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7th May - 1st September 2010
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Censorship attempt at LUU sets dangerous precedent
I am beginning to wonder when those, the world over, who seek to curb free speech will ever learn that the best way, the very best way, to give prominence to a point of view is to try and suppress it. They really are shooting themselves in the foot.
Last week’s issue of Leeds Student has been the most talked about in years. The one little molehill of a line that has conjured this unwieldy mountain of comment, opinion and emotion, has probably been read more times by more eyes than anything we’ve printed since the Frank Ellis controversy of 2006.
That controversy involved an interview with a Leeds lecturer who expressed unambiguously racist sentiments. He said he was convinced “beyond any reasonable doubt there is a persistent gap in average black and white average [sic] intelligence”. No one needs to be told that this is a false and racist opinion. The issue that carried that interview was not censored and no one in any position of responsibility seriously thought it should be. The opinion was quite obviously that of an… Continue reading...
Politics remains a turn-off
Student apathy and lack of faith in politics are still barriers even in the instant media election
My favourite take on the general election so far has been from none other than child legend Karen Brockman from Outnumbered: ‘do they say “oh I’ve had a terrible life and my family’s died”, and then we vote off all the annoying ones, until there’s just one left, and they go “boo hoo boo hoo I’m so happy I’m Prime Minister”?’. I really hope that was one of the famed improvised segments and that this is what 9 year old Ramona Marquez thinks politics is like. Given the upsetting statistics on Britain’s Got Talent viewers over debate viewers (a record 12.2 million for BGT over 9.4 for the first debate), maybe it should be. True, you don’t have to register to vote for who gets Simon Cowell’s next record contract, and no, you don’t have to actually leave the house, but it really would be nice if a few more people behaved as if they cared about how our health service is run and how many policemen we have on the streets, let alone important issues such as how best to recover from the economic crisis.
Read morePosted in LS1 » Comment » Politics remains a turn-off
What's next for Higher Education?
A new government should usher in an era of fresh debate about higher education, moving beyond the same old questions
I’ll miss it really. In the next few days, the posters will slowly start to come down and half-read pamphlets will be thrown out. The candidates and their merry band of leafleteers will disturb us no more.
Read morePosted in LS1 » Comment » What's next for Higher Education?
LS irresponsible over Habeeb article
Uproar over LS censorship detracts from concerning content of Habeeb interview
Last week’s issue of Leeds Student has undoubtedly caused unmitigated controversy on campus. As Jewish student representatives on campus, it is an issue that is of deep concern to us. We thank Jak Codd for his vigilance on this issue but the action taken by LUU was done so independently of JSOC. The furore over the recalling of the papers has detracted from the real issue at hand. It is certain that a great deal of abrogation of responsibility has occurred on the part of LS.
Read morePosted in LS1 » Comment » LS irresponsible over Habeeb article
Not about censorship
'LS' publication of anti-Semitism is a step too far': CIA Officer Jak Codd explains his decision to pull the newspaper
On Friday April 30 I made the call to suspend distribution of Leeds Student within the Union building until we could resolve the issue of a racist remark they had published unchallenged. This was not censorship. The paper could still be picked up across the rest of campus and at halls of residences. This was about whether we should allow the Union building and Union money to be used to push racism. I made the decision that we shouldn’t. People may disagree, and it may be controversial, but I made the tough call and stand by it one hundred percent. That evening, an agreement was reached between Leeds University Union and Leeds Student on the removal of a racist line from their interview with Sameh Habeeb. I was therefore shocked and angered by the Leeds Student’s decision to renege on this agreement and distribute the paper with the racist line. I had made a commitment to myself and others that I would not stand by and simply do nothing if the line was subsequently published, and this a promise that I am keeping. I am not comfortable working alongside a newspaper that is willing to publish racist slurs, so much so that I am considering leaving the Union.
Read morePosted in LS1 » Comment » Not about censorship
Democracy for the banks
Government will always be a tool for the banks, no matter who we vote for. People power is our only avenue for real change
It’s election time. Traces of politics so often consigned to officially-designated zones, so often quarantined like a dangerous infection behind the walls of work and shopping, now permeate the air. Politics, at least for the next few weeks, is deemed relevant to the lives of ordinary people. This is our big chance, a historic opportunity bestowed upon us by the blood and courage of our ancestors. It’s so precious that queuing in Morrison’s can mean bearing witness to an impassioned debate on the dangers of Cameronian economics or the betrayals of New Labour. And it is an exciting time, the idea that we can use our democratic rights to forge some kind of change, to have some kind of influence on the decisions that shape our lives is a truly inspiring one.
Read morePosted in LS1 » Comment » Democracy for the banks
Is this a democracy?
Potential for a Lib/Lab coaltion made a mockery of British democracy - as did the entire negotiation farce
Written Monday 10th May 2010
For the purpose of this piece I do not wish to disclose my political stance nor mention the names of the British parties in question. I will instead be using analogies that will be familiar to those following the election of 2010 and hopefully eye-opening and amusing to those that are not. I open this piece with a question – does not a democracy mean the wish of the people, tyranny of the majority and decision by the masses? However it is phrased and despite its many flaws the aforementioned definitions are not difficult to understand.
Read morePosted in LS1 » Comment » Is this a democracy?
It's not what you know. It's how much you can afford.
Prestigious internships are being auctioned off to the highest bidder as wealth and privilege reasserts its hold over the job market
If you imagine a charity auction you probably picture scenes of expensive, luxury items placed under the hammer, treats for investing money into worthy causes. Perhaps a day at a high-end spa, perhaps not a hard day’s work. But this is precisely what was on offer at a recent Tory party fundraising evening.
Posted in LS1 » Comment » It's not what you know. It's how much you can afford.