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NEWS
Tuesday February 25, 2020
News Editor Perkin Amalaraj Deputy Editor Tom Willett Opinion Editor Lewis Whittaker Deputy Editor Charlie Cooling Features Editor Angelos Sofocleous Deputy Editor Isobel Mintz Lifestyle Editor Hannah Frost Deputy Editor Imogen Webbe Climate Editor Molly Pearce Deputy Editor Matilda Martin Science & Tech Editor VACANT Deputy Editor Kieron Buttle Sport Editor Eilidh Smith Deputy Editor Ben Gosling
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THREE STRIKES... WE’RE OUT
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Sex & Relationships S3 Editor Holly Palmer Deputy Editor Sarah Veale Books S4 Editor Zara Stubbs Deputy Editor Hannah Jorgensen Music S5 Editor Helena Senior Deputy Editor Amelia Kelly Stage S6 Editor Lucie Jubin Deputy Editor VACANT Food & Drink S8 Editor Iwan Stone Deputy Editor Vic Trodd Travel S9 Editor Jess Reeve Deputy Editor Eilidh Smith Games S10 Editor Vic Trodd Deputy Editor Fin Bosworth Screen S11 Editor Jasmine Wells-Dean Deputy Editor Roshan Shulka
Editor Chay Quinn Editor Harry Clay Deputy Editor Maddie Jenkins SCENE Editor Tasha Croager Chief Subeditor Lucy Purkis Charters Subeditor Rosanne te Riele Subeditor Fin Bosworth 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.
BY HARRY
CLAY
THE UNIVERSITY AND College Union has started striking for the third time in as many years. Although heavy rain set in, the spirit of the strikers wasn’t dampened, with around 100 staff members and students stood at the gates of Heslington Hall Thursday morning to form the biggest picket on campus, with smaller pickets seen by The Retreat and towards Fulford. York is one of 47 universities striking over both the “sustainability of the Universities Superannuation Scheme” and “the significant lack of improvement over pay and work conditions”, according to the UCU. Several members of the picket gave speeches, with one highlighting the “exhaustion” of the workload given to her through teaching, meaning that there wasn’t enough time to do research. A student spoke out about how students
were backing and supporting the strikes, noting that “hundreds” of students backed their last solidarity petition, although it should be noted that the current main petition to reimburse students has well over 2,000. Members of the University of York Labour Club, Extinction Rebellion, and the Socialist Workers Party were all seen present on Thursday, chanting and applauding with the rest of the crowd. A spokesperson for the University said: “Our focus is on minimising the impact of the strikes on our students. We will be working very closely with any affected departments to explore any additional activities and contingencies we can put in place and deliver alternative learning opportunities or mitigations. “We understand the decision to take part in industrial action is not taken lightly and we respect the rights of our staff to participate.”
When approached for comment, UYLC told Vision: “We care very much for the wellbeing of our staff and students and are encouraging all parties to work together to find a solution to these national issues. “As a movement dedicated to the improvement of working conditions, and one with justice at its very core, Labour has always respected industrial action in the pursuit of dignified employment. The Club is shocked by the immense workload of our staff, the gender pay gap of 17%, and the inadequacy of pay and pensions despite spending millions on vanity projects and executive pay. We call on students to remember the adage: “the longer the picket line, the shorter the strike”. “Their anger is deserved, and we must stand with staff in solidarity, not only for their dignity but our academic success.”
STUDENTS AT UNI TARGETED BY DIGITAL KIDNAPPING SCAM
VIRTUAL KIDNAPPING HITS YORK STUDENT BY HARRY
CLAY
A STUDENT AT the University of York has been victim to a new form of scam, known as virtual kidnapping. The scam has found prominence in previous years in the US, amongst other places, but Chinese students in UK universities are now being targeted. In 2018, the Chinese Embassy in London issued a warning over several cases in the UK, but this is the first time that it can be confirmed that a student at the University has been targeted. The scam works by perpetrators posing as officials from the Chinese state. They will con-
vince victims that they have broken some sort of law or code in China and force them into paying large sums of money in order to avoid being deported and arrested. The victims, not having enough money to pay the demands themselves, are then forced to contact their family at home, claiming to have been kidnapped. A similar scam sees the perpetrators claiming that victims’ families are implicated in crimes, and to avoid violence, the students are forced into performing acts that the scammers can use to convince families that their children have been kidnapped. North Yorkshire Police have advised that
anyone who has fallen victim to this, or a similar type of scam, should immediately contact the police on either 101 or 999. This is not something that has been raised to the Union by any students, Chinese or otherwise. Samara Jones, Union President: “We will be picking this up with the Student Support Hub, but would urge any students concerned around the matter to get in touch with our Advice and Support Centre or the Student Hub. We would hope that the Hub is aware and considering the most effective ways to support students to ensure they don’t become victims of crime.”
If you spot any mistakes or wish to make a complaint please send an email to vision@yusu.org. Copyright Vision Newspapers, 2020. Printed by Mortons of Horncastle. Front page images: YUSU. Back page images: YUSU, Hannah Greig, York Sport Union