THE
COURIER
Monday 15 March 2021
News
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E-scooter launch compromised UK unis see increase due to dangerous behaviour in antisemitic attacks An e-scooter night curfew has been introduced to stop further incidents after five men were arrested and charged Xavier Khoo & Ruby Story Dartford
W
ithin days of the launch of the 250 e-scooters, new regulations have been imposed after five men were arrested and charged for riding the vehicles whilst over the alcohol limit. Another man was charged with failing to produce a specimen, one has been banned from using the scooters, and four other users are currently under investigation. Those charged, aged between 19 and 22, are set to appear at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court next month. The 12-month e-scooter scheme was launched last month by Newcastle City Council in a bid to cut carbon emissions, encourage locals to lead a healthier lifestyle and improve inner-city mobility, with 10 000 trips already made across the city.
includes multiple users on one scooter, illegal riding on the pavements, alongside several racing the scooters in the early hours of the morning.
“They are being left blocking pavements and it is causing resentment” Graham Grant, Assistant Director of Transport for Newcastle City Council, confirmed that the scooters must now be shut off between 11 pm and 5 am following the arrests and misuse of the scooters. A spokesman for the firm behind the scooters, Neuron, stated that whilst most users are responsible, "there will always be exceptions" and that users were given clear rules before using the vehicles. Parking is also a source of contention, since, while users are given a 30p discount on their journey if they park their scooters in designated parking
spots, it is not compulsory to leave their vehicles there. Despite having these 15 parking spaces around Newcastle, scooters have been left all over the city. Liberal Democrat councillor Wendy Taylor has called for measures to ensure the proper parking of the scooters: “The fact is that they are being left blocking pavements and it is causing resentment, which is the last thing we want. We really wanted this to be successful and if there are problems that are causing people to go against them already, that is a big issue.” This N3 e-scooter model boasts safety and security features, like an in-built helmet lock meant to secure it to the e-scooter, ensuring that every user has a helmet available in order to ride with caution. It also has a “Follow my Ride” function so users can track both their own and their friends' journeys, ensuring they arrive at their destination safely. Anyone wanting to hire a scooter must also be at least 18 and hold a provisional or full driving licence.
Newcastle City Council via Facebook
Five men were arrested for riding whilst over the alcohol limit However, the e-scooters hit headlines last week after the council received several complaints regarding concerns over fears of safety. Complaints about the frequent mishandling of the vehicles
Despite the fact that less than 1% of university students are Jewish, antisemitism is on the rise Louise Cusine
- Travel sub-editor
F
uelled by an investigation into the anti-Semitic conduct of Professor David Miller, a lecturer at Bristol University, more and more Jewish students are speaking out about their experiences of antisemitism. Whilst many Jewish students have spoken out about the fear and intimidation they felt during Miller's lectures, some academics have signed a letter of support in the hope that his actions will not lead to his dismissal. Amongst his views, Miller said it was “fundamental to Zionism to encourage Islamophobia'', which outraged Jewish students who believe this form of misinformation is contributing to the hatred of the Jewish student population. Similarly, Durham University student Chessy Weiner told The Courier that she was ''given a very stark reality as to what antisemitism looks like'' upon enrolling into a university that has very few Jewish students with some students ''holding prejudices that were founded in inaccurate education of Judaism''. Weiner continued by recounting
Image: @EUJS via Twitter
the condescending attitude of the intercollegiate Christian union towards her religion, leaving her feeling bewildered that someone would ever infringe upon her beliefs. Jewish students across the country believe they have been left in the dark by their universities regarding emotional support. Some students also feel that their concerns are only heard by Jewish charities and organisations, and are ignored by universities. The Holocaust Educational Trust, created with the aim of educating young people about the Holocaust, sent The Courier the following statement: "all students deserve to live and learn on a campus free of hate, intimidation and racism. That goes for Jewish students too". They continued, "The Holocaust Educational Trust supports Jewish students and their allies in standing up and speaking out. The comments and behaviour of David Miller, a member of the academic staff at Bristol University, have been wholly inappropriate for many years, in particular the age-old accusation of dual loyalty of British Jews – it is time for Bristol University to take action". Students across the UK are rising up to demand that universities address the needs of their Jewish students and this starts with a clamp down on the rising tide of antisemitism. The Union of Jewish Students streamed a virtual rally on Wednesday with #hateoffcampus. To view it, visit Union of Jewish Students on Facebook.
Medical students volunteer with North East Ambulance Service Newcastle University medical students have been volunteering with the ambulance service during the pandemic
M Alice Holmes
edical students studying at Newcastle University have volunteered throughout lockdown with the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS), providing essential support and aid.
Students have been responding to 999 calls and helping to roll out vaccinations
Students involved within the NEAS First Responder team respond to 999
calls across the Tyneside area and work at a vaccination hub in North Shields, successfully rolling out over 30 000 vaccinations.
"We have been hugely impressed by the dedication and professionalism of the First Responders" Their hard work and dedication during this turbulent time has been hugely appreciated, with the Head of Newcastle University’s School of Medical Education, Professor Steve Jones saying: “From the very start we in the School of Medical Education have been hugely impressed by the dedication and professionalism of the First Responders. They have done an amazing job in the most difficult of circumstances”. Philippa Wright, who is a medical student and member of the First
Responder team, spoke to The Courier about the impact the scheme has had upon the local community. She also emphasised what she, personally, has gained: “Being a First Responder has undoubtedly played a huge role in the development of my confidence and skills in a demanding situation. It is a real privilege to be able to help our local community and everyone has been really supportive of our learning”.
"It is a real privilege to be able to help our local community" Following the success of the scheme and looking forward to the future, students have begun fundraising in order to secure a dedicated service vehicle. The students are hoping that this fundraising will enable a greater number of 999 calls to be attended and more volunteer students to be recruited in the future.
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