hackwood has said repeatedly that she will not resign over the incident, saying: “‘inappropriate’ is the most serious word you could use to describe it. As far as I’m concerned the matter is now over.”

The assaulted individual, second year History and Politics student Dan Taylor, said that Fletcher-Hackwood must “seriously consider her position.” Taylor said he plans to submit the motion of no confidence to the next UGM, which will take place on January 30.

YUSU President Anne-Marie Canning has thus far stood behind her, saying: “I have full confidence that Grace can fulfil her academic and welfare role, and I think she is doing a great job for students. However, if Dan wants to take the matter any further, I will go through the whole complaints procedure with him and investigate the incident fully.”

JCRC Chairs have also spoken out on the issue. Derwent Chair Oliver Lester described Fletcher-Hackwood’s actions as “disgraceful” and said: “people should actually consider whether she can continue in her role. If a lecturer or a tutor actually hit a student, I expect they would be asked to leave the University, and in this sense it’s kind of the same. If a YUSU employee punched a student it’s completely unacceptable.”

Halifax President Dave Sharpe, said that “there definitely needs to be some action taken,” and that Fletcher-Hackwood will “have to do a lot of work to get students’ trust back”. This view was echoed by James Chair Chet Khatu who said that Fletcher-Hackwood had “let the University down as a role model.”

Vanbrugh Chair Matt Oliver said: “There should be serious consideration as to whether the Union feels she is able to continue in her role.” He added that he felt it was important for the JCRC chairs to present a “united front” on the issue in the event of formal action being taken against Fletcher-Hackwood.

All students will have the opportunity to vote on the motion in the UGM. If passed, Fletcher-Hackwood would be removed from her post. Current constitutional arrangements mean that it is unlikely the post would be filled until the beginning of the next academic year.

According to second year Derwent student Adam Clark, who was with Taylor at the time, the incident occurred at roughly 1.30am outside Derwent bar during the Chav-D event. Taylor and a friend had been ejected from the event by doorstaff earlier, and met Fletcher-Hackwood after she followed them out of the venue.

Taylor said Fletcher-Hackwood taunted him for being thrown out and he responded by pointing out she had been carried out of the last Club-D event for excessive drunkenness.

By both Taylor’s and Clark’s account, the argument escalated, and on making a comment regarding ethical merchandise, Fletcher-Hackwood punched Taylor in the ear.

Fletcher-Hackwood maintains that “there is absolutely no way that I would try to hurt anyone” and that she did not intend to injure Taylor. When questioned with regards to the details of the incident, Fletcher-Hackwood admitted she did not remember the event. By her own admittance, Fletcher-Hackwood was extremely inebriated during the Chav-D event.

Fletcher-Hackwood said her and Taylor’s relationship “should be taken into account” although “it should not be considered less of an incident because of who it is”. She admitted that they have a relationship of “mutual disagreement”. Facebook groups have appeared supporting and condemn­ing Fletcher-Hackwood.

YUSU President Anne-Marie Canning was delighted with the changes implemented. “The key achievement is a 9% rise in the bursary budget for 2008/09 and this shows a significant commitment to social justice in ensuring that the poorer students have the highest level of support,” she said.

“The changes support more students with more money, a bigger budget and a wider bracket of income. I think it is a victory for students, and it is also nice to know that the University really does care about us,” she­ added.

The initial bracket changes proposed by the government will largely benefit the majority of students by raising the cut-off amount for bursaries. However, decreases in each category could have potentially left poorer students with less financial support than previously.

The University raised the total bursary budget from £781,000 to £827,000 in order to accommodate the changes, a decision Canning described as “brave” in lieu of its non-conformity with governmental changes.

Overall, the changes are set to be beneficial to lower-middle and middle income students, while maintaining current levels of funding for low-income students.
Over 150 eligible students have not claimed financial support this year, according to the Student Financial Support Unit.

Lots of people seem to believe a deeply flawed hypothesis; that the world would be a better place without organised religion. The problem is that the formation of organised religion is inevitable. This is due to two principal factors: the first of these is that throughout history we have seen a psychological trend for human beings to believe in (or create) some form of deity.

The second factor is that societal groups form naturally. I personally believe one of the reasons is a human necessity to constantly define oneself but I know there are myriad other explanations. In a purely empirical sense I believe the fact that societal groups are naturally forming is a fair assumption to be made.

When we consider these two assertions in unison we arrive at why organised religion does, and would always have, existed. Societal groups are inevitable and sadly, the animosity and power structures which accompany them are also. We have countless examples of corruption by the church throughout the ages but is this not true of so many non-religious institutions as well? If, hypothetically, there hadn’t been religious crusaders needlessly slaughtering each other there would have been other groups fulfilling that role in any event; look at the Rwandan genocide if you need a case study.

Organised religion is in itself nothing negative. The ability to believe in the existence of something higher facilitates the ability to accept moral realism; put simply, to believe in the existence of wrong and right. On a personal level the existence of something higher than oneself can help provide one with a sense of perspective and assist in guiding one through the moral maze that is everyday life.

The question of whether god exists, however, is completely immaterial to the argument. It doesn’t matter what form societal groups take. Be it religion, race or even football teams, it is inevitable that the uglier aspects of human nature will sometimes prevail and manifest themselves through these institutions. Pretentious students need to remember the flip side: sometimes the positive aspects will prevail as well. This is just human nature.

Some people seem to find polite chitter-chatter, a faint hum of Vivaldi and the refined manner of the guests essential foundations for a successful wine tasting. My fellow tasters and I, however, felt at perfect liberty to break out of these unnecessary bonds of formality.

“This smells like day-old semen,” remarked an especially forthright taster, to anyone out of those assembled who actually cared to discuss the wine before glugging it down their throats like 15-year-olds at a bus stop. It is probably best to refrain from divulging the name of this particular wine, as I don’t think a defamation suit would help anyone.

So what was the aim of the evening? To have a raucous get- together with some good friends? In a sense, yes. But the evening had a far worthier subtext. This evening was nothing less than a quest to find the best, most delicious and most readily available wines we could, whilst keeping a student’s budget in mind.

We were therefore looking for easy-drinking wines, pleasant on the palate and flexible. We wanted nothing too pretentious or expensive, but wanted also to strive to avoid the poorly-disguised alcoholic fruit juice that large companies like Jacob’s Creek, Blossom Hill and Ernest &?Gallo like to flog. These big-label wines are fabrications. All they are is alcohol added to flavouring-powder. Avoid them.

So, with open minds and empty glasses we popped the corks, twisted the caps and started the evening’s tastings.

The first wine we tasted was collectively agreed to be one of the best and was by far my favourite white. It was the Casa Leona 2006 Sauvignon Blanc (M&S, £4.39), and everyone variously agreed that it was a lovely, off-dry sauvignon with a hint of melon and gooseberry on the nose and with nice citrus notes on the palate. As an easy- drinking white, this wine really stood out from the crowd.

As the wines slipped down, the tasters began to warm to their task. The rest of the whites were despatched, with the La Regate Muscadet (Sainsbury’s, £3.49) deserving a special mention. Drier in nature than many of the other wines we had, it was still approachable and with a lovely hint of minerality.

Oddly, one of the most expensive wines we tasted turned out to be the worst. The Simonsig Chenin Blanc (Threshers, £5.99, buy two get third free) was a gloopy, cough-syrup sort, disappointing from a producer with an excellent record. Similarly, Sainsbury’s Germanic offerings, Sainsbury’s Own Liebfraumilch and Hock, (Sainsbury’s, £2.99) met with loudly universal, if slightly hyperbolic, disapproval.

After the process of painstakingly analysing the rest of the whites was completed with only minor injury and two broken glasses, but with the breadsticks and dip running low, we reached for the reds.

The first real winner was the Ogio Primitivo 2006 (Tesco’s, £3.99). This fantastic easy drinker was a well-crafted little number which represents excellent value for its price. Giving off hints of dark fruit and chocolate, the by now slightly tipsy tasters found that it went down all too easily. The Casillero Del Diablo (Threshers, £5.99, buy two get third free) was another group favourite from a well established Chilean producer. If you are looking for cheap but still very drinkable plonk, however, we found that the best value-for-money was Tesco’s own brand Chilean Merlot (Tesco’s, £2.99). It’s over -oaked, sure, which isn’t that approachable, but at that price, we were not about to argue.

The first prize, however, with unanimous approval from all of the tasters, goes to the Berberana Rioja Reserva 2003 (Tesco’s, £4.49, reduced from £8.99, pictured) which was truly a cut above the rest. Everyone agreed that this wine displayed a superior elegance which is usually unavailable anywhere close to this price bracket. Try it, and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Afterwards, over empty dip-packets and forlorn plates covered in the sad crumbs of a thousand snacks, ourselves slightly the worse for wear, we discussed our findings.
Most apparent was that our experiment was successful. It is absolutely possible to find good, accessible wine on a student budget. In fact, one of most expensive wines we had, intended as a benchmark, was the worst one there. This is representative of a very important thing to remember when choosing a wine: the label means nothing. Nothing at all.

Therefore, educate yourself. Every wine buyer would do well to have a little look on the World Wide Web before buying anything. Every newspaper has numerous recommendations available free online, so just log on and have a look at them.
Finally, just kick back and enjoy. Any wine will taste good with the right company and a few nibbles. Some will just taste better than others.

Freedom of speech debates have a tendency to infuriate me. People have a knack of logically deducing, from a series of overused, emotive clichés, that freedom of speech is intrinsically invaluable. When one mentions Martin Luther King or quotes Voltaire it is impossible not to be stirred; raw emotive force or eloquence act as a cop-out for having the debate in the only way it should be conducted; coldly and objectively.

Before I take a stand on the metaphorical soap box, it’s important to clarify exactly what I mean when I use the term ‘freedom of speech’. It’s a common misconception that it stands for the right to say anything you want, to whoever you want, whenever you want. Swearing at someone in the street because you dislike their attire or the way that they look, for example, is not you exercising your right to freedom of expression, it’s assault. Shouting racist abuse at a passer by is not someones right, it is impinging upon anothers personal freedodom and is, like the last example, assault. The difficult question is where exactly we draw the line.

Another dilemma is provided by our friends from the school of utilitarianism. Should freedom of speech only be accepted when it results in an overall benefit for society? Perhaps a trickier question is whether or not freedom of speech is always entirely beneficial for all those concerned, whatever the situation might be at the actual point of speech.

To apply this to the Oxford Union, I wholeheartedly support the decision of the Union to invite their two controversial speakers. Nick Griffin, Chairman of the BNP, has the right to take a stand and let his political views be known to the world. I would like to think that I have the nous to consider his argument objectively and without bias before coming to my own personal conclusions. The only way to truly re-affirm one’s own beliefs is by allowing others to attack them. I am a self-confessed lefty, and a devoted Guardian reader, but I nonetheless find that by far the most interesting conversations that I have are with those on the polar opposite side of the political spectrum.

There is also an inherent danger with the Government introducing legislation to try and silence these people. “Incitement to racial hatred” is just a weak cover for trying to shut up unsavoury views. A healthy society challenges these views head on and contests them in a public forum rather than letting them reach boiling point under the surface.

To stray briefly away from the point, I think that the rise of the BNP signifies a major underlying problem with our modern, centrist British politics. From Thatcher to the present day, British politics has been focused on middle-class England and the standard everyday voter. Politicians have, sadly, neglected the inner-city working class whites who as a result are dangerously disillusioned with the current political landscape that is not just unaccommodating, but doesn’t even seek to represent them at all.

The BNP has recognised this gap in the market and is all too happy to fill it. Immigration conveniently provides the explanation as to why the disillusioned, white working class are trapped in a low-income cycle. This is a failure of British politics; the BNP may be opportunist racists but the problem was there in the first place and it is no wonder they have sought to profit from it. It is now up to the government and society as a whole to tackle the problem at its core. Silencing the movement will be detrimental and merely serve to lay even greater foundations for their cause, making it harder to find a solution when facing the issue finally becomes inevitable and entirely unavoidable.

All of this, however, is just a fragment of the picture as a whole. I didn’t write this to prove conclusively the intrinsic value of free speech. What I want is to re-start the debate. We should take nothing for granted – everything is up for discussion. Challenge the beliefs that you have, up until this point, accepted unquestioningly. Cut through the rhetoric and hyperbole and argue every minor detail to the death; the survival of our society depends on it. I believe freedom of speech is essential for society; please, prove me wrong.