2 : NEWS yorkVision
news@vision.york.ac.uk
May 30th 2001
News in Brief
CHAIN REACTION CYCLISTS TOOK to the streets of York during rush hour on Friday 25th May to protest against traffic pollution, with a number of York students joining the demonstration. The protest began at around 5pm from Tower Gardens and continued along a route incorporating York's four main bridges. The event was publicised under the banner of a "critical mass bicycle ride" and aimed to highlight environmental issues by frustrating rush hour traffic. Dan Cox, a second year Electronics student, who participated in the protest told Vision: "We weren't obstructing traffic, we were the traffic. By creating a critical mass on the roads the traffic had to yield to us. Although cycle routes are generally quite good in York I'd like to see even more of the City pedestrianised to encourage people to get out of their cars."
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Scott Sue Shock! In a Vision exclusive Ryan Sabey reports on the fall-out with DJ Scott Mills from the Roses AU Ball three weeks ago YORK UNIVERSITY’S Athletic Union are withholding payment to a top radio disc jockey following a dispute over contracts. Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills, 27, played a 90 minute set on Saturday, Week 2, at the ‘Roses Ball’, the highlight of the a weekend of sporting fixtures between the York and Lancaster Universities. York’s AU President Owen Rodd believes Mills did not adhere to the contract that stipulated that Mills play a ‘90 minute DJ set’. Mills was booked through Mission Control management who also have Radio 1 DJ Mark Goodier and pop
“During his performance the record desk did not get touched. There certainly wasn’t any mixing”
AU President Owen Rodd
Scott Mills: Apparently not York’s favourite DJ acts The Vengaboys and Atomic Kitten on their books. The SU often use the company for Freshers’ Bash and the Grad Ball. Rodd told Vision that negotiations are ongoing between the SU and Mills’ management company. “He simply did not comply to the contract we had signed,” said the AU President.
York Dr 007
Rodd also has resolute proof that he did not do a DJ set. “During his performance the record desk did not get touched. There certainly wasn’t any mixing.” Mills even admitted on the night that he was not sticking to his ‘DJ set’ by telling the 1,200 capacity audience: “Don’t tell the other DJs at Radio 1 that I’m play-
ing Cher’s ‘Shoop Shoop Song’” The sum involved is in the region of £1,600. It is thought that Mills was paid £800 as a deposit and the rest would be paid once Mills had stuck to the terms and regulations of the contract. Other members of the Roses committee had personal gripes about Scott Mills’ performance on the night. One senior member of the committee told Vision: “We were particularly concerned on the night about Mr Mills’ whereabouts. We did not have any contact with him on the day until two of his friends arrived twenty minutes before Mills to tell us he was on his way,” said the committee member. Mills brought three friends with him, which had not been brought to the attention of the Roses committee beforehand. One of the friends was the producer of Mills’ Radio 1 early breakfast show. Charlie Kisby, who DJ’s at Club Derwent told Vision “I saw his set and was far from impressed, it wasn’t anything special or different to what you would hear at a Club Derwent and we only get free pizza and a can of coke, not a couple of grand. Nor did he play the new S Club Seven song anywhere near enough and I don’t recall much Wham or Tiffany” Other members of the University were particularly aggrieved with Mills’ aftershow performance. It is alleged that Mills called the University’s Women’s Netball Teams ‘boring’ on his show, the following Monday morning.
Court Case
Matt Goddard
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JOHN BARRY, who has composed music for 12 of the 19 James Bond films, is to receive an honorary Doctorate this July from the University of York. Born and raised in York, the famous composer, now living in New York, will return home to attend the graduation ceremony and receive the doctorate from Professor Nicola LeFanu of the University's Music department. Speaking recently, University ViceChancellor, Professor Ron Cooke praised the York Composer: "Each year the University seeks to honour amongst its honoury graduates at least one distinguished person with strong local links. We're delighted that John Barry has agreed to accept an honorary degree from the University of York." Recently citizens of York and members of the City council have nominated Mr Barry for the Freedom of the City of York. This has still to be submitted to the ruling Executive, though may well be decided by the time the composer arrives in mid July. While growing up in York, Mr Barry’s parents turned out to be the major influence on his future career direction his mother was a classical pianist, and his father owned a chain of movie theatres. As he grew up, he developed his musical talents and his love of films. He claims that he always wanted to be a film composer. Nearly forty years after Mr Barry's association with ‘Her Majesty’s Secret service’ began, the authorship of the most famous theme tune in film history is still under some dispute. Both Barry and Monty Norman (Dr No composer) have asserted the ownership, but after a chequered legal history, the original film’s scorer currently holds the rights. Despite this, Mr Barry surely has what must be the longest running history with any franchise. It is easy to forget that John Barry has also scored such classic and Oscar winning films as Dances with
Halifax Court which is currently experiencing a few rifts between its residents Paul Cosby
John Barry: international man of emminence sans crocodile outfit Wolves and Midnight Cowboy. It seems the University has managed to combine fame and performance with home-grown talent at this years ceremony. At last the composer is receiving acclaim in his home town just as he has gone on to such international emminence in the last threee decades. In recent years the summer graduation ceremonies have seen honary degrees bestowed on several prominent figures including BBC head honcho Greg Dyke and another Bond franchise star Dame Judi Dench.
A HALIFAX Court student has referred his residential situation to a solicitor and threatened further legal action in an attempt to force the University to be "More accountable to the students placed in its accommodation." The dispute is part of an ongoing disagreement within Halifax Court. Anil Biltoo claims that the University has not dealt with issues of noise and hygiene generated by his fellow residents in a satisfactory manner. Biltoo, a third year research student, has thus far withheld his residence fees for this term on the grounds that the University has failed to act in satisfactory procedural manner to remedy a number of his complaints. Biltoo feels that his work has suffered as a result of the of the "State of affairs that has arisen" and claims that his residence has an atmosphere that is "Far from conducive either to relaxation or to concentration.The University just expects me to put up, pay up and shut up" Although Security has been called to the house on several occasions, no evi-
dence has been found to support Biltoo's claims of breaches of University regulations by his housemates. Dr Mark Evans, Dean of Halifax Court, has been unable to intervene in the situation "Due to a lack of verifiable evidence" to support the allegations of Anil Biltoo. Despite the best efforts of Dr Evans to reconcile the dispute, including house meetings, Biltoo has arranged for a solicitor's letter to be sent to the University concerning his complaints. Anil Biltoo has been offered alternative accommodation by the University but has remained in his residence in Halifax Court. He claims that the contract he signed when agreeing to live in Halifax court was a "Reciprocal understanding; when a student signs an acknowledgement of regulations he or she has the right to expect that the University will honour its obligations." Dr Evans has reiterated that there is no substantive evidence to support the complainant. "Research students residing in Halifax Court have to be communally minded as it is not the perfect environment for completing thesis work."
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