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PALATINATE Tuesday 9th November 2010
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Durham News
University in court over bullying allegations
A
llegations of bullying made by a former Durham student against her PhD supervisor were denied by the University as “preposterous” in court last Thursday. Dr Hadil Bakir told Newcastle County Court that she had been subjected to a “campaign of harassment” whilst studying at the University’s world leading Department of Human Molecular Genetics. She is suing the University for £200, 000 on the basis that senior staff failed to protect her from the alleged bullying. The Iraqi student alleged that her supervisor, Dr Rumaisa Bashir, referred to “bloody Arabs”, and frequently ignored her during her four years spent at the University. She also claimed that Dr Bashir belittled her work, stating that a poster created for her PhD met with the response, “It is not even good enough for a primary school report, let alone a PhD. Maybe the bin will make it better”. Speaking for the University, lawyer Catherine Foster stated that Dr. Bashir “had no occasion to make racist comments or even imply racist comments”. She went on to describe the allegations of racist remarks as “preposterous”. A global expert in the adult onset of
muscular dystrophy, Dr Bashir also allegedly subjected her student to minor physical abuse including opening a fridge door into her head. A claim form lodged with Newcastle County Court said, “If the claimant was standing in the way of Dr Bashir, she would simply walk past her, treading on her toes, knocking her out of the way or otherwise making physical contact. She did not apologise and did not acknowledge the contact that she made”. However, Ms Foster insists that Dr Bakir has a personal grudge against the supervisor who critiqued her work, “This claimant is simply not able to be dispassionate about her feelings towards Dr Bashir which clearly evolved over time to the point we are at now”. She continued, “You have got it in for Dr Bashir to the point it is astonishing you are continuing with this claim”. Dr Bakir says that since completing her PhD in 2006, she has developed bulimia, a stomach ulcer and suffers from depression as a result of the alleged abuse. Consequently, the mother-of-one has been unable to work. The University denied the allegations at the court hearing on 28th October. The case has been reserved to Judge Christopher Walton who will announce his verdict later in the year.
NORTH NEWS & PICTURES LTD
Sarah Ingrams
QUINN MURRAY
New research by the Higher Education Career Services Unit (HECSU) has indicated that graduate unemployment is now at a seventeen year high. The figures, released on1st November, showed one in twelve students graduating in 2009 were still without a job six months after leaving university. There was also an increase in the proportion in stopgap employment. Some degrees faired better than others, with IT graduates being hit worst, but the results still recorded the highest level since 1993, a time when the UK was recovering from a deep recession. The statistics also throw new light on the contentious issue of tuition fees, following Lord Browne’s review last month. The report had suggested that the current cap on fees in England should be removed. Responding to the HECSU survey,
NUS President Aaron Porter stated, “This is yet further proof that the radical proposals in Lord Browne’s review to remove government funding for the majority of subjects and simply transfer this cost to students is unfair and illogical”. These figures have caused considerable concern for students, with one member of Josephine Butler saying, “Everyone I speak to seems worried about getting a job next year. Getting a good 2:1 isn’t a guarantee [of job offers] at all”. However, there was some respite for current students according to Charlie Bell, Deputy Director of Research at the HECSU. Mr Bell has suggested that unemployment rates may be peaking, with an expected decline in graduate unemployment in 2010. How much is a Durham degree page worth?
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Jack Battersby
The police are appealing for information regarding the theft of two signs from Topshop in Durham city centre. Following a similar incident in 2009, the police are consulting CCTV footage in order to locate the offenders. With each sign costing £1, 000 to replace, the police are treating the matter extremely seriously. “The evidence is being examined and it would be better for all concerned if anyone responsible for the incident came forward immediately”, said Philip Raine, the University’s Police Liason Officer.
Hugh Anderson-Elliott
Dr Rumaisa Bashir is alleged to have subjected her student to a “campaign of harrasment”
Emma Hutchinson
Following the example of police forces all over the country, Durham University Police Liason Officer Philip Raine has started using Twitter to post details of incidents in the city centre involving students. However, his tweets have not been limited to the standard warnings and cautionary advice typical of police officers. Amongst their recent tweets were: “Just caught 2 students on The Bailey with traffic signs. The first freshers we have found that have been ‘men at work’ ” and “Only one uni related complaint tonight, all because one student thought he’d audition for X Factor in the street nr the viaduct at 3am”. Also included in the team’s feed are messages of advice on crime prevention for their followers. “Is anyone at the Dara O’Brian show in Newcastle tonight? If you are, have you locked up?” The light-hearted approach that has been taken here in Durham runs in stark
contrast to the more serious nature of several national police Twitter schemes. However, Philip Raine, the Community Support Officer behind the idea, believes that less formality will help build links with the student population. Mr Raine said his main purpose was to get more information out to students: “I thought if I try to do it maybe on a little more informal basis, people might respond a little bit better to it”. Despite the nationwide criticism of the innovation as having nothing more than gimmick value, this local scheme seems to have generated a positive response so far. DSU President Sam Roseveare’s reaction to the idea was equally optimistic, claiming that it would help to raise the police’s profile among students. Follow the Durham constabulary on Twitter:
@DurhamUniPol
Graduate unemployment hits 17-year high Fiona Carlyle
Police appeal for information over Topshop thefts
University considering extending Freshers’ Week
Catching criminals in 140 characters or less
Durham constabulary hopes that Twitter will encourage communication with students
News in brief
Under pressure: Durham graduates
40%
The University is considering alternative options for the organisation of Freshers’ Week as an internal report describes the current arrangements as “not fit for purpose”. The criticisms centre on the inadequate period of time between the new students’ arrival to Durham and the official beginning of academic studies. This often leads to the overlapping of introductory sessions in each department, as well as with the ongoing social activities organized by the DSU and colleges. Currently two options are being considered, lengthening Fresher’s week to a full seven days or starting the induction process on a Tuesday, allowing the academic timetable to start on Monday.
Van Mildert combats poor formal attendance with chlamydia test offer
Rachel Aroesti
Van Mildert is to begin subsidising formals using Chlamydia tests. The college has been forced to cancel a second formal this term due to low numbers of applicants, after prices were raised from £5.50 to £8.50 at the beginning of the year. Both the Halloween Formal and the Livers-Out Formal had to be cancelled due to poor sign-up. In last week’s meeting, the JCR passed a motion whereby students who take a Chlamydia test will be given a £5 voucher which they can use to contribute towards the cost of a formal. The NHS will give the college £5 for every Chlamydia test taken.
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Of Durham leavers (including postgraduates) enter into full-time paid work
Want to gain experience in journalism?
30%
Undertake further study
7%
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Assumed to be unemployed Source: 2009 Careers Advisory Service survey