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December 04 2006 News 1 Editorial & Opinion 8 Politics 12 Column 13 Letters 14 Features 15 Jobs & Money 19 Science/Environment 21 Health 23 Media 24 Taf od 25 Television 27 Problem Page 35 Five Minute Fun 37 Grab 39 Listings 40 Sport 42 EDITOR Perri Lewis DEPUTY EDITOR Sophie Robehmed ASSISTANT TO THE EDITOR Elaine Morgan CREATIVE EDITOR Graeme Porteous NEWS Adam Millward, Helen Thompson, Jo Dingle, Katie Kennedy POLITICS Andy Rennison EDITORIAL AND OPINION Ed Vanstone, Georgie SPORT Dave Menon, George Pawley LISTINGS Jenna Harris, Rosaria Sgueglia TELEVISION TV Gareth, TV John, TV Neil, TV Jane, TV Ellen LETTERS Rachel Clare GRAB Kayleigh Excell, Lisa Hocken TAF-OD Huw Pritchard SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT Ceri Morgan MEDIA Aline Ungewiss, Nadia Bonjour HEALTH Liz Stauber JOBS AND MONEY Gill Roberts PROBLEM PAGE Grace De Ville FIVE MINUTE FUN Lara Bell PICTURE EDITORS James Perou, Sarah Day SUB EDITOR Cathal McMahon ONLINE EDITOR Paul Springett CONTRIBUTORS Corrine Rhoades, James Stileman, Abigail Whittaker, Angela Pook, Tim Mohan, Tasha Prest-Smith, Emma Jones, Lee Macaulay, Matthew Horwood, Natalie Perkinson, Alicia Whitthread, Samantha Shillabeer, Catherine Gee, William Taylor, Victoria Lane, Huw Davies, Hannah Windsor, Tim hewish, Lucie Apampa, Hollie Clemence, Andrew Styles, Dan Ridler, Chris White, Anna Milewski, Kirsty Page, Georgina Wilmott, Lucy Higgins, Marianne Fisher, Laura Foster, Pierre Mason, William Taylor, Sian Miguel, James Smith, Alex McIntosh, Tom Williams, Ed Pitchforth, James Woodroof, Becky Oatley, Jack Zorab, Erica Ballantyne, Jo Price, Scott D’Arcy, Emma Green, Chris Croissant, Hayley Poter, Angharad Jones, Settor Tengey, Adam Gasson PROOFREADERS Kieran Harwood, Rachel Greenwood, Aisling Tempany ADDRESS University Union, Park Place Cardiff, CF10 3QN ADVERTISING 02920 781 474 EMAIL gairrhydd@gairrhydd.com WEB www.gairrhydd.com LOCATION 4th Floor Students’ Union
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Burns unit success
BISHOPS: Not to be messed with
James Stileman Reporter
Christian societies debate rages on Bishops warn that students’ unions are acting illegally by banning Chritian societies Corrine Rhoades Reporter BISHOPS HAVE labelled the recent ban on campus Christian unions as “intolerant and unlawful”. Students’ unions were warned by Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops that their actions were illegal after three UK universities suspended their Christian Unions (CUs). A letter called for the Christian groups at Exeter, Edinburgh and Birmingham Unis to be reinstated, following a decision to deny the
groups facilities and funding provided to other societies. CUs were accused of holding ‘exclusionary’ meetings, which discriminated against non-Christians and homosexuals. This sparked claims by the bishops that Christian students are facing “considerable opposition and discrimination” at universities in “violation of their rights”. The bishops’ letter also argues for “freedom of expression, freedom of belief and freedom of association” and comes after two university CUs have threatened legal action.
The 1986 Education Act states that universities are obligated to “safeguard the lawful exercise of freedom of speech”. In 1998 guidelines to students’ unions were also published, stating that unions shall not “harass, intimidate or threaten any member or group”. Although the bishops acknowledged that student associations have a responsibility to regulate official societies, they believe they shouldn’t have the right to “restrict or change the essential beliefs of those societies”.
Banking on a degree? Abigail Whittaker Reporter BARCLAYS BANK has launched the UK’s first retail banking degree in partnership with Nottingham Business School. They hope to attract top students to a career with the bank by paying them a wage while they study, funding their tuition fees and offering them a guaranteed job immediately after graduation. Selected students will enrol on the programme at the end of their first year of their business management courses. During the remaining two years of their courses, while working full-time towards their degree, students will complete two five-month placements in Barclays branches to gain manage-
ment skills and experience with customer relations. Gary Hoffman, group vice-chairman of Barclays, said: “We are very proud to have launched this new programme. “It addresses two of the main concerns of today’s students: how to pay their way through university and what to do after graduating. “The scheme also helps Barclays to secure a talented supply of highcalibre graduates to work in our branches.” The scheme was launched in September at the Nottingham Business School and is set to be expanded next year. Students on the scheme are paid £12,000 per year, in addition to having their tuition fees paid for the two BANKS: Paying you to study? years they spend training.
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PHOTO: MATT HORWOOD
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DECEMBER.04.2006
GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH into burns injuries is soon to be carried out by Cardiff University. It was announced this week that the university has been awarded the right to host the prestigious ‘Healing Foundation UK Centre for Burns Research’ in partnership with Morriston Hospital, Swansea. The centre will be installed at Cardiff’s School of Medicine on the Heath Park Campus as well as at the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery at Morriston Hospital, Swansea. The centre will focus on both the physical as well as psychological aspects of burns, including fighting infection and giving long-term support to people who have had extensive injuries. The Welsh team fought off strong competition from universities and burns units around the UK to win the 20-year contract, which is supposedly worth around £10 million. David Grant, the Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff University, said: “This is an important development bringing real benefits to patients throughout Wales and beyond, with a £5million investment in new staff and an investment of more than £4million in new and refurbished laboratories.”
Do you live in a dirty house? Angela Pook Reporter HOW DIRTY is your house? Is the question being asked to people all over the country who’s homes are hygienically challenged. A poster website, Postermeister, is asking to see unclean homes with a tempting offer of a prize to the proud inhabitant of the worst. The winner of the top prize, £500, will be voted for online by the general public. Unsurprisingly, students especially, who are not famed for their commitment to housework, are being encouraged to enter the competition. For more information visit www.postermeister.co.uk.
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