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NEWS
Tuesday November 26, 2019
News 2 Editor Perkin Amalaraj Deputy Editor Tom Willett Opinion 6 Editor Lewis Whittaker Deputy Editor Charlie Cooling Lifestyle 14 Editor Hannah Frost Deputy Editor Imogen Webbe Climate 15 Editor Molly Pearce Deputy Editor Matilda Martin Science & Tech 16 Editor Maddie Jenkins Deputy Editors Kieron Buttle & Charlie Cresswell Sport 18 Sex & Relationships S3 Editor Holly Palmer Deputy Editor Sarah Veale Books S4 Editor Zara Stubbs Deputy Editor Hannah Jorgensen Stage S5 Editor Rosie Munden Music S6 Editor Helena Senior Deputy Editor Amelia Kelly Food & Drink S8 Editor Iwan Stone Travel S9 Editor Jess Reeve Games Screen S10 Editor Jasmine WellsDean Deputy Editor Roshan Shulka Editor Chay Quinn Editor Harry Clay Deputy Editor Chris Small SCENE Editor Tasha Croager Chief Subeditor Lucy Purkis Charters Subeditor Rosanne te Riele Managing Director Nick Lunn Deputy Managing Director Brooke Davies Social Media Director Jasmine Moody Technical Director Jess Reeve
Opinions expressed in York Vision are not necessarily those of the Editors, Editorial Team, membership, or advertisers. Every effort is made to ensure all articles are as factually correct as possible at the
UNI CALLS BACK HK EXCHANGE STUDENTS OVER SAFETY FEARS BY CHRIS
SMALL
THE UNIVERSITY HAS advised all students in Hong Kong on exchange programmes to leave for their own safety. The University has told York Vision that the small number of University of York Students on exchange programmes in Hong Kong this semester have been strongly advised to leave, with the University putting into place travel arrangements to get them home as soon as possible. The University is also working on alternative arrangements for exchange students to have a different placement next semester, in order to minimise disruption to their studies. Only a small number of students were on programmes in Hong Kong. York is not the only university to advise its exchange students to return early, with other universities in the UK, such as Sheffield, Warwick, and Edinbrugh, and universities all around the world, such as the University of Sydney, all recalling students from exchange programmes in Hong Kong. This comes only a few weeks after the Times reported on DoorSafe, the YUSU run security service, allegedly taking down the Hong Kong protest wall.
STUDENTS RECALLED OVER SAFETY
PAGE IMAGES: STUDIO INCENDO COMMENTARY BY
HARRY CLAY EDITOR @MightNotBeHboss
SLOWLY BUT SURELY, the universities of the UK are forming a united front. By issuing recalls and facilitating the safe return of their exchange students, UK universities are drawing a line in the sand over what is and isn’t acceptable in Hong Kong. It’s easy to say that political dif-
ferences are secondary to ensuring students’ safety, and that’s certainly true to some extent, but it doesn’t paint the full picture. We as a nation can’t continue acting like all we need to do is preserve our own nation’s safety. Protecting our citizens is the easy job; protecting those abused in Hong Kong, and exposing the attempts to hide atrocities being committed is a much harder task, but one we should try and commit
to. Innocent people are suffering and this nation has the capacity to do more. Whether or not students can expect to return to Hong Kong is a hard call to make. The grip of the mainland is ever-present, but the enormous swing towards pro-democracy candidates in the district council elections could mean that a diplomatic solution is within reach, as they will influence the larger scope of the government.
STUDENTS BEING CHARGED HUNDREDS FOR CRUCIAL TEXTS
ENGLISH STUDENTS SADDLED WITH BOOK BILL BY CHAY
QUINN
ENGLISH LITERATURE UNDERGRADS are being charged hundreds of pounds per year out of their own pocket to access the core texts required for modules, York Vision has found. The core texts required for the mandatory modules, which have to be taken in first and second year by all single-honours English students, have reached £192.79, despite the English & Related Literature Department striking a deal with Blackwell’s Leeds to provide all of the books as part of bundles. This is extended for many into optional mod-
ules, as second-year modules such as The Renaissance and Victorians can each cost around £40. York Vision understands that many students in the department have begun to choose modules because they are relatively cost-light, rather than any inherent interest in the content. This could potentially negatively impact these students’ grades. A 2016 York Vision investigation undertaken by former Managing Director Abbie Llewelyn (now working at the Daily Express), revealed that for the Department, students only received £5,328 worth of teaching and materials for their tuition fees, than a maximum of £9,000.
In recent years, YUSU has stapled their colours to the mast when it comes to the equity of provision, with a comprehensive report into the ways in which YUSU can lobby for changes to University academic policy, so that the undergraduate degrees can recoup some of the value that they have lost since the 2011 rise of the tuition fee cap. This report, commissioned by former YUSU Academic Officer James Hare, has yet to see significant changes to the structure of the English undergraduate degree. It remains to be seen whether changes will be implement in this or future years.
If you do spot any mistakes or wish to make a complaint please send an email to vision@yusu.org. Copyright Vision Newspapers, 2019. Printed by Mortons of Horncastle.